Is this true?

[kazzee69]

The other day someone told me that Michael Jackson owns the skeleton of 'The Elephant Man'! Is this true? You can't just go buying peoples skeletons, I don't care how much money you have! Is anyone else disturbed by this?

[blueeyedlass]

yeah this is true it was either latoya or janet i seen on jonathon ross and he asked if it was true and she confirmed it.yeah it is pretty weird but then it is michael jackson so i,ll say no more.

[kazzee69]

I just think that is soooooooooooooo wrong!! You shouldn't be allowed to buy peoples skeletons? Did he ask 'The Elephant Man' before he dies if it was ok?If he did then I supose thats 'ok' (and I use the term loosely). But it shouldn't matter how much money or power you have.... things like shouldn't be allowed... Musical genius or not.. he is mental!

[londondave]

I thought that he tried to buy it but was refused, It is in a medical school somewhere.

[tartanwiz]

It is not at all true. Michael Jackson does not own the skeleton, which is in the Royal College of Surgeons in London (not for public display). So don't worry. There was a rumour put about in the late 80s that he wanted to buy the skeleton, and in Jackson's movie Moonwalk, a joke is made of it when at one point we see Jackson dancing with a skeleton with an elephant's head.

[jno]

The Elephant Man died in 1890.

[Greg222]

Janet Jackson said it was true on the Frank Skinner show, it's weird yes, but I'm neither supprised nor disturbed by this.   Ozzy Osborne bit a head off a bad on stage, that has to be worse....

[smudge]

RIP -  Joseph Carey Merrick (known as John).

Michael Jackson has just been found not guilty on all counts - BUT the Jurors are now saying they believe he was guilty of some of the offences! You cannot believe everything you read in the papers, hear on the TV, or what comes out of M & J Jackson's mouths.

I do not believe for one moment that John Merrick's skeleton is somewhere in/near Never Neverland!

[smudge]

I also think the name of The Elephant Man is so cruel.

John Merrick had lots of deformities, but he had neither four legs, tusks or a trunk. He simply had a disfigured face, poor man.

[mystress]

I totally agree with tartanwiz on his answer.

Merrick's skeleton is still in the Royal College of Surgeons (personally,after all this time I think it should be cremated) not that many people suffer from the (very rare) condition that he did,and keeping the skeleton "for medical purposes" just doesnt ring true now.

MJ DID try to buy the skelton(weird guy?!) but was refused.

John Merrick still has living relations,who(I think) should say whether he should be cremated,or stay in the Royal College.

[Octavius]

John Merrick did not suffer from Elephantitis, in fact he suffered from Proteus Syndomre, so the tag 'Elephant Man' no longer applies.  In the words of the man himself...

"'Tis true my form is something odd,
but blaming me is blaming god.
Could I create myself anew,
I would not fail in pleasing you.

Was I so tall, could reach the pole,
or grasp the ocean with a span;
I would be measured by the soul.
The mind's the standard of the man."

[Octavius]

and by the way, I too saw Janet J saying on TV that MJ had the skeleton, but I don't believe it either.

[netibiza]

My hubby is working for John Hurt who played the Elephant Man, at the moment - just so you know!!:-)

[butter1]

I have never seen the 1980's film with John Hurt.  I've seen the black and white version though and it upset me so much that I couldn't watch it again.  Very sad and I agree that he should be cremated and laid to rest.  For MJ to even consider buying his skeleton is distrubing I think.

[goldheart]

Well I heard......

that MJ wanted to buy the skeleten so he could hold a service and bury it... so is that bad?

He too thought that to display such a thing was disturbing... what do you reckon's gonna happen with him when he goes?  they should put him in a display case!!!

[ArsenalLass]

I understand it to be like london dave suggests that he wanted to buy them but was refused and the song that tartanwiz is talking about on the "moonwalker" film is called "Leave Me Alone"

[jno]

butter1, the 1980s film was black and white, for artistic reasons, so that's probably the one. You wouldn't necessarily recognise John Hurt, for obvious reasons.

[butter1]

jno, i stand corrected.  I thought there had been another film made about him as I couldn't remember Anthony Hopkins being in it....not John Hurt as I understand I wouldn't recognise him.

[HAnn521]

I found this online, lost the website link, but it said...

Merrick died in his sleep in 1890. Nearly all of his body was preserved, though most of the specimens have been lost. His skeleton is still in a museum in Britain (it is not, nor ever was, owned by Michael Jackson).

 

[Royal Pollen]

Nope it's not true, Joseph Merricks bones have been kept in the Royal London Hospital since he died

[the.dr]

yer he does its sooo cool but sooo weird!