Travis Payne, Michael’s choreographer for This Is It, speaks about Michael’s spirituality, his humanitarianism, his strength in weathering the molestation accusations brought against him, and the fact that he overlooked Michael’s insomnia.
by Amber James | popeater.com | 23/10/2009
To the world, Michael Jackson was a musical genius. But behind closed doors, Jackson suffered from bouts of insomnia as he focused on conjuring enough energy to practice for his tour. Although Jackson’s 3 a.m. phone calls to ‘This Is It’ choreographer Travis Payne may have been a warning sign, Payne told PopEater that he and director Kenny Ortega suffer from insomnia too, so they overlooked Jackson’s symptoms. The seriousness of Jackson’s health was made clear when the music icon died unexpectedly at age 50 from an acute intoxication of the anesthetic propofol, which allegedly helped him sleep.
“A lot of times, Michael would call at 3 or 4 in the morning, and we would just continue working. That was when we’d be able to get a lot of things done because the phones weren’t ringing, and we didn’t have a schedule… We wanted everything to be perfect. We would have our days off… but while we were working, we were immersed in the process and burning the midnight oil. It was normal,” Payne said.
Payne knew Jackson was taking pain killers, but he thought it was due to the pain he still suffered from his hair catching on fire during the 1984 Pepsi commercial. “The only thing we were aware of was the insomnia,” he said.
Behind the scenes, Payne saw Jackson as a friend and dedicated father. The two met in 1993 when Payne became a dancer for his tour. Payne became his choreography partner soon after and then landed the role of associate director and choreographer for the planned ‘This Is It’ tour. Their friendship grew and Payne soon considered the ‘Thriller’ star a mentor who kept him grounded.
“He never accepted credit for his talent and achievements. He was in touch with a higher power and was a very spiritual man who always talked about God,” Payne recalled. Jackson didn’t even like to keep his awards. “He didn’t want to live in the past. He was always looking for the future,” Payne said.
Jackson was also a true humanitarian, who pushed his colleagues and friends to change the world. “He wanted each person to do just one thing each day to help the planet and challenge the world to make a change. Because he was a father and had three children, he wanted to do everything he could to make sure there was a safe environment for his children to grow up in,” Payne recalled.
He was honored in the 2000 edition of the Guinness Book Of World Records for breaking the world record for the “Most Charities Supported By a Pop Star”. It states that Jackson supported 39 charity organizations either with monetary donations through sponsorships of their projects or by participating in their silent auction. Some of the organizations he supported were Heal The World Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
Even after the media put Jackson through the wringer during the child molestation allegation case, his friends saw a much more private individual — who was a “pure and spiritual” and “not looking for acceptance from anyone,” Payne told PopEater. “He was so misunderstood. He never wanted to make anybody feel bad, so often times he would just take the brunt of it and not retaliate,” Payne said.
During his tough times, Jackson had strength to persevere though all the media scrutiny. Payne remembered questioning Jackson during this tough time. “Aren’t you mad about this?” Payne asked him. Jackson shrugged his shoulders and said, “No. They just need more love,” Payne recalled. “That was his answer to everything,” he said – noting Jackson didn’t want to waste his time with “negative energy.”
Jackson’s legacy will live on as ‘This Is It’ begins its two week movie engagement on Oct. 28. The movie will show footage of the singer rehearsing for his planned London concerts, which never happened because of his sudden death on June 25.
“The world has mourned. Now it’s time to celebrate his legacy and music in hopes of affecting some positive change,” Payne said.
Popularity: 4% [?]
I think this is one of this made up stories about MJ,
that we get to hear from many career-needing people that were working with him.
Always this 1984 excuse for pain killers….
and Propofol because of Insomnia !
That is completely out of proportion and if it was not Holywood with so many defaced destroyed Stars….
maybe I could think about it again.
Propofol is a drug that some doctors are addicted to as well, its not a drug for common people. As well its not about the sleep so much, its the euphoria you feel if the dosage is exactly.
I dont think its very softhearted to tell the world, that a newborn baby doesnt need his mummy. That a man can cut the umbilical cord and just take a newborn baby without giving him the needed contact to the body and voice of the mama !
And that because he bought his babies ….like a merchandise !
I dont think its very softhearted to separate them with veils from the world….they never had a choice.
I dont think its nice for a baby to get the bottle on strangely shaking legs…
a veil on your face and the camera and lights on you.
I believe Michael Jackson got deeper and deeper enmeshed into his own lies…
the image that he built and the person that he was behind the idol, the star.
Several sites and sources, say that Jordan has a new name….it is easy to see why…just look at the YouTube hate stuff….Micael fans are demanding that Jordan “tell the truth” they want to hear..If Michael Jackson had come out of the closet,[Good reason for Insomnia] and faced the music, about Jordan [even a little bit] I think He would still be alive today….and I bet we would of heard some great Sinatra songs. [I think he had the talent to do them justice]
I don’t understand why people are so upset about the possibility of MJ being gay. It’s sad that the industry still makes people hide their sexuality with lies. There’s only a handful of brave performers who have had the guts to come out. I saw George Michael perform recently – to a sold-out stadium. His sexuality clearly not making a dint in his popularity. And what about Neil Patrick Harris at the Grammys this year? No problems there. I guess in MJ’s case, there were so many other factors involved. I don’t think that the testimony from some bodyguards is enough to quell the gay rumors. As Brian said in the forum, there are now 250 million reasons to keep MJ straight. As for Jordie Chandler, it’s interesting that neither an ex BF or GF has stepped out from behind the shadows for a tell-all interview with the National Enquirer. But i heard he received a new identity after the settlement. If this is true, it might explain the lack of information on him.
All well and good, but he still slept with little boys, and he was gay…this is really not up for debate. Just too many people know this, in Las Vegas, the place to do what you want…..Where is Jordan Chandlers girl friends?….is this 28 year old man dating?….You see this is not easy to keep secret….I remember when people got so mad, when someone said Liberace was Gay…and the same thing with Rock Hudson…but now you would have to be a fool, to not know they were gay….so many creative men are gay….and one of these days, some one is going to put these facts right in our face, like it or not.
Patula,
I also believe Michael really cared about children and wanted to make this a better world for them. But he was also taken advantage of by those people he tried to help, a case in point is the events of 2003. He should have exercised more caution, but sadly he did not and this family was able to take advantage of his trusting and giving nature.
It seems that by virtue of being a teenage boy, you were given an access all areas pass into Michael’s private world; a privilege that he did not even afford his own family.
Michael was a good person, i am sure of that, but i think that he was also a human being with his own set of flaws and imperfections.
Hi Patula…..did You get to see the Dad being interviewed, where he plugs His new music company?…..If Jermaine was a good guy what was he doing with Tohme?….and this..LaToya, said Her Brother [Michael] might be guilty!, in the 1993 Jordan case…”not used by his family”..and what is it with all the “occult symbols”….He was the Boss, right?…so we don’t know what he was all about…but it is nice to love the good, that we see in people, and Michael did have some good, that was easy to see.
Michael was a gift from the Lord, and I know that we will see him someday. I cannot wait to give him the biggest hug ever. He meant so much to me. If someone hurt him before he left this earth and he did not want to die, they will pay a price with their conscience. Michael was giving alot of his time to help those in need. He built Neverland for families and children to share. Some people were not able to afford the luxury of getting to an amusement park, zoo, vacations, or even the movies.
He said that this is why he built his home to help others. I am disgusted that no one could see this. He was hurting from that trial. Although I’m sure, I would never want to mention it if he were here. I wish so many a day that I had met him by writing letters of love and concern. What I do not like is the fact that so many so-called friends can give a tribute at his memorial service. No, I’m not talking about Rev. Jackson, Magic, Kobe, or Rev. Sharpton or even Smokey, Stevie Wonder or several others. I’m talking about BS we all know her name. The former childhood model who was if Michael when he received a Grammy back in 93.
I would have been there for him when he was down and had nothing. He needed love. I know that he accepted Christ before leaving here, but he was used not by his family. He was used by others who he helped, and it hurts that he had to go out that way. If he was murdered, I hope that God will prick the soul of his murderer. I love him soo much. I really do. Michael if we had crossed paths sweetheart, I would have bent my arm to be there just for you. I prayed for you so hard. I could not partake of the memorial service, the burial in September, or This Is It. I’m sorry. If you were here today, I would envelope you in my arms with a hug.
I really mean this because you gave your all to helping others. Yet, you were not always treated right and God saw that this was not right. He wanted you back and out of harm’s way.