[0:00]I cannot believe this is like we're in the theater at Neverland. Michael Jackson's house. I said, Michael, don't you have a business meeting and he said, no, we're going to toys or rust.
[0:10]I look at him and I said, Michael, can you please stop singing that song? I believe I'd be next to Prince Jackson watching Jarrett Jackson play Michael Jackson.
[0:20]So here I am this 20-year-old with my friend and Michael Jackson is crying to us and every time I tell this story, it gives me goosebumps because I still can't believe that it happened.
[0:28]Jenny, you've had so so many incredible experiences, you know, from meeting Michael,
[0:34]going to Netherland, going to Toyz with him, and I can't wait to hear what it was like going to the set. But first off, can you just sort of give some insight because
[0:44]I grew up discovering Michael after his passing. So what was it like in that fan community at the time? And what sort of friendships were formed between fans when you all traveled around?
[0:57]Well, it was pretty nuts back in the day to when I would go and travel to see Michael.
[1:04]it was like scratching, pushing, like trying to get to him. Um everybody was just anytime he would come out, it was it everybody was going pretty nuts. Um I still have lifelong friends to this day that I talked to every single day
[1:21]um that I met through Michael Jackson from 25 years ago. So the friendships that I have are amazing. I would never have met these people. if it wasn't for him. But back in the day it was it was like one for it wasn't all for one. It was one for one and
[1:36]um it was like a mad dash to get to Michael back in the day, but it was it was so much fun.
[1:43]What were like some of the most extreme things you saw people do to try and get close to him.
[1:49]I never was one to push people and all that but I would I would see pushing, I would see people pushing little kids that just were like there and didn't know, Um, people got arrested.
[2:04]Uh I was not there, but I know people that I got arrested. Um, but there were some some crazy instances that I remember like in London we or in New York, we would
[2:18]he would get in a car and we would hop into taxis and we would just it was like a movie scene. We would tell the taxi driver follow that car and we would just whenever the car stopped, we would hop out and throw the taxi driver money and just be like here because we just we didn't know where we were going.
[2:33]Yeah. And and then we would sometimes there were like 13, 12 cars driving down the street and the light would turn red, but we would all run the red light just to make sure that we wouldn't lose Michael's car.
[2:44]Um, it was nuts, like it was it was crazy with the stuff that we would do.
[2:51]How many times did you meet him then? If you're counting just anytime that I just said like, hi, how are you? Probably about 75 or more?
[3:04]Wow. I've always said 75 because just like talking and passing. I if you include those, I would say about 75ish.
[3:16]Yeah. Some people like never got to meet him once and like the majority of the people. Yes, no. I I I never take for granted how how lucky I was and how fortunate I was.
[3:29]I was just an extremely lucky fan. Uh I I know. I know that. And I still can't believe this day when I talk about it that all that stuff happened to me. So,
[3:38]um I know a lot of people did I mean, yeah, the majority of the world never met Michael Jackson. So I'm I will never take that for granted.
[3:47]So, where there's sort of like these big groups of fans, like the same people who tended to travel to all these places?
[3:55]Yes. So, in the majority of them were from overseas. Um, I have friends all over Europe, Israel, Spain, Germany, London, Paris, all over.
[4:06]Uh just because of Michael and it was always the same people that that were in New York, Um, London, LA, Vegas. It was always the same people and we would always just show up and spend all these days together just sitting outside of the hotels for hours and hours and hours on end, not knowing if anything was going to happen or sitting at the gates in front of never land, not knowing most days nothing happened.
[4:34]Like we would be scared to leave to go down to use the restroom because we were like, what if he comes out?
[4:39]But, um, yeah, there's a lot of us. His schedule must have been so, so busy and so unpredictable. Like how would you how would you know where to go?
[4:50]I guess, yeah, I know. It's really crazy. Um, If he was, like, for example, if he was in New York or Vegas, he pretty much always stayed at the same hotel. So somebody in our group would find out and then tell someone else and then it would just stay in our and when I say little group, it was anywhere I mean sometimes it was just my like two people and then sometimes like it would be 30 to 40 people and the the smaller groups, but everybody would just tell everyone in our group and if we could cuz he was these are I'm not talking about any events. I'm not talking about he wasn't in New York for events or anything. He was just in New York just doing his daily life and we would all just find out he was there and fly and show up and sit there for hours on end but he and he knew we were there and he would stop and talk to us. He would stop the limo pretty much every time depending on how big the group was. If it was probably like 30 people or less, he would stop in the limo and rolls wind down or sign autograph because he would recognize us because we were just always there. but um yeah, we would just find out and in Vegas. He would have stayed at the same hotel for I don't even know how long but for the whole month of September in 2002 I would fly out on Tuesday and come back on Friday and work for three days and then fly out to Vegas on Tuesday, come back home, work for three days because he would we just knew he was there. And that was my whole month of September in 2002. That must have been expensive. So fortunately, I was very fortunate that when I was traveling like this, I was working for an airline. So I could fly for free. No way. Um, thank goodness because I I have friends, I don't know most of us worked to travel. Like we worked to follow Michael pretty much. And a lot of my European fans would get a job, work for weeks or months. Quit. Follow Michael, go to New York. Come back, find another job, work until they Michael is somewhere else. Leave their job because if their job told them they couldn't go, they were quitting. Like they were going to Michael. So back in the day it was only Michael and this this is going to sound mean but nobody cared about any of the other Jackson because Michael was alive. You know, Michael was Michael was it, you know. So, anytime we knew where he was, we just we just went and a lot of my European fans would just find all these jobs just to have them make money to be able to travel to see Michael come back, get another job. And I I saw people in London in 2019 for square one and my friend said, she was still paying off credit card debt from like the early 2000s. Wow. So Michael was like, you know, that Michael was it. Yeah, it was. It was like a drug and the first time I saw him at Madison Square Garden, I did not think I was going to react the way I did. And it was instantly like it was like a drug, you were addicted and I just posted something on my social media yesterday. My parents always said, Jenny, there would be there are so many worse things to be addicted to then traveling to see Michael Jackson, you know. So it was fun, it was exciting. It was it was it was such a great life back then. My three pictures I have of Michael are from Vegas in September 2002. And I would leave work one day and come back in three days of a picture of Michael and me and just have it sitting on the computer and my co-workers were like, when did you take that? And I was like, last night, you know, so um it was it was it was so exciting though. It was so exciting when he was around. Mhm. Cuz we knew that he would stop and we knew that he would stop and talk to us. Like we knew he wasn't just going to ignore us and and I mean depending on the group and Vega sometimes he would invite my friend shopping with him if it was a smaller group like that's just how nice he was. So we knew that he would he would like talk to us. And you went to Toy with him. Tell me about that. That's the whole night that we spent the night. So do you want me to start from the beginning of that day. Yeah, beginning to end. I'm going here a little bit. I always say when I talk like this, I feel like I'm talking too much and then everyone that's interviewing me is like, no, we want to hear it. Everything. So, in February of 2002, my friend and I were in Miami, just her and me. Two weeks straight. We were the only one seeing Michael in another hotel. He would talk to us three to four times a day. Um, just her I, that's it. No one else knew. There was no social media. We barely had cell phones, you know, so um, he would stop and talk to us and the Martin Biser interview was coming out around this time. So it was going to air in Europe on one night and America the next night. So for two weeks we've been, you know, so happy every day see and Michael. And the night at air in Europe, the next morning, his car came in or out of the hotel, I don't remember and we were obviously all excited to see him and he rolled the under down and he was crying. And I mean like like tears streaming down his face and every time I tell this story, it gives me goosebumps because I still can't believe that it happened. And So here I am this 20-year-old with my friend and Michael Jackson is crying to us. And I I'm like, what what happened? And he's like, they're saying I do all these things again and I would never hurt a child, I would never hurt children, you know, and I did not know what was in this documentary yet. We hadn't seen it. And he was like, please tell everybody that I did not do this. I would never hurt a child. Tell everyone and I was like, of course, but I'm like, how are we going to tell everybody in my head cuz We didn't have social media, you know. We didn't I don't know. So, I don't know if that conversation probably just lasted a few minutes and um the car went inside the hotel and then about five minutes later it came back out in his one of his security guys Chris at the time told us, he said ladies, you know, Michael does not care that you're here but but the press is going to try and find them. The press is is you know, how the press is. And all the employees at the hotel knew that we were there because of Michael the security was like, if you're standing out here all day every day, the press is going to figure it out, find out. Yeah. So we we just if you don't mind leaving and we weren't we were yes, of course, like we're leaving. So then we saw the view interview that night and blah blah blah. The rest is history on that. So anyways, um, but when so when he came out to told us to leave, he said Michael wants to invite you to Neverland. But that was pretty much it. So we he didn't say a specific day or time or anything. So we were just like, yeah, it's okay. but that was it. So then for the whole it was a whole month later, my friend and I flew back to LA and we were just well, he invited us, but when is this going to happen? Like we had no other details. So randomly, March 9th, 2003, there is three French fans in me and we've known each other for a few years now. just like we were talking about just from following Michael. Right. And so the four of us are in this hotel in LA and another MJ friend of mine called me and said, Hey, Michael's back at Neverland. Within five minutes, the four of us had all of our stuff packed up in the car and we were headed to Neverland. Um, again, not knowing anything, not knowing if anything was going to happen or if we were just going to sit in front of the gates all day, which still even just being at the gates is it's so peaceful and it's so beautiful. It's it is Michael, right? It embodies Michael. So We get we get up to Neverland and there was there was like three other fans in a car, my friend and his brother I think and then me and um my three friend fans. So there was about seven or so of us. And we're sitting there and it wasn't that much longer after we got there and security comes out and they say, well, okay, Michael is you all have to leave. Michael has a business meeting. So have to leave. And we were like, you're telling us Michael Jackson's coming out and that we have to leave. Okay, that's not going to happen. So, all we did, we drove down for Gary Mountain Road, which is seems like it's about 5 miles long. And we crossed over this. It's not a a major highway, but it's it's like a two lane or maybe a three lane road. We're going to go like 60 miles an hour, like it's it's like I don't know if it's a highway, but we crossed over that and we parked our car on this little street in um Sannes and we're just sitting there. And all of a sudden here comes Michael's big stretch limousine, Escalade, whatever it was. We all four of us fling the doors open, run across this busy freaking street with cars just flying down the road. Yeah. I mean it wasn't that busy of a street at the moment, but I mean it was almost like a highway. So we ran across the street and we to the as soon as the limo gets to the end of his street, we get to the limo and the door opens and Michael's like, come in, come in. And we get in the limo and we're sitting there and it was uh Michael and Gavin and his brother and sister and then Frank and another and whatever and just a bunch of people that I don't care for anymore obviously. But then also some of his like a few of his family members I think. I don't remember who else was there except for those people. And then my friends and I get in and we're just sitting in the limo talking with Michael and um I had recognized Gavin right away because the month earlier we had seen the living with Michael Jackson documentary the Beverly interview. So I recognized him right away and his brother and sister. And all of a sudden security comes back and they go, all right, you all have to leave. And Michael's like, no, they don't. They're coming with us. And I said, Michael, don't you have a business meeting? And he said, no, we're going to toys our ass. And we looked at security, everyone started laughing because security knew that we knew they were lying. So security was laughing, Michael, we were all laughing. So we leave our so we're in the limo, our car across the street. All the doors were wide open on our car. Everything we owned was in the car. Everything. We didn't care. We just jumped out the car and we didn't go back to the car before we left. So we're in the limo and we drive 30 minutes to Santa Maria. We go to Toys R Us. Uh they had shut it down, obviously. And uh we were inside of Toys R Us for I always say two to three hours, maybe two hours or so. Um, just doing whatever. Michael was telling us we could buy, get whatever we wanted and I don't think any of us did. I was I even said I'm like, I am perfectly fine without anything right now. I don't need a thing. This is crazy. Like I'm 20 years old inside of Toys R Us with Michael Jackson, you know, just like what right? Yeah. So um and I always I have to tell the story because I always tell the story about towards the rest. Um that month or a few months earlier in the club by 50 cent came out the song and uh it was playing nonstop on the radio. I felt like we heard it 50 times a day. So I was so sick of this song by that point and all of a sudden I'm walking by Michael And all he goes, it's your birthday. And I look at him and I say, Michael, can you please stop singing that song? And he said, you don't like 50 cent? And I said, I like 50 cent. I'm just so sick of that song and we all laughed and I always say to this day, I feel like I'm going to the only people that ever told Michael Jackson to stop singing. Yeah. But it was it was like a it was like a joke, you know. Um and and everyone it was like he just started laughing and but it was so funny to hear him singing sense inside of towards our us, you know, and to this day, anytime I hear that song, obviously, I when I'm at work even, I'll hear it at work or I people would play it at work and I'll be like, hey, did you all know Michael Jackson saying this and I told him to stop singing it's like, they're like, what? But so that was really funny inside of towards us. So um, so we just walking around and we were about to leave. But this point by the time we were leaving, I guess we're got out that he was there. So there were tons of people outside of the windows um looking in the windows at Toys are us and I'll never forget when we were walk into the limo. I had his hand, I was holding on to one of his hands and I think my friend was holding his other hand and we walked to the limo. The whole group of us, the Arviso, Frank, whatever. A few of my friends. I think of some of my other friends, I think they drove their car and followed behind the limo, I think. So not all of the fans were in the limo, but we were all inside the Torrance. So Um so we get back in the limo and we drive back to Neverland and on the way back, there were cars driving next to us, which usually was my friends and me screaming out the window. Michael, like I love you. So you got see the other side of that. Exactly. Like that was usually us. That was so funny that and of course Michael's like waving like, I love you, but that was usually us. It was so weird to be on the other side. And um Michael was they were blasting M&M in the limo And Michael was kind of just sitting there doing this and Gavin was laying his head all on Michael's shoulder talking about how Michael saved his life and Gavin's brother and sister were in like Gavin would be dead if Michael didn't help us. Like Michael gave him so much money. I don't know if he bought him a house, cars, but and Michael was just sitting there. Like he wasn't interacting with the conversation, he was just like this. So, when I find out when I found out everything and when you go through the timeline and go through the trial, by this point, the our visa's outside their welcome at Neverland by a long time. And they were just doing a lot of shady shit. And I'm sorry, that's just how I feel. And security was over them, Frank Cascio When I talk about Frank, I'm talking about how back then he was on Michael's side, right? I'm not talking about what's going on out. So, they were close friends, Frank was over it, all through the trial, if you go through the trial, everyone around Michael was over this family. And I think at this point, they were about to be gone, neverland for good. They didn't know it, but come to find out they were. I think Michael was just over them. So, yeah. Before we go, what's one thing about, you know, your experience on set? What's one detail that really surprised you? And then what's one that you haven't told anybody else yet? Well, the surprise was just seeing for. And at one point in between takes in between takes of the scene, he came down from behind the the wall. So he was standing about maybe 30 to 40 feet away from us and he the way he talked the way he moved in the scene, his, the way he the way he initiated words, it was Michael. It was that was just so amazing to see um because there have been movies made about Michael in the past with not the greatest people playing him almost embrassively and you know, when you first hear about a biopic being made it's like, well who's going to play Michael because it's too it's but anyway, so it was Jesse and I knew immediately I'm like this is he's perfect for it, so. Anything you haven't told anybody else yet. Speaking six hours with Prince on set was was great. So cool. Crazy. Another crazy day. Another like another what is happening in my life. Yeah. So yeah. That's it. It's incredible that's continuing, you know, even all these years later. Ever since leaving Neverland came out, I have now this whole other life that is Michael related and he's gone. So it's it's amazing that all these years later, I have my Ohio life where I am a server in a restaurant and I serve steaks for a living. And then I have this crazy Michael Jackson life. So anyways, it's it's amazing and I'm so I'm so lucky and I'm so grateful and I'm so fortunate. So Well, thank you so much. It's been a pleasure hearing all your stories. Thank you for having me. Where can people follow you? Yes, I'm on Tik Tok. It's just my name, um Jenny Wining, w i n i n s. And then my Instagram is Jenny W526. It is private so it might take me a minute. My Tik Tok is public basically mainly because I got on for the biopic so yeah. Well thank you so much and hopefully we'll catch up after the biopic and looking forward to seeing your Tik Tok about that. You're amazing. Keep up the great work. Thank you so much Jenny. Thank you. I.The provided JSON is not a complete or correct transcription of the audio. The original request asked for a complete and full transcription of the entire video, with each segment containing 1-3 sentences and timestamps in MM:SS format. 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