Fact-Checking Michael Jackson’s Boys Will Be Boys Book
Oct 15, 2021
Michael Jackson often portrayed himself as a “Peter Pan” figure, a man who never grew up. Yet police found material that did not fit this image. His collection included pornography—both heterosexual and homosexual—as well as images of nude children.
Among the items were books, such as In Search of Young Beauty, The Boy: A Photo Essay, and Boys Will Be Boys. He also owned a nude photograph of a child believed to be Jonathan Spence, one of the first boys with whom he formed a close relationship.
Although the books featuring nude children were not technically illegal, they were highly questionable and could be described as child erotica. Notably, the latter two titles were compiled by known paedophiles, Martin Swithinbank and Ronald Drew, who published under the names Georges St. Martin and Ronald C. Nelson. This strongly suggests the books were created for an audience of boy lovers.
The North American Man/Boy Love Association (NAMBLA), a notorious organisation promoting pederasty, even recommended these books to its members on a page listing “legal” material centred on young boys.
Those who are familiar with the long out of print The Boy and Boys Will Be Boys will appreciate the appeal of this offer and the excellent value it represents.
The first two books mainly showed children in clothing, but Boys Will Be Boys did not. According to lead prosecutor Ron Zonen in 2005, around 90% of the book’s content was nude imagery.
Published in 1966, the book is still available second-hand online, often selling for between $500 and $1,000.
Supporters of Michael Jackson tend to downplay the explicit nature of these books, as well as the photograph believed to depict Jonathan Spence. A few months ago, I came across a comment from Twitter user @RaspberryR3d, who openly dismissed concerns and even boasted about “trolls” spreading misinformation about Boys Will Be Boys. This user claimed the book contained nudity in 127 of its 346 images, rather than the 90% figure reported
@RaspberryR3d tweeted:
Trolls can't help but make up BS!
The book is NOT full of naked boys showing their genitals!
The book has 346 photograpahs of which 127 show visible nudity!
127 of 346 is 37%, the book isn't even half full of boys showing their genitals!
#FactsDontLieMJGuiltiersDo
In September, I came across the same claim, this time from @MJsFact_Vault, who is likely the same person. I asked them about the source, suspecting it was yet another case of misinformation. Their reply was simply: “the actual book.”
@MJsFact_Vault tweeted:
In the 2005 trial, prosecutor Ron Zonen LIED. He stated that one of the books that was seized from Michael Jacksons home in the 1993 raid contained 90% completely nude boys. This is factually incorrect!
And:
The book "Boys Will Be Boys" has 346 photograpahs of which 127 show visible nudity. 127 of 346 is 37% NOT 90% as Ron Zonen claimed. #RonZonenIsALiar
I tweeted:
What's your source that "only" 127 of those images were of nude children (because somehow that makes it better than 300+)?
@MJsFact_Vault replied:
What's my source? How about the actual book?
The fact of the matter is Ron Zonen lied, if the books was as sinister as ya'll make out, why the need to lie about it.
My suspicion that @MJsFact_Vault was spreading another falsehood, rather than presenting genuine research, was confirmed when I learned the claim originally came from a user called @JaDversary. This individual appears to have obtained both books, though without the sleeve or cover of Boys Will Be Boys.
The tweet reads:
*not, Btw I should mention I have the books we discussed, I can confirm that BWBB is def not "90% naked pics", my 1st count had 37%, 127 pics w/visible nudity out of 346 so Zonen was full of it. The Boy I still need to count but my 1st impression is thats actually a great book.
This tweet raises several problems. It is disturbing to downplay its contents by claiming there is only 37% nudity of underage boys, rather than as much as 90%. Calling Ron Zonen a liar adds further hypocrisy, given that Michael Jackson himself falsely denied the existence of these books and the nude photograph of Jonathan Spence during his 1995 interview with Diane Sawyer.
Did Ron Zonen Overestimate the Percentage?
I have no intention of buying a second-hand book filled with images of underage boys just to confront a few morally bankrupt Michael Jackson apologists. I can rely on court documents and other credible sources instead.
For example, the link shared by @MJsFact_Vault shows how the prosecution presented this material to Judge Rodney Scott Melville, outlining its relevance and admissibility.
MR. ZONEN: If the Court would like, yes.
Just briefly, Your Honor, the books that were seized in 1993 were seized at a time that was contemporaneous with the evidence presented pursuant to 1108. There were four young boys who were involved in Michael Jackson’s life. It’s interesting and unique that the maid who was called to open up this file cabinet was, in fact, the mother of one of those victims at that time.
Those books — one of the books — both of the books — are pictorial essays of adolescent boys.
One of them, about 10 percent of the photographs are completely nude boys. And the other one, 90 percent of the photographs are completely nude boys. The possession of those books by Mr. Jackson, we believe, is evidence of a prurient interest in adolescent boys, and it’s exactly contemporaneous with the state of the evidence as to all of the 1108 witnesses. Therefore, we believe it adequately corroborates within the meaning of People vs. Memro.
We’d ask that it be admitted.
In court, Ron Zonen stated that The Boy: A Photo Essay contained about 10% nudity, while Boys Will Be Boys featured closer to 90%.
These books, along with the rest of the evidence, were not hidden away; they were available for review by everyone, including Michael Jackson’s defence team. Robert Sanger, co-counsel in Jackson’s criminal trial, did not dispute Zonen’s statements. Instead, he confirmed that Jackson had inscribed Boys Will Be Boys.
Full document: drive.google.com
At the 2005 Trial
During the 2005 trial, Ron Zonen asked Wade Robson to look through the book and review its contents. Wade confirmed that it contained many nude images of young boys, some focusing only on their genitalia.
FURTHER RECROSS-EXAMINATION
BY MR. ZONEN:
Q. I’d like to show you a couple exhibits, 841 24 and 842, that have been shown previously in this court to this jury. Let’s start with one titled “Boys Will Be Boys.” I’d like you to take a look at a few of the pages. Just go ahead and start turning pages, please. Stop there for a moment. Would you describe the picture on the right side?
A. There’s a young boy with his legs open and he’s naked.
Q. All right. The picture prominently displays his genitalia, does it not?
A. Yes.
Q. That boy looks, to you, to be approximately how old?
A. Maybe 11 or 12.
Q. That’s how old you were when you were sleeping with Michael Jackson; is that right?
A. Yes.
Q. Go ahead and flip a couple of more pages, if you would. You can stop right there, the next page. What’s the picture on the left show?
A. Just a young boy who’s naked standing on a rock.
Q. His genitalia is prominently displayed in that picture; is that correct?
A. Yes.
Q. Appears that that child is about the same as the other one?
A. Yes.
Q. Flip a couple more pages. Please keep going. Okay. Stop right there. What’s in that two pages, series of two pages?
A. There’s a boy, about the same age, 11 or 12, who’s naked.
Q. All right. And in those pictures his genitalia is prominently displayed as well; is that correct?
A. Yes.
Q. In fact, if you’ll take just a second and strum through the balance of that book — you can do it fairly rapidly, if you would. You don’t have to go page by page, but as you wish. Is it true, Mr. Robson, that all of the pictures in that book are of boys about the same age?
A. Yes.
Q. 10, 11, 12 years old?
A. Yes.
Wade confirmed that the book mainly contains nude images of boys.
Q. And that many of the photographs, if not most of the photographs, depicted in that book are of boys nude; is that correct?
A. Yes.
Q. And in fact, in most of those pictures, the genitalia is prominently displayed; is that right?
A. Yes.
Q. Would you be concerned with a person who possesses a book like that?
A. No.
Q. Would you be concerned about having your 12-year-old child in bed with a person who possesses a book like that?
A. No.
Wade Robson likely knew that admitting he found the book disturbing could have harmed Jackson’s chances of acquittal. That point, however, is beside the issue. What matters is that Robson confirmed he had reviewed most of the book and that its contents matched Ron Zonen’s estimate.
Mesereau, who also had access to the book, could have objected if he thought his witness was being misled, but he chose not to. Like Robert Sanger, he focused instead on the inscription Jackson had written and asked Robson to read it aloud.
FURTHER RECROSS-EXAMINATION
BY MR. MESEREAU:
Q. Mr. Robson, I want to show you Exhibit No. 841. It says, “Boys Will Be Boys.” Do you see this?
A. Yes.
Q. Okay. Now, I’d like you to read the inscription on that book, okay? Read it out loud, if you would.
A. Okay. “Look at the true spirit of happiness and joy in these boys’ faces. This is the spirit of boyhood, a life I never had and will always dream of. This is the life I want for my children. MJ.”
Q. Having read that inscription and having looked at this book, would you have any concern being in bed with Michael Jackson if you knew this book was found in his home?
A. No.
It is strange that Thomas Mesereau used that inscription to portray Michael Jackson as an innocent man-child who simply loved children. The irony is obvious: no ordinary adult would want their children shown in nude poses, let alone have those images published in a book for dubious individuals to gawp at. Yet Jackson appeared untroubled by it.
DSSL confirmed it contained about 90% nudity
On the now-closed blog Desiree speaks... so listen, the owner bought three books once owned by Jackson, including Boys Will Be Boys.
On 14 August 2011, she ran a poll asking readers whether images from the books should be shown uncensored or censored in a future post. Although she intended to publish them uncensored to highlight their graphic nature, many readers warned this could breach the blog’s terms and conditions.
She then added:
I’ve received “Boys Will Be Boys” in the mail this evening.
As many have suggested, I should ‘cover my ass’, so to speak.
The pictures in this book–which also features some shots from Charles DuBois Hodges–are worse than the other two, and this was the one Michael Jackson inscribed.
The photos are about 90% nudity, many shots prominently displaying pubescent genitals. There are several shots with boys just looking at the camera with legs spread apart, penises the center of focus.
Given everything involving Michael Jackson and boys, I cannot imagine what could have possibly motivated Michael Jackson to seek out such a title if he wasn’t interested in boys like a pedophile is.
The book is more innocent and less creepy than the perspective of McBride’s paintings and photographs (I gave the link in these comments) but that does not say much.
After people see this, there can be no doubt as to Michael Jackson’s pedophilia. NO DOUBT!
As I flipped through the book–which was published during the libertine 1960s–I was starting to wonder whether this could be considered child porn if published today. I just feel it would be.
Because of the gratuitous nudity of young boys’ genitals throughout, I wonder if I should practice careful censorship. I don’t want my blog to be deleted because rabid stans would continue to click the ‘Report Abuse’ button. I think even though it is ‘child erotica’ and we would be discussing Jacko’s possession of BWBB in an analytical context, I am afraid Blogger will see the photos and shut the site down immediately.
As such, the voting will be closed today. Thank you everyone for participating.
View a PDF copy here: drive.google.com
Does It Matter Whether It Was 37% or 90%?
No. Arguing over percentages only reveals the distorted mindset of Jackson’s fans. Whether it was 30%, 60% or 89.9% makes no difference.
The facts are clear. The book was compiled by two convicted child abusers and endorsed by NAMBLA. It sells for up to $1,000 on the second-hand market. Most importantly, it contains only images of young boys, many of them nude or in questionable poses.
It is obvious why this book was created and who it is intended to attract.
Although I have access to some of the images, including one of a fully nude boy posed explicitly, I will not share them under any circumstances. To understand the nature of the book, watch Court TV host Catherine Crier present it to Frank Cascio and his lawyer Joe Tacopina. Tacopina’s defence was frantic, while Frank looked visibly uncomfortable as the pages were turned.
Watch the video below.
