An emotional Ortega testified on Wednesday, July 10 on the late King of Pop's condition a week before his death.
- Jul 11, 2013
AceShowbiz - On Wednesday, July 10 at Michael Jackson wrongful death trial, the King of Pop's "This Is It" concert director Kenny Ortega finally took the stand to give his testimony. It turned out to be quite an emotional recollection of Jackson's "frightening" state prior to his eventual death the week after and how the "High School Musical" director attempted to get him some much needed help.
"Tonight I was feeding him, wrapping him in blankets to warm his chills, massaging his feet to calm him and calling his doctor," Ortega recalled a June 19, 2009 rehearsal he first wrote about in an email to concert honcho Randy Phillips. "He asked me repeatedly tonight if I was going to leave him. He was practically begging for my confidence. It broke my heart," Ortega said as he choked back tears.
Despite Jackson's "incoherent" condition, Ortega revealed how much the pop superstar had wanted to go on with the show, saying, "I believe that [Michael] really wants this. It would shatter him, break his heart if we pulled the plug." But at the same time, Ortega saw "Michael like I had never seen him before, and it troubled me deeply. He appeared lost, cold, afraid. I just felt that he wasn't present, he wasn't there... I just felt like there was something going on that was more than just physical."
Ortega also said he tried to contact Jackson's doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, soon after that June 19 incident with the iconic singer, but couldn't recall if he had in fact gotten through to him. Murray has been sentenced to four years of involuntary slaughter for Jackson's untimely death.
