The story behind the Michael Jackson red carpet interview
In
1981 the Academy Awards Show was scheduled for Monday March 30, but
earlier that day president Ronald Reagan was shot and the show was
postponed until it was clear the President would survive. (Ronald
Reagan was shot by John W. Hinckley Jr., acting in part on a delusional
fixation with Jodie Foster's character in "Taxi Driver.") The next day,
as the country breathed a collective sigh of relief, the Academy Awards
resumed . On the re-scheduled Oscar night everyone on the red carpet
was in a joyous mood, including Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. They
strolled hand in hand, each a huge fan of the other. While Motown exec
Suzanne DePasse actually discovered The Jackson 5, Diana Ross is
credited with that discovery and she and Michael had a very close and
special relationship throughout his life. As you can see, they both looked very happy that night.
In February 2002 Britney Spears was young and fairly innocent. She was dating Justin Timberlake and promoting her first feature film called "Crossroads".
