Six years ago, before my exposé on the COVIDIOCRACY, VfB had posted a piece on GM-NO! called “New” NORMAL?!?, which dealt primarily with child trafficking, but also called out the music industry for abuse of artists – two songs that were instrumental in discovering this was Dogs by Pink Floyd and The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys by Traffic [this song is on the posting]
https://gm-no.blogspot.com/2020/05/new-normal.html
VfB has already had a fact check get weird, so posting this AI Overview from Gemini:
Resurfaced footage from 2001 shows a 19-year-old Beyoncé speaking with Michael Jackson on the phone while seated on the lap of music producer and executive F. Marc Schaffel. The vintage clip originates from an unaired, scrapped early-2000s reality television project centered around Jackson.
The Context: The recording session took place in 2001 when Beyoncé was still a member of Destiny’s Child and contributing vocals to Jackson’s post-9/11 charity single, “What More Can I Give”.
The Interaction: During the phone call, Jackson thanked her for participating in the collaborative track, leaving a visibly starstruck and excited young Beyoncé blushing.
Online Reaction: The resurfaced clip has circulated widely across social media platforms like Instagram and X, sparking extensive discussion regarding behind-the-scenes music industry culture and dynamics from that era.
Huh – got it to give a more in-depth fact check:
Clip Context and Backstory
The Origin: The resurfaced clip dates back to 2001 and was taken from a scrapped early-2000s reality series project centered around Michael Jackson.
The Purpose: At the time, a 19-year-old Beyoncé was a member of Destiny’s Child. She was in the studio to record vocals for Michael Jackson’s star-studded, post-9/11 charity single, “What More Can I Give”.
The Interaction: The man in the video inviting her onto his lap is producer and music executive F. Marc Schaffel, who was supervising the charity record. In the footage, Schaffel places a phone call to Michael Jackson so Beyoncé can receive direct instructions and inspiration before laying down her track. He tells her, “You want to make this easier? You can sit on my lap,” before informing Jackson on the speakerphone that Beyoncé is seated there.
Beyoncé’s Reaction: In the recording, Beyoncé appears visually nervous, starstruck, and visibly shaking while expressing her intense gratitude and honor to speak with Jackson.
Public and Media Reaction
Boundary Criticisms: Social media users and media platforms like Rap-Up have scrutinized the lack of professional boundaries. Many question why a male executive had a young female artist sit on his lap during a speakerphone call.
Producer Scrutiny: Public scrutiny toward Schaffel is amplified by his later controversial reputation. Court testimony from 2006 revealed that Michael Jackson cut ties with Schaffel after discovering his hidden history directing and producing gay adult films.
Defending Perspectives: Other fans and commentators note that the interaction occurred in a public studio environment filled with cameras, engineers, and production staff rather than a private setting, framing it as an awkward but common artifact of the era’s informal industry dynamics.
12 reactions · 10 comments | In my day the only other time i saw actions like this was in the strip club, when the owners would make the girls that worked for them sit on their lap while they conversate with friends. #industry #music #wakeup #beyhive #beyonce | Vall Owens
