Jackson Concert Captivates Taiwanese Fans

Beleaguered singer Michael Jackson sent 40,000 enthusiastic fans packed into Taipei’s open-air Municipal Stadium into a frenzy of clapping, chanting and screaming Saturday during his energetic two-hour show.

On a raised platform facing the stage sat Jackson’s family, who arrived in Taiwan on Friday to give the superstar moral support and defend him against allegations that he sexually abused a 13-year-old boy. No charges have been filed against the singer.

Actress Elizabeth Taylor and her husband, Larry Fortensky, also attended Saturday’s concert. The couple joined Jackson in Singapore last week to offer their support and accompanied him to Taipei on Friday.

Jackson, looking fit, gave a rousing performance complete with fireworks, lasers, smoke and large-screen videos in the first of two Taipei concerts on his “Dangerous” tour.

“This concert was pure magic,” said Lin Chung-yong, 27,a security guard at the show who seemed to have neglected his duties and was standing near the front of the stage throughout the performance. “Michael makes me very happy and excited.”

Jackson stirred the emotions of a young Taiwanese girl when he allowed her briefly onstage during a rendition of the song “She’s Out of My Life.” The singer hugged the girl, who began sobbing and shouting “No! No!” as security personnel escorted her off the stage.

Jackson had postponed concerts in Bangkok, Thailand, and Singapore. His doctor said the performer suffered from acute dehydration caused by the tropical heat and migraine headaches and denied that the abuse allegations were the cause.

Jackson had been scheduled to give a concert here Friday but that was postponed to Monday because of the delays in the Asian leg of his world tour. After Taiwan, Jackson is scheduled to perform in Japan, Russia, Israel, Turkey and the Canary Islands.