Liz, Marlon and Michael: Did Their Post-9/11 Road Trip Really Happen?

It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke: So Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson and Marlon Brando go on a road trip ... In reality, it's a bizarre tale that's part of an article in Vanity Fair's June issue, which says the three mega-stars were so desperate to escape Manhattan in the wake of 9/11 that they actually hopped in a car and drove themselves to safety in the good ol' Midwest.

Yes, the Godfather, the King of Pop and Cleopatra were supposedly on a road trip together that began in New Jersey (Jackson is said to have led the team to a safe place in the Garden State after they struggled to get out of their hotel garage because of screaming fans pounding on their car windows).

A former employee of Jackson's reportedly told the magazine, "They actually got as far as Ohio -- all three of them, in a car they drove themselves!" The source went on to say that Brando was a bit of a pill to travel with (his fellow road trip-mates were allegedly annoyed that he asked them to pull over every time they came across a KFC or Burger King on the highway).

Sound far-fetched? That's what one of Taylor's assistants/close personal friends has already said. This former employee that Vanity Fair mentions, who (no surprise) asked to remain anonymous, refuted the account and claimed that following the 9/11 attacks, Taylor was actually at an armory tending to people frantic to touch base with their family members and meeting with first responders at Ground Zero.

According to an adapted version of the article "Elizabeth Taylor's Closing Act," found on the magazine's website, the story of how this all may or may not have happened goes something like this: Brando and Taylor were in town for one of Jackson's concerts at Madison Square Garden.

Jackson became concerned that they might all three be targets.

"Michael had gotten a call from friends in Saudi Arabia who warned that America was under attack. He hollered down the hallway of his hotel for everyone in his entourage, and for Brando, to leave immediately. Elizabeth was staying at another hotel, the St. Regis, a few blocks away."

Next up is a quote from Corey Feldman, who recalled being at the Garden with Michael prior to the attacks. "But I remember that [the next day] Michael was trying to get Elizabeth out! He was at first looking for a private jet," the former teen star told the magazine.

"He wanted permission to fly out -- but everything was surreal. I didn't go with him."

So according to Jackson's former employee, he led the group out in a brave escape through New Jersey via automobile (there's a pretty priceless comparison to General Washington in there). If you've lost count of how many things seem strange about this story, join the club.

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