Israeli-American journalist Daphne Barak, who’s directed questions at everyone from Donald Rumsfield to Bono, has told of desperate phone messages she received belonging to the late pop great Michael Jackson, in which the “Thriller” star begs friends to help him start a new life.

According to Barak, who’s penned a new book on celebrity addiction, the late 50-year-old singer (who died of acute Propofol intoxication last June) made several calls to friends approximately six years before death, where he sounded paranoid and frantic.

“Some of Michael’s closest confidents talked to me exclusively about his addictions,” Barak says, “and provided audio tapes of Michael never heard before. These demonstrate different states of mind he was experiencing under the influence of pharmaceuticals.”

In one message reportedly leaked to The Sun newspaper, Jackson says, “It is Michael calling. It is very important, I want that 150 in that account for me, because... I am very concerned about my life. I am hearing a lot of stories that [name withheld] is still trying to sabotage [inaudible] me and I want to be in a different environment and, um, I’ve found a place that I like and now [inaudible] I want to be away for a while where they can’t find me. So please help me, help [inaudible] help me, and, um, more important than [inaudible]. We are brothers.”

According to the respected journalist, Jackson thought he was involved with the Italian Mafia and wanted to leave his Neverland ranch. If they’re authentic, the messages show the star pleading for financial help.