I was thinking the same thing.Plus,several of Prince's friends have already confirmed that he had chronic pain (hip problems) and was taking painkillers to deal with it.This bodyguard seems like an honest guy,but perhaps there are things that he doesn't know regarding Prince's use of painkillers.

Trickology said:

He doesn't have a reason to lie, but Prince could've been hiding his personal habits and over time figured out a way so none of his inner circle could be able to detect his issue.

[Edited 5/16/16 14:10pm]

MMJas said:

This is the bodyguard that allegedly carried him to the ambulance when the plance incident happened. So if we are to believe what this man is saying (and we have no reason no to, at this stage), then Prince did not OD on opiates, that was not why the plane made an emergency landing. Right?

that was alleged by TMZ

morningsong said:

farnorth said:

He mentions B12 injections; B12 deficiency (a problem for vegans) is related to low red blood cell count, which was reported by KSTP.

I remembered about Prince getting B shots and looked it up. There is a genetic deficiency that has nothing to do with being a vegan or vegetarian also.

It also can be a matter of normal aging. I have never, in my entire life, been a vegetarian - and my B12 levels were low enough at my physical last year that I had to take sublingual methylated B12 for months to get it up where it should be. My doctor told me that even if you get enough B12 in your diet, you might not absorb adequate amounts of it in the ileum. And if Prince was a vegetarian for a long time, he might not have gotten enough B12 in his diet or had the co-factors necessary for assimilation.

BillieBalloon said:

strawberrybubblegum said:

For me the plot thickens - if it wasn't painkillers then why did he go?!!!

I read on here recently that in the 90's he took heart medication and drank wine and ended up in hospital maybe a condition of the heart?

Yes, that was in one of the biographies written about him. I read elsewhere that he had heart murmurs. Also epilepsy as a child.

McD said:

Guys... you'd need to be nuts at this stage to think painkillers weren't a huge thing in Prince's life. A danger to his health, and an addiction.

I don't think this guy is lying, but perhaps Prince didn't involve him in that part of his life. Was this interview taken at the JW memorial? Perhaps if he got connected through that, Prince kept his addicition and his religion separate.

If this guy knows all there is to know, then we have an unexplained plane landing to deal with. We have the addicition specialist who found Prince's body and who now has a lawyer which suddenly makes no sense, we have the DEA descending on Paisley Park like its Waco Texas for just a guy dying of the flu.

The ship has long since sailed on this having nothing to do with addiction.

I wouldn't read too much into that. If they were called by the Chanhassen Police department to make sure they've sufficiently covered all leads then its not a sign of anything, its just the police department being as thorough as all PD's should be.

^ Speed is such an overrated drug, where the low is always greater than the high and longer lasting. It's not something that will produce greater productivity and all round health. As for B12 shots, in isolation probably a bad idea. I remember reading long ago, because B12 and folic acid both compete in de-methylating methionine to lower homocysteine, taking too much of one can squeeze out the other. It's so technical I may have misobserved the point, but Prince was vegetarian anyway, so it's unlikely he really needed it. According to his girlfriend Prince liked stuff like strawberry ice cream and peanut m&m's. He was far from vegan. Prince may have inhaled pure oxygen before going on stage, if what i read was right.

MMJas said:

This is the bodyguard that allegedly carried him to the ambulance when the plance incident happened. So if we are to believe what this man is saying (and we have no reason no to, at this stage), then Prince did not OD on opiates, that was not why the plane made an emergency landing. Right?

It had been rumored that it was Kirk Johnson who carried him off the plane, as Kirk fulfilled a "jack of all trades" role that included being a bodyguard at times. It sounds like Romeo may not have been on the Atlanta trip at all, as he doesn't address that incident directly.

Whatever ultimately happened or didn't happen, I would guess Kirk knows 100 times more about than Romeo does.

ERINAMONDO said:

2020 said:

lezama said:

McD said:

lezama said:

I wouldn't read too much into that. If they were called by the Chanhassen Police department to make sure they've sufficiently covered all leads then its not a sign of anything, its just the police department being as thorough as all PD's should be.

It matches the painkiller narrative as does every other thing. But take it away and there are huge holes. A conspiracy, I'd say. We know he was found by the son of a top opiod addiction specialist, and that both he and his father are now lawyered up. No one connected with Prince or Paisley Park has denied this story. We know he almost died on a plane. And that just hours before the addiction specialist showed up, he was getting a prescription. We know local doctors are under scrutiny. Prince had a very serious addiction to painkillers. Although we don't know if anyone, even Prince, was to blame, or what else was involved, I'd say the evidence we have so far regarding painkillers is overwhelming in the extreme. The only thing that makes no sense is how, given his probable physical condition, Prince was able to do so much right until the end. The answer to that may be the one thing we've known all along: he was an extraordinary guy.

It's perhaps probable given the evidence that painkillers played a role, but you wouldn't have to be crazy to still have reasonable doubts:

1. The autopsy and toxicology report has not been released. The Chanhassen sherriff's office (and the DEA) has no information on the amount of percocet that was in his system, and whether this was the cause of death.

2. Prince's associates have said that he used painkillers to deal with chronic pain; no one has said on the record that he was addicted.

3. The "safe shot" is not itself proof that there was a percocet overdose.

4. The lawyer for the California doctor could be telling a half-truth about the intervention, to protect his client (who was illegally carrying buprenorphine across state lines).

[Edited 5/16/16 14:42pm]

I'd believe the bodyguard if his story had some dirt in it though. He said he packed Prince's bags and he would have seen stuff... so, like, did he ever see anything else, that maybe wasn't so kosher? It kind of reads like he saw other things, so he would have also seen pills. If he'd been more forthright about the types of things he did see, then I could take his word at face value. As is, he sounds as ridiculous as every other supposed insider, that never saw anything as Prince OD'd repeatedly.

RachB65 said:

ERINAMONDO said:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/16/health/prince-bodyguard-speaks/index.html

That is a postive thing to hear, it seems tose closest to him are very loyal and not feeding into the media monster of lies and half truths. But then the question begs why waz an addiction/dependency specialist in CA called and his son sent to PP with Suboxone? And y are the DEA investigating this a crime?

The only information shared with the public was: "Detectives are revisiting the scene at Paisley Park as a component of a complete investigation".

.

If someone had a suspicion he may have had opioids and they don't know how he got them, and if there's the possibility someone violated any federal laws in transferring or obtaining any prescription medication then it would mean the local authorities (County authorities) would have to work with federal ones (DEA) so that the federal level authorities could investigate.

farnorth said:

McD said:

lezama said: It matches the painkiller narrative as does every other thing. But take it away and there are huge holes. A conspiracy, I'd say. We know he was found by the son of a top opiod addiction specialist, and that both he and his father are now lawyered up. No one connected with Prince or Paisley Park has denied this story. We know he almost died on a plane. And that just hours before the addiction specialist showed up, he was getting a prescription. We know local doctors are under scrutiny. Prince had a very serious addiction to painkillers. Although we don't know if anyone, even Prince, was to blame, or what else was involved, I'd say the evidence we have so far regarding painkillers is overwhelming in the extreme. The only thing that makes no sense is how, given his probable physical condition, Prince was able to do so much right until the end. The answer to that may be the one thing we've known all along: he was an extraordinary guy.

It's perhaps probable given the evidence that painkillers played a role, but you wouldn't have to be crazy to still have reasonable doubts:

1. The autopsy and toxicology report has not been released. The Chanhassen sherriff's office (and the DEA) has no information on the amount of percocet that was in his system, and whether this was the cause of death.

2. Prince's associates have said that he used painkillers to deal with chronic pain; no one has said on the record that he was addicted.

3. The "safe shot" is not itself proof that there was a percocet overdose.

4. The lawyer for the California doctor could be telling a half-truth about the intervention, to protect his client (who was illegally carrying buprenorphine across state lines).

[Edited 5/16/16 14:42pm]

1. I'm sure the authorities are acting on knowledge they actually have and we don't. And yet their later actions match the narrative that has already been given by the likes of TMZ (who have stayed away from the larger claims that they cant prove, and we all know what they are).

2. Chronic pain + painkillers IS an addiction. Whether you are taking them for actual current pain or become addicted and just continue, even the most mild painkillers claim addiction can occur after three days. THREE DAYS. And you're talking 'chronic'? Yep, that's addiction.

3. No, but it matches every other goddamn thing, and was announced long before everything else in the narrative just happened to match up TO THE LETTER. We were told on the QT he got a save shot for a painkiller overdose, and lo, just days later what do we find out about the 911 caller?

4. We know who his client is and what he does. It's all about addiction. He has no other reason to be there. Whether he went to help, or just to be used as another source for opioids, all roads lead to addiction.

funksterr said:

I'd believe the bodyguard if his story had some dirt in it though. He said he packed Prince's bags and he would have seen stuff... so, like, did he ever see anything else, that maybe wasn't so kosher? It kind of reads like he saw other things, so he would have also seen pills. If he'd been more forthright about the types of things he did see, then I could take his word at face value. As is, he sounds as ridiculous as every other supposed insider, that never saw anything as Prince OD'd repeatedly.

If it in fact happened once after the Atlanta show, that's not "repeatedly", the word is "once". And if he was not at that show or on that plane he would not have any direct knowledge about it.

Trickology said:

FunkiestOne said:

Very interesting and this guy doesn't have a big reason to lie now. I would say maybe something took P out, totally unrelated to the pills, but the emergency landing a few days before he passed away still doesn't make sense if it was definitely opoid OD related (which we don't know 100% yet).

[Edited 5/16/16 13:03pm]

He doesn't have a reason to lie, but Prince could've been hiding his personal habits and over time figured out a way so none of his inner circle could be able to detect his issue. I tell you, it didn't surprise me when the rumors came out that prince was on various substances. Usually when a high profile scolds you for doing drugs in a particular forceful tone, its because that person is suffering as well. Its easier to preach from the pulpit rather than looking in the mirror.

No, I don't think Prince was clean at all, I wouldnt be surprised if he was on speed to keep up with his productivity or something of that nature.

I've heard the painkiller rumors for years, it isn't adding up that he was living a clean lifestyle.

I think people were fooling themselves in the past year or so that Prince was healthy. Whatever it was, (I doubt very much that someone that deep in religious cult philosophies) it wasn't just a "Vegan lifestyle" It doesn't take anything away from his genius or legacy, but it does point to a obvious point: Maybe certain drugs are needed to keep going at the pace these artists are living life at.

Yes you make some good points, although taking painkillers is not "dirty"...meaning he could still be living a "clean" lifestyle and taking prescribed meds for pain.

.

But agreed that many of these performers take something to get "up" for a show and I don't blame them. If you were having a bad day and really tired, would you want to go in front of 10,000 people and do a crappy show...or anything less than you knew you were capable of? No of course not and if taking a pill could allow you to give all those people a magical experience and amazing show and memories, then I get the temptation to pop that pill.

paulludvig said:

lezama said:

McD said:

Guys... you'd need to be nuts at this stage to think painkillers weren't a huge thing in Prince's life. A danger to his health, and an addiction.

I don't think this guy is lying, but perhaps Prince didn't involve him in that part of his life. Was this interview taken at the JW memorial? Perhaps if he got connected through that, Prince kept his addicition and his religion separate.

If this guy knows all there is to know, then we have an unexplained plane landing to deal with. We have the addicition specialist who found Prince's body and who now has a lawyer which suddenly makes no sense, we have the DEA descending on Paisley Park like its Waco Texas for just a guy dying of the flu.

The ship has long since sailed on this having nothing to do with addiction.

I wouldn't read too much into that. If they were called by the Chanhassen Police department to make sure they've sufficiently covered all leads then its not a sign of anything, its just the police department being as thorough as all PD's should be.

Really 10 dea UNMARKED CARS is nothing to read into.,.you guys have fucking blinders on

lwr001 said:

lezama said:

I wouldn't read too much into that. If they were called by the Chanhassen Police department to make sure they've sufficiently covered all leads then its not a sign of anything, its just the police department being as thorough as all PD's should be.

Really 10 dea UNMARKED CARS is nothing to read into.,.you guys have fucking blinders on

You realize how big Paisley Park is? Maybe you don't. What do you think you'd need that many cars for if there was no one there? Its to make sure they had the bandwidth to make sure they could look through it all.

OnlyNDaUsa said:

Robbajobba said:

But people have B12 shots all the time, as a kind of energy booster. Doesn't have to be to treat an underlying condition.

he had B12 listed on his tour riders for years!

True! I can confirm he had B12 on his tour rider when he was in Kentucky in 1997.

norsknurse said:

He also said he was receiving B12 shots. That's in line with the "very low red blood count" that was leaked. Speculating here, but could he have had severe anemia (or chronic blood loss like and ulcer) and since JW's don't allow blood transfusions (the only definitive treatment) they tried B12 but it was not sufficient?

Then why Narcan on the plane? That's a treatment specifically designed to treat opiod overdoses.

Look, it's not at all suprising P could have hid any addictions he may have had from everybody...including a bodyguard. The emergency landing is key here. People are ignoring that in order to help support whatever outlandish consipracy theory they are trying to push. Sometimes a fire is just a fire. Doesn't always mean the fire was set by the Illuminati or Warner Bros. hired Ninjas...

lezama said:

lwr001 said:

Really 10 dea UNMARKED CARS is nothing to read into.,.you guys have fucking blinders on

You realize how big Paisley Park is? Maybe you don't. What do you think you'd need that many cars for if there was no one there? Its to make sure they had the bandwidth to make sure they could look through it all.

Stop. Your point would be more logical if it was 10 local law enforcement vehicles. But these were DEA. Don't bring in DEA for B12 shots. Sorry...

ThirdStrike said:

Trickology said:

FunkiestOne said:

Very interesting and this guy doesn't have a big reason to lie now. I would say maybe something took P out, totally unrelated to the pills, but the emergency landing a few days before he passed away still doesn't make sense if it was definitely opoid OD related (which we don't know 100% yet).

[Edited 5/16/16 13:03pm]

He doesn't have a reason to lie, but Prince could've been hiding his personal habits and over time figured out a way so none of his inner circle could be able to detect his issue. I tell you, it didn't surprise me when the rumors came out that prince was on various substances. Usually when a high profile scolds you for doing drugs in a particular forceful tone, its because that person is suffering as well. Its easier to preach from the pulpit rather than looking in the mirror.

No, I don't think Prince was clean at all, I wouldnt be surprised if he was on speed to keep up with his productivity or something of that nature.

I've heard the painkiller rumors for years, it isn't adding up that he was living a clean lifestyle.

I think people were fooling themselves in the past year or so that Prince was healthy. Whatever it was, (I doubt very much that someone that deep in religious cult philosophies) it wasn't just a "Vegan lifestyle" It doesn't take anything away from his genius or legacy, but it does point to a obvious point: Maybe certain drugs are needed to keep going at the pace these artists are living life at.

There is no way Prince could have an ongoing substance abuse problem and this man not be aware of it.

OnlyNDaUsa said:

MMJas said:

This is the bodyguard that allegedly carried him to the ambulance when the plance incident happened. So if we are to believe what this man is saying (and we have no reason no to, at this stage), then Prince did not OD on opiates, that was not why the plane made an emergency landing. Right?

that was alleged by TMZ

We already know why the plane made an emergency landing. They were addressing an unresponsive passenger. That's a mater of record. You guys are ignoring obvious signs...

ThirdStrike said:

lezama said:

You realize how big Paisley Park is? Maybe you don't. What do you think you'd need that many cars for if there was no one there? Its to make sure they had the bandwidth to make sure they could look through it all.

Stop. Your point would be more logical if it was 10 local law enforcement vehicles. But these were DEA. Don't bring in DEA for B12 shots. Sorry...

Do you understand what an investigation intails? Who would be the experts in federal level offenses? Local authorities or FEDERAL ones? If you don't know what you're talking about, why are you responding to me?

paulludvig said:

ThirdStrike said:

Then why Narcan on the plane? That's a treatment specifically designed to treat opiod overdoses.

Look, it's not at all suprising P could have hid any addictions he may have had from everybody...including a bodyguard. The emergency landing is key here. People are ignoring that in order to help support whatever outlandish consipracy theory they are trying to push. Sometimes a fire is just a fire. Doesn't always mean the fire was set by the Illuminati or Warner Bros. hired Ninjas...

Sometimes people collaps if they push themself to hard. He had been ill for weeks and had just finished performing to intense shows.

Would you then administer NARCAN for a simple collapse? Again, it's specifically designed to treat OPIOD OVERDOSE...

ThirdStrike said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

that was alleged by TMZ

We already know why the plane made an emergency landing. They were addressing an unresponsive passenger. That's a mater of record. You guys are ignoring obvious signs...

Does an unresponsive passenger necessarily mean an OD'd passenger? I'm sorry, I might be lost in the semantics here...