Michael Jackson

For other uses of this term, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation). Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson Dangerous World Tour 1993.jpg
Jackson on his Dangerous World Tour in September 1993 Personal information
Birth name Michael Joseph Jackson
Nickname The King of Pop
Other names Michael Joe Jackson
Birth August 29, 1958 Gary (Indiana, United States) Death June 25, 2009 (age 50) Los Angeles (California,
United States) Cause of death Acute myocardial infarction Burial Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Neverland Ranch Residence
American Nationality
Family
Family Jackson family
Parents Joseph Jackson
Katherine Jackson
Spouse Lisa Marie Presley (matr. 1994; div. 1996)
Deborah Rowe (m. 1996; div. 1999) Children 3
Professional information
Occupation
Singer-songwriter-producer-dancer-actor-entrepreneur Years active 1964-2009
Pseudonym Michael Joe Jackson
Genres Pop, soul, rhythm and blues, funk, rock, disco, post-disco, dance pop, new jack swing
Voice Instrument
Labels Epic Records Sony Music Motown
Universal Music Group
Sony BMG Legacy Steeltown Records Member of The Jackson 5 Website
michaeljackson.com
Signature Michael Jackson signature.svg
Michael Joseph Jackson (Gary, Indiana, August 29, 1958 - Los Angeles, June 25, 2009)1 was an American
singer, songwriter, producer and dancer.23 4 Nicknamed the "King of Pop",5 his contributions and recognition in
the history of music and dance for more than four decades, as well as his publicized personal life, made him an
international figure in popular culture. His music includes a wide range of genres such as pop, rhythm and blues
(soul and funk), rock, disco and dance, and he is recognized as the "most successful musical artist of all time" by
Guinness World Records.6 78

He began his artistic career in the mid-1960s in the musical group The Jackson 5, in which he published,
together with some of his brothers, ten albums until 1975. In 1971, he began his career as a soloist, although he
continued to belong to the group. In the early 1980s, Jackson became a dominant figure in popular music. His
music videos, among which stand out
"Beat It," "Billie Jean," and "Thriller," from his 1982 album Thriller, are credited with breaking racial barriers and
transforming the medium into an art form and promotional tool. Their popularity helped propel the television
network MTV to fame. The album Bad (1987) produced the number-one singles "I Just Can't Stop Loving You",
"Bad", "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Man in the Mirror" and "Dirty Diana" on the Billboard Hot 100, making it
the first album to have five number-one singles on that chart. He continued to innovate with videos such as
"Black or White" and "Scream" throughout the 1990s and built a reputation as a solo artist on several tours.
Through his stage and video performances, Jackson popularized a number of complex dance techniques, such
as the robot and the moonwalk, to which he gave his name. His distinctive sound and style have influenced
numerous artists across a variety of musical genres.

Thriller is the best-selling album of all time, with estimated sales of 65 million copies worldwide. Jackson's other
albums, Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and HIStory (1995), also rank among the best-
selling of all time. With Off the Wall, Jackson became the first solo artist to have four singles from the same
album reach the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100. Jackson is one of the few artists to have been inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, and was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Dance Hall
of Fame as the only dancer in both pop and rock music. His other achievements include several Guinness
records, 13 Grammy Awards, the Grammy Legend Award, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 26
American Music Awards—more than any other male solo artist—including Artist of the Century and Artist of the
1980s, 13 number-one singles in the United States during his solo career—more than any other male artist in the
Hot 100 era—and estimated sales of more than 400 million albums worldwide.n. 11920 He became the first artist
in history to have a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in five different decades when "Love Never Felt So Good"
peaked at number nine on May 21, 2014.21 Jackson traveled the world attending events honoring his charity,
and in 2000, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized him for supporting 39 charities, more than any
other artist.22

Aspects of Jackson's personal life, such as his changing appearance, personal relationships, and behavior,
generated controversy. In 1993, he was charged with child sexual abuse, but the civil case was settled out of
court for an undisclosed amount and no formal charges were filed.23 In 2005, he was tried and acquitted of
further allegations of child sexual abuse and several other charges after the jury found him not guilty on all
counts. While preparing for his comeback concert series, This Is It, Jackson died of acute propofol and
benzodiazepine intoxication on June 25, 2009, after suffering cardiac arrest.24 The Los Angeles County coroner
ruled his death a homicide, and his personal physician, Conrad Murray, was found guilty of involuntary
manslaughter. Jackson's death caused widespread shock, and the live broadcast of his funeral was watched by
more than 2.5 billion people worldwide. all the world.25 In 2010, Sony signed a contract with his family
for 250
millions of dollars to retain distribution rights from their records and
releasing seven posthumous albums by 2017.262728 Forbes has ranked Jackson as one of celebrities
deceased with more admissions, with earnings of 825
millions of dollars in 2016, the highest annual amount ever registered by the
publication.29 In 2019, new allegations of child sexual abuse against the singer were detailed in the documentary
Leaving Neverland, causing an international backlash both in his defense and against him.303132 Despite the
controversy and public debate over Jackson's legacy, his music and brand experienced a surge in popularity and
demand following the documentary's airing.33 According to Forbes' 2020 report on the highest-earning deceased
celebrities, Jackson retained the number one position during that year for the eleventh time.

consecutive.34

Index
1 Biography
1.1 1958-1975: Childhood and The Jackson 5
1.2 1975-1981: Move to Epic Records and Off the Wall
1.3 1982-1983: Thriller and Motown
1.4 1984-1985: Pepsi, “We Are the World” and other ventures
1.5 1986-1990: Change of appearance, tabloids, Bad, movies, autobiography, and
Neverland
1.6 1991-1993: Dangerous, Heal the World Foundation and Super Bowl XXVII
1.7 1993-1994: First accusation of abuse and first marriage
1.8 1995-1999: HIStory, second marriage and fatherhood
1.9 2000-2003: dispute with Sony, Invincible and third son
1.10 2003-2005: Second accusation of abuse 1.11 2006-2009: final years and This is It
2 Death and funeral
2.1 New allegations of abuse
3 Posthumous works
4 Artistic impact
4.1 Influences
4.2 Music videos and choreographies
5 Artistic features
5.1 Dance
5.2 Voice
5.3 Aesthetics
5.4 Lesser known occupations
6 Legacy
7 Awards and achievements
8 Philanthropy
9 Family
10 Discography
11 Filmography
12 Tours
13 See also
14 Note
15 References
16 Literature
17 External links
Biography
1958-1975: Childhood and The Jackson 5

Jackson's childhood home in Gary, Indiana, with floral tributes after his death.
Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958. He was the eighth of ten children in the Jackson family, a
working-class African-American family who lived in a two-bedroom house on Jackson Street in Gary, Indiana, an
industrial city in the Chicago metropolitan area. His mother, Katherine Esther Scruse, was a devout Jehovah's
Witness. She played clarinet and piano and once aspired to be a country and western artist, but worked part-time
at Sears to support the family.35 Michael's father, Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson, a former boxer, was a
steelworker in the U.S. Steel. Joe performed as a guitarist in a local rhythm and blues band, The Falcons, to
supplement the family income.35 Michael grew up with three sisters (Rebbie, La Toya and Janet) and five
brothers (Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Randy). A sixth brother, Marlon's twin, Brandon, died shortly after
birth.36

Jackson (bottom right) as a member of the Jackson 5 in a guest appearance on The Jim Nabors Hour (1970).
Jackson had a troubled relationship with his father. 3738 In 2003, Joe acknowledged that he routinely spanked
him as a child,39 and was also said to have verbally abused his son, often saying he had a "fat nose". 40
Jackson stated that as a child he was physically and emotionally abused during incessant rehearsals, though he
credited his father's strict discipline as playing a major role in his success. 37 In an interview with Martin Bashir
for the 2003 documentary Living with Michael Jackson, Jackson recalled that Joe would often sit in a chair with a
belt in his hand while he and his brothers rehearsed, and that "if you didn't do it the right way, he'd beat you up,
he'd really whip you". 41 Jackson's parents have long denied allegations of abuse, with Katherine stating that
while spanking is considered abuse today, at the time it was a common form of disciplining children.
424344Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon has also said that his father was not abusive and that the spankings,
harder for Michael to cope with because he was younger, kept them disciplined and out of trouble. 45 Speaking
openly about his childhood in an interview with Oprah Winfrey broadcast in February 1993, Jackson
acknowledged that his youth had been lonely and isolated. 46 His deep dissatisfaction with his appearance, his
nightmares and chronic sleeping problems, his tendency to remain hyper-compliant, especially toward his father,
and to remain childlike into adulthood, are all consistent with the effects of the abuse he suffered as a child. His
father committed adultery several times, and as a result of one of these extramarital affairs he had a daughter.47
This type of relationship made Michael's parents feel uncomfortable with their marital relationship, so in 2005
they decided to stop living together and in August 2010 they announced their separation after 60 years of
marriage.48

Jackson (center) as a member of the Jackson 5 in 1971 (top) and 1972 (bottom). From an early age, Michael
showed an interest in music when he sang at the Christmas celebrations of the kindergarten he attended. In
1964, Michael and Marlon joined the Jackson Brothers—a band formed by their father, which included brothers
Jackie, Tito and Jermaine—as backup musicians playing congas and tambourines.49

In 1965, Michael began sharing lead vocals with his older brother Jermaine, and the group's name was changed
to the Jackson 5.50. The following year, the group won a major local talent show with Jackson performing the
dance to Robert Parker's 1965 hit "Barefootin'." From 1966 to 1968 they toured the Midwest, frequently
performing on a chain of African-American clubs known as the "chitlin' circuit" as opening acts for artists such as
Sam & Dave, the O'Jays, Gladys Knight, and Etta James. The Jackson 5 also performed in nightclubs and dance
halls, where strip shows and other adult shows were held, and at local auditoriums and high school dances.51 In
August 1967, while touring the East Coast, the group won a weekly amateur night gig at the Apollo Theater in
Harlem.52

Jackson (center) as a member of the Jackson 5 in 1974.

The Jackson 5 then recorded several songs, including their first single, "Big Boy" (1968), for Gary's Steeltown
Records label, before signing with Motown in 1969. 53 54 Rolling Stone later described young Michael as a
"prodigy" with "overwhelming musical gifts" who "was quickly emerging as the group's main attraction and lead
singer." 55 The group set a chart record when its first four singles—"I Want You Back" (1969), "ABC" (1970),
"The Love You Save" (1970), and "I'll Be There" (1970)—went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. 53 With
the proceeds from sales, the Jackson family moved into a large house on two acres of land in Encino in May
1971,

California. During this period, Michael evolved from child performer to teen idol. While Jackson began to emerge
as a solo artist in the early '70s, he maintained ties to the Jackson 5 and Motown. Between 1972 and 1975,
Michael released four solo albums with Motown: Got to Be There (1972), Ben (1972), Music & Me (1973), and
Forever, Michael (1975).56 "Got to Be There" and "Ben," the title songs from his first two solo albums, became
hit singles, as did a cover of Bobby Day's "Rockin' Robin."

The Jackson 5 were later described as "a cutting-edge example of black crossover artists."57 Although the
group's sales began to decline in 1973, and the members chafed at Motown's refusal to allow them greater
creativity, they scored several top 40 hits, including the top five single "Dancing Machine" (1974), before leaving
Motown in 1975.53

1975-1981: Move to Epic Records and Off the Wall

From left, back row: Jackie Jackson, Michael Jackson, Tito Jackson, Marlon Jackson. Middle row: Randy
Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Rebbie Jackson. Front row: Janet Jackson (1977).
In June 1975, The Jackson 5 signed with Epic Records,58 a subsidiary of CBS Records, and changed their
name to "The Jacksons." Younger brother Randy formally joined the band around this time, while Jermaine
decided to stay with Motown and pursue a solo career. The Jacksons continued to tour, releasing six more
albums between 1976 and 1984. Michael, the group's primary songwriter during this time, wrote hits such as
"Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (1979), "This Place Hotel" (1980), and "Can You Feel It" (1980).4959

In 1978, the singer played the role of Scarecrow in the film The Wiz, a remake of the 1939 musical The Wizard of
Oz made this time by actors of African descent. 6061 The film - directed by Sidney Lumet61 and co-starring
Diana Ross, Nipsey Russell and Ted Ross62 - was a box office failure. 63 Its score was arranged by Quincy
Jones,6465 whom Jackson had previously met when he was 12 years old at Sammy Davis Jr.'s house. 66 Jones
agreed to produce Jackson's next solo album. 646567 While in New York, Jackson frequented the Studio 54
nightclub and was exposed to early hip hop, influencing his beatboxing on future songs such as "Workin' Day and
Night". 68 In 1979, Jackson broke his nose during a complex dance routine. Her subsequent rhinoplasty was not
a complete success; she complained of breathing difficulties that would affect her career. He was referred to Dr.
Steven Hoefflin, who performed Jackson's second rhinoplasty and subsequent surgeries.697071

Jackson's fifth solo album, Off the Wall (1979), co-produced by Jackson and Jones, defined Jackson as a solo
performer. The album helped Jackson transition from the bubblegum pop of his youth to the more complex
sounds he would create as an adult. The album's songwriters included Jackson, Rod Temperton, Stevie Wonder
and Paul McCartney. Off the Wall was the first solo album to spawn four top 10 hits in the United States: "Off the
Wall", "She's Out of My Life", and the singles "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You".727374 The
album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and eventually sold over 20 million copies worldwide.7576 In
1980, Jackson won three awards at the American Music Awards for his solo efforts: Favorite Soul/R&B Album,
Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist, and Favorite Soul/R&B Single for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".737778 He
also won Billboard YearEnd Awards for Top Black Artist and Top Black Album, and a Grammy Award for Best
Male R&B Vocal Performance in 1979 for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".79 In 1981 Jackson was the winner
of the 1982 Grammy Awards for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist.80 Despite its
commercial success, Jackson felt that Off the Wall should have had a bigger impact, and he was determined to
exceed expectations with his next release.81 In 1980, he earned the highest royalty rate in the music industry: 37
percent of the album's wholesale profits.82

Jackson recorded with Queen singer Freddie Mercury from 1981 to 1983, including a demo of "State of Shock",
"Victory", and "There Must Be More to Life Than This".838485 The recordings were intended for a duets album,
but, according to Queen's then-manager Jim Beach, the relationship between the singers soured when Jackson
insisted on bringing a flame into the recording studio.86 The collaborations were not officially released until
2014.8788 Jackson went on to record the single "State of Shock" with Mick Jagger for the Jacksons' album
Victory (1984).89 Mercury included the solo version of "There Must Be More to Life Than This" on his album Mr.
Bad Guy (1985).9091 In 1982, Jackson combined his interests in songwriting and film when he contributed the
song "Someone in the Dark" to the audiobook for the film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The song, with Jones as its
producer, won a Grammy for best recording for children in 1984.92

1982-1983: Thriller and Motown

Jackson in April 1984.

Even greater success came with Jackson's sixth album, Thriller, released in late 1982. The album earned
Jackson seven more Grammys93 and eight American Music Awards, including the Award of Merit, the youngest
artist ever to win it.94 It was the best-selling album worldwide of 1983,9596 and became the best-selling album of
all time in the United States97 and the best-selling album of all time worldwide, selling an estimated 65 million
copies.98 It topped the Billboard 200 chart for 37 weeks and was in the top 10 of the 200 for 80 consecutive
weeks. It was the first album to have seven top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Billie Jean", "Beat
It", and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'". As of December 2015, Thriller was certified for 30 million equivalent
copies by the RIAA, making it the only album to achieve that feat in the United States. According to Jackson's
estate, the album has sold over 105 million copies, although worldwide figures are difficult to estimate. Thriller
earned Jackson and Quincy Jones the Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical for 1984. It also
won Album of the Year, with Jackson as the album's artist and Jones as its co-producer, and an award for Best
Male Pop Vocal Performance, for Jackson. "Beat It" won Record of the Year, with Jackson as artist and Jones as
co-producer, and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for Jackson. "Billie Jean" earned Jackson two Grammy
Awards, for Best R&B Song, with Jackson as its songwriter, and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, as its
artist.104 Thriller also won another Grammy for Best Album Arrangement – Non-Classical in 1984, awarded to
Bruce Swedien for his work on the album.105 The 1984 American Music Awards provided Jackson with an
Award of Merit and the American Music Award for Best Soul/R&B Male Artist and Favorite Male Pop/Rock Artist.
"Beat It" earned Jackson the American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Video, Favorite Video - Pop/Rock,
and Favorite Pop/Rock Single. Thriller earned her the American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album and
Best Pop/Rock Album.94

Thriller music video jacket sold for $1.8 million.106

In addition to the album, Jackson released Thriller, a 14-minute music video directed by John Landis, in 1983.
The zombie-themed video "redefined music videos and broke racial barriers" on MTV, a fledgling entertainment
television channel at the time. In December 2009, the Library of Congress selected the Thriller music video for
inclusion in the National Film Registry. It was one of 25 films named that year as "works of great significance to
American culture" that would be "preserved forever."111 112113 As of 2009, Thriller is the only music video to
have been included in the registry.110113114

The jacket and white sequin glove worn by Jackson in Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, one of Jackson's
most famous signature looks. Jackson had the highest royalty rate in the music industry at the time,
approximately $2 for each album sold, and was making record profits from sales of his recordings. The videotape
of the documentary The Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller sold more than 350,000 copies in just a few
months. Novelties such as dolls modeled after Jackson appeared in stores in May 1984 for $12.115 Biographer
J. Randy Taraborrelli writes that "Thriller stopped selling like a leisure item—like a magazine, a toy, tickets to a
blockbuster movie—and began selling like a household staple."116 In 1985, The Making of Michael Jackson's
Thriller won a Grammy for Best Long Form Music Video.117 Time described Jackson's influence at the time as
"a star of records, radio, rock video, a one-man rescue team for the music business. A composer who sets the
pace for a decade. Singer who crosses all boundaries of taste and style and color too.115 The New York Times
wrote that “in the world of pop music, there is Michael Jackson and there is everyone else.”118

On March 25, 1983, Jackson reunited with his brothers for a taped performance at the Pasadena Civic
Auditorium for Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, an NBC television special. The show aired on May 16,
1983, with an estimated audience of 47 million,119 and featured the Jacksons and other Motown stars.120 It is
best remembered for Jackson's solo performance of "Billie Jean", which earned Jackson her first Emmy
nomination.121122 Wearing a black sequined jacket and a rhinestone-decorated golf glove, she debuted her
signature dance move, the moonwalk, which former Soul Train dancer and Shalamar member Jeffrey Daniel had
taught her three years earlier.123124125 Jackson had originally declined the invitation to perform on the show,
believing that she had been doing too much television at the time; At the request of Motown founder Berry Gordy,
he agreed to perform in exchange for time to do a solo show. 126127128 According to Rolling Stone reporter
Mikal Gilmore, "There are moments when you know you're hearing or seeing something extraordinary... it came
that night."129 Jackson's performance drew comparisons to appearances by Elvis Presley and the Beatles on
The Ed Sullivan Show. 130 Anna Kisselgoff of The New York Times wrote in 1988: "The moonwalk that made
him famous is an apt metaphor for his style of dancing. How does he do it? As a technician, he is a great
illusionist, a true mime. Keeping one leg straight while gliding while the other is bent and appears to walk
requires perfect timing."131 Gordy said of the performance: "From the first beat of 'Billie Jean,' I was
mesmerized, and when he did his iconic moonwalk, I was amazed, it was magical, Michael Jackson went into
orbit, and he never came down."

1984-1985: Pepsi, “We Are the World” and other ventures

In November 1983, Jackson and his brothers partnered with PepsiCo on a $5 million promotional deal that broke
all previous records for celebrity-endorsed advertising. Pepsi Cola's first campaign, which ran in the United
States from 1983 to 1984 and launched its iconic "New Generation" theme, included tour sponsorship, public
relations events and trade shows. Jackson, who was involved in creating the ad, suggested using his song "Billie
Jean" as its jingle with revised lyrics.132 According to a Billboard report in 2009, Brian J. Murphy, executive vice
president of brand management for TBA Global, said, “You couldn’t separate the tour from the licensing of the
music, and then the integration of the music into the Pepsi factory.”132

On January 27, 1984, Michael and other members of the Jacksons filmed a Pepsi commercial supervised by
BBDO advertising agency executive Phil Dusenberry133 and Alan Pottasch, Pepsi's Worldwide Creative
Director, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. During a mock concert before an arena full of fans,
pyrotechnics accidentally set Jackson's hair on fire, causing second-degree burns to his scalp. 134 Jackson
underwent treatment to conceal the scars and a third rhinoplasty shortly thereafter. 69 Pepsi settled the case out
of court, and Jackson donated the $1.5 million settlement to the Brotman Medical Center in Culver City,
California; its Michael Jackson Burn Center is named in his honor. 135 136 Dusenberry recounted the episode in
his autobiography, Then We Set His Hair on Fire: Insights and Accidents from a Hall of Fame Career in
Advertising. Jackson signed a second deal with Pepsi in the late 1980s for a reported $10 million. The second
campaign had a global reach of over 20 countries and would provide financial support for Jackson's Bad album
and 1987–88 world tour.132 Although Jackson had endorsements and advertising deals with other companies,
such as LA Gear, Suzuki, and Sony, none were as significant as his deals with Pepsi, which later signed other
music stars such as Britney Spears and Beyoncé to promote their products.132137

Jackson at the White House receiving an award from President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan,
1984.
Jackson's humanitarian work was recognized on May 14, 1984, when he was invited to the White House to
receive an award from President Ronald Reagan for his support of charities that helped people overcome alcohol
and drug abuse138139 and in recognition of his support for the Ad Council/NHTSA drunk driving prevention
campaign. Jackson donated the use of “Beat It” for campaign PSAs.140141

Unlike the later albums, Thriller did not spawn an official tour, but the 1984 Victory Tour featured The Jacksons
headlining and showcased much of Jackson's new solo material to more than two million Americans. It was the
last tour he would do with his brothers.14269 Jackson held a press conference and announced that he would
donate his portion of the proceeds, an estimated $3 to $5 million, to charity.143144

In 1985, written with Lionel Richie and in collaboration with a wide range of singers,145 including Stevie Wonder,
Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, among others, she released USA for Africa, a
musical production that contained the single "We Are the World", which was recorded on January 28, 1985,146
and was released worldwide in March 1985.147 The song earned $63 million, which was donated to famine relief
in Ethiopia,147 and became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with over 20 million copies sold.148 "We
Are the World" won four Grammy Awards for 1985, including Song of the Year.117 Although the directors of the
American Music Awards eliminated the charity song from the competition because they felt it would be
inappropriate, the AMA program in 1986 concluded with a tribute to the song in honor of its first artist.
anniversary. The project's creators received two special AMA honors: one for the creation of the song and
another for the USA for Africa idea. Jackson, Quincy Jones and entertainment promoter Ken Kragan received
special awards for their roles in the song's creation.149150 That year, ATV Music put up for sale the copyright to
the Beatles' most representative songs, composed mostly by the Lennon/McCartney songwriting duo. Jackson
became interested in purchasing this catalog of songs after working with Paul McCartney in the early 1980s.
Finally, after ten months of negotiations, Michael acquired the catalogue, after paying 47 million dollars.151
Later, this ended in a feud with McCartney, as he also had intentions of
buy it.151 1986-1990: change of appearance, tabloids, Bad, movies, autobiography, and Neverland

People lined up during the Bad World Tour concert in Berlin (1987).
In 1986, Jackson was diagnosed with vitiligo, which caused his skin to lose pigmentation.152 This disease
caused him to avoid exposure to sunlight. In order to give her skin a more even tone, she resorted to
makeup.152

In the early 1980s, Jackson began a strict vegetarian diet.139 In that decade, several newspapers published a
photo in which the artist was lying inside an oxygen chamber and that according to them he slept there to avoid
aging, a rumor that was later denied by him.153 Also in those years other rumors arose that were denied by him,
such as for example that he intended to buy the bones of the so-called Elephant Man.154

He later starred in the 3D short film Captain EO, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas. This film
had a large budget of approximately 30 million dollars and was distributed exclusively in Disney theme parks,
debuting in September 1986 in both the Magic Kingdom park and Epcot in Florida. She then released Bad
(1987), her first studio album in five years.155 This production was a great commercial success, although it did
not reach the sales achieved by her previous album, Thriller. The album spawned seven hit singles, five of which
("I Just Can't Stop Loving You", "Bad", "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Man in the Mirror" and "Dirty Diana")
reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, setting a record for most number-one singles from a single album
that has yet to be surpassed.156157 Since its release, Bad has sold over thirty-four million copies worldwide.158

On September 12, 1987, the Bad World Tour began, a tour that culminated on January 27, 1989. In Japan alone,
the tour sold out 14 times and drew 570,000 people, nearly tripling the previous record of 200,000 for a single
tour. 159 Jackson entered the Guinness Book of World Records when he sold out Wembley Stadium seven
times, drawing over half a million spectators. 160 The tour consisted of 123 concerts and grossed $125 million
with an audience of 4.4 million, making it one of the most successful music tours in history. Part of the profits
were donated to hospitals, orphanages and charities.161162 In June 1988, the then mayor of Paris Jacques
Chirac awarded him the Medal of the City of Paris during his stay in the city on the occasion of the Bad World
Tour.163

Jackson singing "The Way You Make Me Feel" in New York, 1988.
In 1988, she published her first autobiography, Moonwalk, in which she described her childhood, The Jackson 5,
and the abuse she had suffered.164 She also wrote about changes in her facial appearance, attributing them to
puberty, weight loss, a strict vegetarian diet, a change in hairstyle, and stage lighting.165 The book became a
success and sold five hundred thousand copies,166 and became the best-selling book in the US. US in that year
according to The New York Times.166 Also in that year, the film Moonwalker was released, which contains the
music videos that accompanied the release of their singles "Bad", "Smooth Criminal", "Speed Demon" and
"Leave Me Alone". This videotape reached the top of the Billboard Top Music Video Cassette chart, which
grouped the best-selling videos, remaining there for twenty-two consecutive weeks. He was eventually knocked
off the top spot by his predecessor Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues.167

In March 1988, he purchased a property in Santa Ynez, California, for seventeen million dollars to build his
Neverland Ranch there. He had an amusement park, a zoo and a cinema built on this property. He also hired
forty people to provide security at the site. In 2003, Neverland was valued at $100 million.168 In 1989, thanks to
the sales of his albums and concerts, he earned an estimated $125 million, making him one of the highest-paid
artists in the world.169

Jackson at the White House with President George H. W. Bush, 1990.

Thanks to his enormous popularity, he was nicknamed "the king of pop."5 This nickname was popularized by his
friend Elizabeth Taylor, when at an awards ceremony she introduced him as "the authentic king of pop, rock and
soul."170 The then American president George H. W. Bush named him "entertainer of the decade."171 He later
performed the song "You Were There" at comedian and singer Sammy Davis, Jr.'s sixtieth birthday party, a
performance that earned him an Emmy Award nomination.172

1991-1993: Dangerous, Heal the World Foundation and Super Bowl XXVII

Jackson on his 1992 Dangerous tour in his Jam outfit.

In March 1991, she renewed her contract with Sony for $65 million.168 That year she released Dangerous, her
eighth studio album. Dangerous sold seven million copies in the United States and 32 million copies worldwide.
173 The album's first single, "Black or White", which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and
remained there for seven consecutive weeks, with similar success in other parts of the world. 174 The second
single, "Remember the Time", which peaked at number three on the same chart, and its music video is known for
its dancing, costumes, and set design set in Ancient Egypt. 175 "Heal the World", the third single from
Dangerous, featured a music video in which Jackson does not appear at all. 176

In early 1992, the singer visited the African continent; the first stop on the trip was Gabon, where he was
welcomed by more than 100,000 people177 and was awarded the rank of Officer of the National Order of Merit
by President Omar Bongo.178 After the trip, Jackson created the Heal the World Foundation to help the world's
most disadvantaged children, victims of violence, poverty and terminal illnesses. On June 27, 1992, the
Dangerous World Tour began, a tour that ended on November 11, 1993, grossed a total of 100 million dollars
and brought together three and a half million people in 69 concerts.179 All profits from the tour were donated to
the Heal the World Foundation.180

One of the artist's most acclaimed performances was his Super Bowl XXVII halftime show. When he appeared
on stage, he did so dressed in a gold and black military jacket and dark glasses; in the introduction to the show,
on each of the four screens in the stadium dancers dressed as Michael Jackson emerged above them, thus
creating the effect that they were coming directly from the video being played; then Jackson remained almost
motionless for several minutes to the applause of the audience present. Then he slowly took off his glasses, and
then began to sing and dance. The show was attended by the public, in the stands they recreated an image of
many children from different parts of the world holding hands with colored paper, and finally in the middle of the
field a giant globe was placed, at the bottom Jackson sang with dozens of children on stage. In this show she
performed the songs "Jam", "Billie Jean", "Black or White" and "Heal the World".

This segment was watched live by more than 133.4 million viewers in the United States alone.181 Michael
Jackson's halftime show sparked a trend in the NFL hiring artists and celebrities for Super Bowl halftime
entertainment. At the Super Bowl 50 halftime show, singer Beyoncé paid tribute to Jackson by wearing a female
version of the costume he had previously appeared in at the same show.182

At the 1993 Grammy Awards, Michael Jackson received the special Living Legend Award for his contribution to
music.183 For his single "Black or White" he was nominated as Best Pop Vocalist, while for "Jam" he was
nominated as Best R&B Vocalist and Best R&B Song.184 That same year, the song called "Will You Be There"
from his album Dangerous was released as a single and soundtrack for the film Free Willy, the song reached
number seven on the Hot 100, and was one of the best-selling singles of 1993.185

Jackson agreed to produce the soundtrack for the 1994 Sega-made video game Sonic the Hedgehog 3, with
collaborators Brad Buxer, Bobby Brooks, Darryl Ross, Geoff Grace, Doug Grigsby, and Cirocco Jones. Jackson
left the project before completion and was never officially credited, reportedly due to his dissatisfaction with the
Sega Genesis console's audio chip. 1993–1994: First abuse accusation and first marriage
In February 1993, Jackson agreed to be interviewed by Oprah Winfrey, in a report that was followed live by
approximately 62 million viewers.191 There he spoke about his childhood, his adolescence, his relationship with
his parents and siblings, and his professional career. He also denied rumors that he wanted to buy the Elephant
Man's bones,192 and that he slept in a hyperbaric chamber.193 In response to rumors and accusations that he
had decided to depigment the parts of his skin not affected by vitiligo by using bleaching creams, he replied that
he was unaware of the existence of skin bleaching creams and that he disguised his appearance with makeup on
the areas that were still pigmented.194 He also spoke of the series of cosmetic surgeries on his face (which he
said were three: one to add a dimple and two others on his nose).194

In the interview, Jackson claimed that vitiligo was genetic, as his grandfather also suffered from it.194 After his
death, the autopsy confirmed that he suffered from the disease,195 and it has been proven that his eldest son,
Prince Michael, also suffers from vitiligo.196

Aerial view of Neverland Ranch, Jackson's former home, where Chandler says the incident occurred.
In the summer of 1993, the singer was accused of having sexually abused Jordan Chandler, one of the many
children he used to take in at his Neverland mansion, by the boy and his father, Evan Chandler.197 Jordan, who
was then thirteen years old, accused him of having kissed him, masturbated him and subjected him to oral sex.
The ensuing scandal had a serious impact on the singer's mood and public image, and therefore on his
career.198

At the request of the courts, his Neverland ranch was searched and several children and families accused the
singer of being a pedophile. 199 His older sister, La Toya, also hinted that she believed in the veracity of the
accusations that the artist sexually abused several children, 200 although she later retracted her statement. 201
Then, Michael Jackson had to undergo an examination to corroborate the descriptions that Jordan had made of
the artist's genitals. 202 Although certain similarities were found in the descriptions made by the accuser, this
was not enough for Jackson to be declared guilty. 203 Despite all the media repercussions of the case, Jackson
continued to maintain his innocence. 203

Lisa Marie Presley was Jackson's first wife.

The singer's insurance company reached an out-of-court settlement with the Chandler family, paying them fifteen
million dollars that would prevent Jackson from being brought to trial in a criminal capacity. 204 205 While the
settlement has been perceived in the public eye as an admission of guilt, 206 it specifically stated that Jackson
did not admit any wrongdoing or liability, 207 208 and, legally, a settlement cannot be used as evidence of guilt in
future civil and criminal cases. 209 The settlement payment was "for alleged personal injuries arising from claims
of negligence and not for claims of intentional or wrongful acts of sexual abuse." 210 211 In the settlement
document, both parties agreed that they would not discuss the details of the case in public, but this did not stop
the Chandlers from testifying in a criminal trial or sharing information with authorities in a future criminal
investigation. 212 It also firmly states that there is no admission of wrongdoing on Jackson's part nor any
admission of abuse or immodesty, 212 and that Under no circumstances would any payment be withheld from
the plaintiffs, even if they were to testify against Jackson.212 The Chandlers' attorney, Larry Feldman, explicitly
stated that "no one bought anyone's silence."213

Following Jackson's death in June 2009, there were reports that Jordan Chandler had admitted that the singer
never sexually abused him; however, Chandler has never spoken publicly about it. At the singer's 2005 trial,
there were witnesses who knew Chandler personally and, according to Jackson's attorney, Thomas Mesereau,
Jordan had confessed to them that Jackson had never sexually abused him. 215 According to Jackson's FBI
documents, when prosecutors asked Chandler to testify at the 2005 trial, he refused, saying he would "legally
fight" any attempt to make him testify against Jackson. 216

In May 1994, Jackson married singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley. The couple had
met in 1975, when Michael and his family were staying at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, where The Jackson
Five performed, and in early 1993 they resumed their relationship.217 Jackson and Presley married in the
Dominican Republic and kept it a secret for two months.218 Some newspapers and magazines speculated that
the wedding of the two singers was just a publicity stunt.219 The couple ended up divorcing twenty months
later.220

1995-1999: HIStory, second marriage and fatherhood

One of the statues unveiled in Europe to promote the compilation album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book
I.
In 1995 he released the double album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. The first album, HIStory
Begins, contained the most successful songs of his career and was later reissued as Greatest Hits: HIStory,
Volume I, in 2001; while the second CD, HIStory Continues, contained fifteen new songs. This production
reached number one on the Billboard 200.221 It sold more than twenty million copies worldwide and thus
became the best-selling double album of all time.174222 It has been certified for seven million sales in the United
States,223 and HIStory also received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.224

Jackson merged his ATV Music catalog with the music publishing division of

Sony, the brainchild of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. He retained ownership of half of the company, earning $95
million from the upfront, as well as the rights to the songs.225

The album's first single, "Scream", recorded as a duet with his sister Janet, peaked at number five on the
Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration. 226227 The second single was
"You Are Not Alone", which entered the Guinness Book of Records as the first song to debut at number one on
the Billboard Hot 100 chart. 169 The song was a huge commercial and critical success, receiving a Grammy
nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance. 227 In late 1995, Jackson was hospitalized due to a panic attack
during a rehearsal. 228 The third single from HIStory was "Earth Song", which was a huge success in the United
Kingdom where it remained at the top of the charts that year. 229 After this, Jackson released the single "They
Don't Care About Us", which reached number one in countries such as Germany, Italy, Mexico, Turkey and
Iceland; The song sparked controversy due to its strong anti-Semitic lyrics. The video had two versions, one in
which Jackson acts as a prisoner and another set in a favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In September 1996 he embarked on the successful HIStory World Tour, which culminated in October 1997. On
this tour, Jackson performed 82 concerts on five continents, 35 countries and 58 cities with an attendance of
more than 4.5 million people, and raised a total of 165 million dollars, becoming his most successful tour in terms
of audience ratings, and one of the most successful musical tours in history and the most successful by a male
solo artist until 2013. 230

Michael Jackson at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of his film Ghosts.
In November 1996, while his HIStory World Tour was passing through Australia, Jackson surprised public
opinion again by marrying a nurse assistant to his regular dermatologist: Debbie Rowe, whom he had known for
the previous decade. He met her while working as a nurse at Dr. Arnold Klein's dermatology office, where
Jackson was being treated for vitiligo.231232 Following Jackson's divorce from Lisa Marie Presley in 1996,
Jackson was upset that he might never become a father.

Three months after the marriage, Rowe gave birth to their son, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (February
1997),233234 who was later known as Prince. The following year she gave birth to a daughter, Paris Michael
Katherine Jackson (April 1998). Jackson took full responsibility for raising the children.235

The couple divorced in 1999 and she awarded custody of both children to the singer,236 while Rowe received an
$8 million settlement and a home in Beverly Hills.236 Court documents indicate that she had signed a prenuptial
agreement, thus failing to obtain an equitable division of the community property under California law.237

In 1997, Jackson released Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix, an album consisting of five new songs
and eight remixes from the HIStory album. It sold seven million copies worldwide and became the best-selling
remix album in history. 238 The album, like the single of the same name, reached number one on the UK charts.
239 In the United States, Blood on the Dance Floor was certified platinum by the RIAA and peaked at number 24
on the Billboard 200. 240 At the time, Forbes magazine published an article estimating his 1996 and 1997
earnings at $35 million and $20 million, respectively. 168

In June 1999, Jackson participated in several charity events. He participated in a charity concert organized by
Luciano Pavarotti in Modena, Italy, the proceeds of which were destined to help refugees from Yugoslavia and
the most needy children in Guatemala.241 At the end of that month he performed two charity concerts entitled
"Michael Jackson & Friends" in Germany and South Korea.

Artists who performed at these shows included Slash, Scorpions, Boyz II Men, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey,
A. R. Rahman, Prabhu Deva Sundaram, Andrea Bocelli and Luciano Pavarotti among others.242 The proceeds
were donated to the Red Cross and UNESCO.242

2000-2003: dispute with Sony, Invincible and third son

In October 2001, Jackson released the album Invincible, his first studio album in six years. Prior to the release of
this album in 2000, there had been a dispute between the singer and his record company: Jackson was waiting
for the contract giving Sony the right to distribute his material to expire so he would not be dependent on the
record company and could personally take charge of promoting the material as he wished and the benefits that
would come as a result, which would occur in the early 2000s.

Jackson in Las Vegas, 2003.

The singer sought an early exit from his contract:243 just before the album was released, he announced to Sony
president Tommy Mottola that he was leaving the record company. As a result, two months before its release, the
promotion of the singles, music videos and everything related to the album was cancelled.244

In September 2001, the singer presented the "Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special", a series of concerts
at Madison Square Garden to celebrate his thirtieth anniversary as a solo artist, a few days before the attacks of
September 11, on this occasion he appeared for the first time since 1984 with his brothers. 245 The recital also
featured the participation of other performers such as Mýa, Usher, Whitney Houston, 'N Sync, Destiny's Child,
Monica, Luther Vandross and Slash, among many others. 246

In October of that year, Jackson completed work on a new charity single, titled "What More Can I Give," a
response to the September 11 attacks. As he had done years before with "We are the world", he recorded the
song with the participation of several artists and with the expectation of raising fifty million dollars for the families
of the victims of the attacks; however, the single was not released, due to the singer's future abandonment of
Sony. The recording, which also included a Spanish version, featured Mariah Carey, Céline Dion, Ricky Martin,
Carlos Santana, Beyoncé Knowles (Destiny's Child), Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys), Aaron Carter, Mya, Luis
Miguel, Gloria Estefan, Shakira, Usher, Julio Iglesias, Luther Vandross, John Secada, Alejandro Sanz, Cristian
Castro, Olga Tañón, Anastacia, Juan Gabriel, Thalía, among others.

Invincible debuted at the top of the charts in thirteen countries and sold approximately thirteen million copies
worldwide. In the United States it was certified double platinum.174247 This production produced three singles:
"You Rock My World", whose music video featured actor Marlon Brando and comedian Chris Tucker, "Cry" and
"Butterflies".

Jackson accused the then president of Sony Music, Tommy Mottola, of being racist and a mobster, because he
did not "want to support African-American artists",244 using as an argument the fact that Tommy Mottola had
called his colleague Irv a "fat black".

Gotti.248 Sony decided not to renew Michael's contract and also claimed the twenty-five million dollars lost in the
promotion of the album, because the singer had refused to go on a concert tour in the United States scheduled
for 2002.249

In 2002, Jackson's third child, Prince Michael Jackson II, was born.250 According to the singer, the child was
conceived through artificial insemination, using his sperm and a surrogate mother.251 In November of that year,
the artist made headlines again when he showed his newborn son from the balcony of the Adlon Hotel in Berlin,
covering him completely with a blanket, an attitude that was highly criticized in the media. He later told the press
that this episode was a terrible mistake on his part and apologized for what had happened. 252 Sony, still holding
the rights to distribute the singer's material, released a compilation album entitled Number Ones, in CD and DVD
format. It was certified platinum in the United States, while in the United Kingdom it sold more than a million
copies. 253254

2003-2005: Second accusation of abuse

Jackson's mugshot (2003).

From January 2002 to May 2003, Jackson agreed to film a documentary in which he recounted his daily life,
customs, past life, etc. It was published under the name Living With Michael Jackson and was presented by
British journalist Martin Bashir who interviewed and accompanied Jackson during the report, however before
being published the documentary was modified by Bashir, thus distorting the true image of Jackson. The
premiere was followed by more than 27 million viewers.255 In one of these reports, the singer appeared holding
the hand of a thirteen-year-old teenager named Gavin Arvizo, one of the many sick children who frequently
visited his mansion, who said that he used to stay overnight in the singer's room without him being bothered. This
sparked a great controversy and later, the young man's family accused Jackson of having gotten the teenager
drunk and raped him.256

The trial began on January 31, 2005 in Santa Maria, California, and ended in May. On June 13 of the same year,
he was declared innocent of all charges.257258 After the verdict, the singer and his children temporarily stayed
in Bahrain as guests of the royal family of that country.259

2006-2009: final years and This is It

Michael Jackson with his children at Disneyland Paris, 2006.

In March 2006, US authorities ordered the closure of his Neverland Ranch. Officially, it was due to delays in the
payment of salaries due to bureaucratic problems that had already been resolved, although in this case too the
idea was spread that the police were looking for evidence of his alleged relationships with minors.260

Later Michael Jackson helped compose the song "Don't Stop The Music" made for the Barbadian singer
Rihanna, the song contains the chorus "Mama-say, mama-sa, ma-ma-ko-ssa" which comes from Jackson's song
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" which belongs to the album Thriller (1982).261

On November 15 of the same year he received the Diamond Award at the World Music Awards in London, where
he performed the song "We are the World" with a youth choir.174 He then participated in the tribute and public
funeral of James Brown in the United States, held on December 30, 2006.262 At the end of that year, the singer
agreed to share custody of his first two children with his ex-wife Debbie Rowe.263 Later, he and Sony
established an agreement to buy the rights to several songs by artists such as Eminem, Shakira and Beck,
among others.264

To mark the 25th anniversary of the release of Thriller, the best-selling album in history, Michael released Thriller
25.265 on February 11, 2008. It contained the nine songs from the original album and six previously unreleased
tracks: "The Girl Is Mine 2008" and "PYT (Pretty Young Thing) 2008» featuring Will.i.am, «Wanna Be Startin'
Somethin' 2008» featuring Akon, «Beat It 2008» featuring Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas, «Billie Jean 2008», a
remix by Kanye West, and a ballad called «For All Time», not released on the original album version and remixed
and mastered by himself. The bonus DVD included the music videos for "Thriller," "Beat It," and "Billie Jean,"
plus live performances from NBC's 1983 special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. 266 The reissue sold
more than three million copies worldwide. 267 To commemorate his 50th birthday, he released the compilation
album King of Pop, which topped the charts in several of the countries where it was released. 268269

On March 5, 2009, in front of 20,000 spectators in an auditorium in London, Michael Jackson announced his
return to the stage with the This Is It tour. Initially, there would be ten concerts to be held in that city at the
Millennium Dome in the month of July. According to what he himself said, these concerts would be the last he
would give in the English capital. According to tour promoter Randy Philips, the artist would perform previously
unreleased songs, as he had composed and recorded new songs, as was claimed after his death. The
expectation increased the public demand, so forty more presentations were added to those initially
established.270

Death and funeral

Main articles: Death of Michael Jackson and Michael Jackson's funeral.

Jackson's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame just hours after his death was confirmed.
On the morning of June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson suffered cardiac arrest at his rented Holmby Hills mansion.
271 Service members called 911 for help at 12:21 PDT (UTC-7). 272 Paramedics, who arrived nine minutes
later, found him pulseless and not breathing. They performed CPR and transported him to Ronald Reagan UCLA
Medical Center in Los Angeles at 1:14 p.m. But despite the efforts of the doctors he was declared dead at 2:26
pm273

The first official report described his death as "caused by a combination of painkillers," and the main suspect was
Conrad Murray,274 who, according to a temporary farewell letter to his patients in Las Vegas, was leaving for "an
opportunity that only comes once in a lifetime" to accompany Michael Jackson to his series of concerts as his
personal physician, for which he was to receive $150,000 a month.275 After performing his autopsy, the forensic
experts at the Los Angeles Forensic Institute stated that Jackson's death had been caused by propofol
poisoning, supplied by Murray.276 Finally, the official report described his death as "acute propofol
poisoning."277

Jackson's grave at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California

Jackson's public funeral was held on July 7, 2009, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, before a memorial
service was held for family and friends of the artist. The public ceremony was followed live by more than 2.5
billion people around the world.278 The event was attended by singers Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Mariah
Carey, John Mayer, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Jermaine Jackson and Shaheen Jafargholi. Berry Gordy and
Smokey Robinson gave speeches, while Queen Latifah read the poem "We Had Him," which was written for the
occasion by Maya Angelou.279 His private funeral was held on September 3, 2009, at the Grand Mausoleum
(Holly Terrace) located at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles, where he was buried.280

On February 8, 2010, the court charged Murray with “involuntary manslaughter,” using as evidence the official
death report281 (which was released on the Internet on the day of the trial).277 The defendant, who pleaded “not
guilty,”282 posted $75,000 bail to avoid jail time.282 In 2011, Murray was sentenced to four years in prison for
the involuntary manslaughter of Jackson. The doctor served only half of the four-year prison sentence he was
given, being released in 2013 as part of a state plan to reduce overcrowding in detention centers.283
In 2015, Katherine Jackson, the artist's mother, lost her legal battle against AEG Live, which she held
responsible for her son's death. The plaintiff had accused the company of negligence in hiring Murray. However,
the California Court of Appeals ruled that the doctor was caring for Jackson as an independent contractor.284

New allegations of abuse

Jackson and Safechuck (right) in Honolulu, Hawaii, 1988.

Main article: Leaving Neverland
In 2013, choreographer Wade Robson filed a lawsuit alleging that Jackson had sexually abused him for seven
years, beginning when he was seven years old. 285 In 2014, James Safechuck filed a case, alleging sexual
abuse over a four-year period beginning when he was ten. 286287288 Both had testified in Jackson's defense
during the 1993 allegations, Robson doing so again in 2005. 289290 In 2015, Robson's case against Jackson's
estate was dismissed for being filed too late. In 2017, it was ruled that Jackson's corporations could not be held
liable for his alleged past actions.291 Neither ruling commented on the credibility of the allegations.292
Safechuck's claim was also barred.293

Following the release of the documentary Leaving Neverland, and his renewed allegations of child sexual abuse,
a new examination of his legacy began.294 The documentary covered Robson and Shafechuck's accusations of
sexual abuse in graphic detail.295

Posthumous works
After his death, Michael Jackson became the best-selling artist in the US in 2009. In the U.S., he sold over 8.2
million albums, while in the rest of the world, over 35 million albums were sold in the twelve months following his
death.296297 Meanwhile, Forbes magazine ranked him as the third highest-earning deceased celebrity on its
annual 2010 list, earning $90 million.298

As public demand for Jackson was overwhelming, Epic Records (owned by Sony Music Entertainment) released
a previously unreleased single titled "This Is It" on October 12, 299 which was followed the same month by the
release of a new posthumous double album by the artist on October 26, called, again, This Is It, which collects
the musical rehearsals for the eponymous tour; 300 where the first part contains the rehearsals for the tour300
and the second contains previously unreleased songs, including a poem written by Michael, called "Planet
Earth." 301

Added to that, Kenny Ortega released the world premiere of the film called Michael Jackson's This Is It two days
after the album's release, on October 28, 2009. Which, likewise, deals with the last musical rehearsals for the
eponymous tour before his death, through a compilation of videos filmed by the tour's technical team. The album
and film together grossed over $250 million.298

During the peak of the artist's sales, Sony had plans to reach agreements to extend and continue the use of his
generated material, since the rights to distribute these were due to expire in 2015. 302 However, on March 16,
2010, a movement led by the Columbia/Epic Label Group (of Sony Music Entertainment) signed the largest
contract in the music industry with the singer's heirs for $250 million for the exploitation rights to ten musical
projects (including those already published such as the special editions of Bad and Thriller, and the albums
Michael in 2010 and Xscape in 2014 along with some unreleased works) until at least 2017, which would be the
release date of the last posthumous album. 298 The agreement, as Rob Stringer, president of Columbia/Epic
Label Group, said: "It's not just a music deal based on how many copies of CDs are sold or how many songs are
downloaded online," but "it includes also the audio rights for theatre, film and video games."298

Artistic impact
His immense popularity throughout the world is only comparable to Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Elvis
Presley.303304 He became known worldwide as the "King of Pop", and television presenter Oprah Winfrey,
during her interview with him in February 1993, called him the "King of Entertainment". Michael Jackson is the
third best-selling artist in music history.305 He is also recognized for the great mark and legacy he has left in the
music world, as well as in social and cultural spheres. Even after his death, his image remains present and
current in the music industry.306 The Encyclopedia Britannica included him as a notable rock star, in its section
"Rock music",307 along with Madonna and Prince.307

On the other hand, many authors acknowledge that Jackson reshaped pop culture in ways that are difficult to
understand due to the impact and breadth of his influence.308 In 1984, Time magazine pop critic Jay Cocks
wrote that "Jackson is the greatest artist since the Beatles. He is the single most popular phenomenon since
Elvis Presley. He is the most popular black singer in history."115 In 1990, Vanity Fair cited Jackson as the most
popular entertainer in show business history.224 In 2003, writer Tom Utley of The Daily Telegraph described
Jackson as "extremely important" and a "genius."309 Other media have claimed that he was "the star who best
epitomized a genre outside of academia."8 In 2007, Jackson said:310

.. Music has been my outlet, my gift to all the lovers of this world. Through her, I know I will live forever.
Michael Jackson
In honor of Jackson, Cirque Du Soleil launched a tour called Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour on
October 2, 2011 in Montreal, and then from North America to Europe, Asia and Oceania. It ended in 2014 and
became one of the highest-grossing music tours in history, the highest-grossing tribute tour in history and the
highest-grossing tour ever made by Cirque Du Soleil.311

At the 2014 Billboard Music Awards, Jackson was recreated in his gold jacket and red pants using holograms.
The hologram performed his song "Slave to the Rhythm," one of the eight included on his posthumous second
studio album Xscape, alongside some real and recreated dancers. The performance generated nostalgia and
impact on the attendees. As an additional fact, the event took a year to produce.312

Influences
Jackson was a performer of pop music, in a broad sense that includes subgenres such as rhythm & blues, disco,
dance and rock. According to his statements, he was influenced by contemporary artists such as Little Richard,
James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Diana Ross, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Sammy Davis, Jr. and the Bee Gees.313
He also expressed great admiration for English music hall performers such as Benny Hill and Charles
Chaplin.313 On the other hand, the last interview that the artist gave was to Ebony magazine, and on that
occasion he commented that the classical music composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was also a great influence
on him. There he mentioned opinions about music in general and about his inspiration in this artist:

... was the composer who influenced me the most. If you take an album like The Nutcracker, every piece is
magnificent so I said to myself why don't I make a pop album where every song is magnificent (..) the melody of
a song is the most important thing. If the melody sounds good in your head, it's usually good when you write it
down (..) For a melody to achieve worldwide success it has to be able to be sung by everyone from the farmer in
Ireland to the toilet cleaner in Harlem.314 Music videos and choreographies

Graphic representation of Michael Jackson in his Thriller music video.

Steve Huey of Allmusic has claimed that Jackson transformed the way music videos are made, as they now
feature story lines, dance routines, special effects and cameo appearances by famous people; other media
outlets such as Rolling Stone magazine consider him to be the most important visual artist in the history of
music.315316

The Baltimore Sun claims that it was Jackson who turned the music video into an art form and fortified the growth
of the MTV television network.308

From the album Thriller the videos for the song "Beat It" stand out, which showed shots of Jackson with gang
members managing to avoid a fight between them, these were real ones hired by himself and, of course, the one
for the eponymous song "Thriller" considered the most important music video in history and pop culture,317 a
precursor to current music videos and recognized for the innovation of the plot, written by him and John Landis,
known for his revolutionary dance steps, choreographed by himself and Michael Peters, as well as for the avant-
garde setting and makeup characterization.

The plot of the video revolves around a horror scene, it begins with shots of Jackson with his girlfriend, after
talking for a few minutes he turns into a werewolf, but then it turns out to be a fictional scene seen in a cinema by
the same characters, then they decide to leave the theater and when they reach a cemetery in the final part he
changes his appearance to that of a zombie and dances with other undead.318319 Both "Beat It" and "Thriller"
feature the dancers behind him dancing in unison in a triangular formation, they being just as important as
Jackson in the scene, whether they are gang members or zombies.320

The music video for the single “Bad” was 19 minutes long and was directed by filmmaker Martin Scorsese. The
video combined choreographed dance moves with more spontaneous ones. From this production onwards, he
began touching his chest, torso and crotch while dancing, something he continued to do in his subsequent works.
There he also included the first appearance of a celebrity in the form of a cameo in one of his videos, Wesley
Snipes.321 For "Smooth Criminal" he used the illusion of "anti-gravity" during the choreography; this
choreographic step was created by Michael Bush, Dennis Tompkins and Jackson himself. Although the video for
"Leave Me Alone" was not officially released in the United States, it did win the 1990 Grammy Award for Best
Short Form Music Video.322

The song "Black or White" was accompanied by a music video that was first broadcast on November 14, 1991, in
27 countries simultaneously and was watched worldwide by over 500 million viewers.174 At one point in the
video, the artist transformed into a panther and performed explicitly sexual dances which caused controversy,
while destroying racist brands, thanks to this a censored version of the video was the most advertised, omitting
the last four minutes where only the video shows Jackson singing and dancing with different people in different
landscapes around the world.323 "Black or White" surprised with a new digital technique called morphing, never
seen before in a music video and featured the collaboration of actor Macaulay Culkin.323

"Remember the Time" was set in ancient Egypt and included a dance routine with supposedly Egyptian-style
steps, along with the use of special effects both when appearing at the beginning of the video and also when
disappearing into sand. This video featured appearances by Eddie Murphy, model Iman, and Magic Johnson.324
The video for "In the Closet" featured supermodel Naomi Campbell, with whom the singer performed explicitly
sexual dances that caused much controversy at the time, to the point of being banned due to its images in South
Africa.325326

The music video for the single "Scream/Childhood" was directed by Mark Romanek. It took place in a futuristic
setting in outer space and she shared the screen with her sister Janet. It was widely received by critics. In 1995,
he was nominated for eleven MTV Video Music Awards—more than anyone else—winning in the categories of
Best Dance Video, Best Choreography, and Best Art Direction. A year later, it won the Grammy Award for Best
Short Form Music Video and later entered the Guinness Book of Records for being the most expensive in history,
with an estimated budget of $7 million.327

The single "Earth Song" was accompanied by an expensive music video and was nominated for a Grammy for
Best Short Form Music Video in 1997. It reflected the cruelty to which some endangered animals are subjected,
the deforestation that destroys hundreds of trees, the environmental pollution caused by factories and the
consequences of armed conflicts in different parts of the world. The video for the song "Ghosts," from the album
Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix, was written by Jackson and Stephen King and directed by Stan
Winston. This work was recognized with very good reviews at the Cannes Film Festival, where it premiered in
1996. It lasted over 38 minutes and entered the Guinness Book of Records as the longest music video.327

The thirteen-and-a-half-minute music video for "You Rock My World" was directed by Paul Hunter and released
in 2001. The video features cameo appearances by actors Chris Tucker and Marlon Brando.328 The video won
an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video at the 2002 awards ceremony.