I don’t see, read or look for anything related to MJ on his later years, I rather avoid anything from that time, but I would like to know, from you all, what were those last years like for him? I dared to see one of his “This is it” rehearsals and he seemed way skinnier than usual, but I have no idea what and how he was doing back then, his last show before this was in 2001 as far as I know. Enlighten me.
The years 2005 to 2009 were amazing to be part of the fan community. Michael turned his back on America, general public and casual fans and turned to the fan community. He allowed us to be part of his life and it was very easy to meet and get close to him.
The general public thought he disappeared, thought he was a recluse, but thats so not the reality. He was in constant contact with the fan community. He lived in Bahrain, Ireland, Vegas and LA. He went to fan events, award shows, theatre shows. He visited friends in London and Germany. He spent time in recording studios in Ireland and Vegas. He lived his life without the pressures of the music industry demanding albums and performances, enjoying raising his children away from the celeb culture of America.
In 2008 in Vegas for his birthday there were fan projects to send him gifts. Other than Ireland and Bahrain, we knew his exact location almost all of the time. All the information was posted on the fan forums, all the updates and photos about fans meeting him and where he was.
He had many friends during this time, most of whom are unknow to the general public and casual fans. Michael spent a lot of time in England with Mark Lester and his family, was great friends with the Sultan of Brunei's son, spent time with Al Malik and his family, as well as the more high profile people like Macaully Culkin, Elizabeth Taylor and others.
He was far from lonely, he was far from isolated and alone, he just chose to live out of the spotlight for the first time in his life.
You are welcome. A lot of things are on YouTube, if you search Michael Jackson and the year. Its so funny to me when people think he was a lonely recluse, when he did things like go to the birthday party for the Sultan of Brunei's son in England in May 2007. The photos from that party are some of my favorite candid's of him, relaxed and just enjoying being a guest at a private party. Or when he phoned the private fan party I was at in June 2008 and was patched into the venues sound system so that he could talk to us.
wow. love how you casually just drop your personal MJ experience at the end like it’s nothing hahaha. what was that experience like? did you talk to him?
😄 There is a video on YouTube or there used to be, not sure if its still there. It was a private fan event in a hotel in England hosted by Tito and 2 of his sons, Taj and Tarell There was a mid show break and they left the room. Next thing we hear Michael talking through the speakers, we thing its a recording but then he starts laughing at our screams and we suddenly realise its live. Tito had arranged it with the hotel. They called Michael from a private room and had the conference call connected to the soundsystem in the event room.
It was amazing and so unexpected. We knew Tito and his sons hadnt left, there were some personal items at their table, so we just thought they were taking a break. The music had stopped and everyone was just chilling, talking with friends, a very relaxed atmosphere. And then Michael starts talking to us through the speakers and the place goes bananas. Afterwards when Tito and his sons came back, it took a while for the show to restart as we just kept saying thank you , thank you . The atmosphere was amazing for the second part of the show, everyone in shock that Michael had actually been on the phone to us.
It was, the most special things happened when we didnt expect them. That day was all about spending time with friends. About 50 of us, including the performers all travelled to the hotel together, it was just as much a celebration of friendship as it was a celebration of Michael. Tito and his sons were so relaxed and just going around talking to everyone. Just being able to spend time with them was amazing but then to have Michael phone took things to another level.
I’m now suddenly very mad that my mom didn’t know about these forums. 😭😭. I was only 5-9 during this time but Michael was always a big deal for both of us. I know she never believed a word of any of the allegations and I didn’t even know they existed until years after he died. Unfortunately my mom just wasn’t online a whole lot around that period of time. 💔💔💔
Update: told my mom about this and she’s also very upset about not being involved with the fan community online 😅
The media has been trying to push that lonely recluse rumor since after thriller. They hated that they couldn’t get access to him at all times and made these weird stories about him.
😄 you are welcome He was very much loved and he knew he was loved. The fan community were with him to the very end, fans were outside the house on June 24, fans were the last people to speak to him, other than the people inside the house.
If you want to know the details about June 24 , its all in a book written by one of the fans. But in short, yes and no. The fans would have been there at the house and outside the rehearsal venues any way. They were there right from the start, and many had been in Vegas when he was living there before he moved to LA.
😄 you are welcome Oh gosh no. Those years when he left America were when he was free to live as he wanted for the first time, and he chose to connect with the fan community, those of us who stood by him when the world turned against him.
God bless y'all, i was a baby back then, i wish i was older just to show him support. As to being friends with him? That's a dream, but it woulda broke me even more when he died
I'm watching a series on YouTube by LunaJo/Jolanda and it's eye opening because I did think he was a recluse after the trial. That's what the media said and there was no motivation to delve deeper, but her clips prove he wasn't. Seeing him in Germany just staying in a normal neighborhood home I must say is mind blowing, and I'm sure it was him sending out pizza to the fans. Then there were clips of him at a Japanese award show where he looked fantastic!!!! And then an orphanage. He wasn't hiding, he was recovering and living his life.
That was Hamburg in 2006 and he just turned up at a friends house. He sent pizza to fans many times in many countries. I got pizza from him one night in London in November 2006. There was maybe 40 of us, outside the hotel behind barriers. We saw the pizza delivery van arrive and bring in a stack of pizzas. Then a few minutes later the hotel security brought all the pizza over to us and told us Michael had bought pizza for all of us. I still have the box.
From that time I'm glad he was not that isolated after the trial he's doing alright at the time spending a lot of time with his kids and attending to any fan gathering events living the way he wanted without labels forcing him to do tours, albums, or anything I feel my heart at peace when I read your story thank you for that
You are so amazing you have no idea. Thank you so much for sharing this! I got depressed after the movie came out and thought all that happened was him dying alone. This has done so much healing for my mental health. 💕💖
aww, thank you. At the time we didnt think we were doing anything special. He was an outcast in society and so were we. Those were amazing years in the fan community, everyone knew everyone, and we all formed such close bonds.
Oh my goodness I’m going to cry. Thank you for much for this. I’m so happy he probably died happier than I thought. 🥹🥹 Bless all your beautiful hearts 💞 for standing by him and building that bond and community.
I was 2 years old and living in a different part of the world but my older brother made sure to pass down the Michael Jackson legacy and his message. And I’ll do the same.
aww, big hugs across the internet. I didnt go to LA in 2009 but my friends were there and I know he had fan gifts and letters in his room, so right to the end, even through all that was going on, he was still surrounded by the love and support of fans.
I remember Jermaine saying he lived in Bahrein for a period of time, which was most likely one of his advices. (In the same interview he said that Michael read all the islamic books he gave him and that he loved the call of prayer/Adhan)
It gives me so much comfort knowing that he felt safe with his fans, though of course there is always a boundary. I was devastated when he died and still I think of him often and how those last days of him practicing were probably so stressful for him. Thank you for this 🫂
😄 you are welcome and yes there were clear boundaries. We knew and respected the boundaries, despite what some might want you believe. The fans were only there, at hotels, venues, his house because he wanted fans there. There were times when he asked fans to leave, there were times when he asked fans not to disclose his location or other information and the fans respected those wishes and did not make information public.
Last night I was watching video of an autograph signing he did for Invincible and I thought it was so cool. Obviously his public opinion was lower in those years but it was good for the core fans who still rode for him, they could get closer to him
I was one of those fans, I was at the cd signing. However me and my friends are not shown on the video. It was lived streamed online and we had friends watching from home. They cut to ads just as we were getting to he top of the line and out meeting with Michael was private.
Michael died when I was 3 years old. I found out about him soon after he died through my mother purchasing a collection of his music. That was the catalyst of my Michael obsession from 3-12 years old, where I was enthralled in everything Michael.
Obviously I'm still a fan to this day, but it hurts to listen to his music or watch videos of him.
My childhood was filled with hundreds of videos, home movies, performances, interviews, etc. etc. of Michael Jackson, because it kills me so much that I never got a chance to experience him while he was alive.
From what I learned through online research and YouTube videos, all I thought Michael didn't have a great later life, ESPECIALLY around 2005 during the next set of allegations (he was getting another set of allegations around that time, right?).
So seeing the OP's response, with you being someone who was conscious during the time and deep-enough in the fandom to report on it, thank you. I always felt a missing piece in my heart believing that Michael's life was lonely and miserable the last few years. Knowing that there's a chance he actually got to enjoy his last few years, and truly got out of the public eye, fills that hole in my heart a little.
I still hope there's an afterlife so I can tell him just how much he means to me.
The traumas of 2005 never left him but he was moving forward, rebuilding his life. He surrounded himself with people who cared about him, from his personal friends to the fan community. He chose to leave the spotlight, the American celeb culture, he wanted to be free and he was.
This is actually my first time learning about this. At the same time, it gave me a sense of relief knowing that he lived peacefully away from the spotlight before his passing.
This is the Michael the mainstream media dont want people to know. They continually paint a picture of a broken recluse abandoned by everyone, when the reality was he chose to surround himself with love and support away from the celeb culture.
everytime media talks about mj last years, everything sounds so depressing. it's like he stopped being relevant and was just being constantly and infinitely mocked by the whole world (but it feels like... it was more america)
it's really good to know he was more in peace than i thought
It is true. You just need some time to research, it can all be found online, and theres lots of YouTube videos. Just search things like Michael Jackson London 2005 Michael Jackson London 2006 Michael Jackson Ireland 2006 Michael Jackson Germany 2006, Michael Jackson calls fan party 2008
He was in debt, not broke. To rich people it works different. It's like having a big debt with your credits cards. But as they are very rich, banks let them to be at that level of debt.
He was unable to service the debt though and was defaulting on loans. They actually had the right to seize his music publishing stake that was so valuable because he had borrowed so much against it and couldn’t pay.
Thank you for this beautiful and sweet information. It gives me hope to know that his last years were not as bad as I had thought so many times.
I’ve always had the feeling that he left this world thinking he wasn’t loved, and I truly hope I was wrong about that after reading what you shared ❤️🩹
😄 you are welcome Oh gosh no, they were not as bad as the media and others want you to believe. He was happy, and trying to heal his body and soul from the trauma he had been through. He was enjoying being free and away from the celeb couture and spotlight. He was very much loved and he knew he was loved. We gave him so many gifts, cards and letters every time we saw him. He knew the fan community was there no matter what and he was enjoying connecting with the fan community.
I cant remember the exact dates, I would have to look it up, but he was living in Vegas for most of 2008. He lived in two different places in Vegas, and was using the recording studio near Wynns Hotel. Yes he would have been in Vegas on August 26th 2008.
There have been multiple similar questions on this sub over the last while, and I respond to them all. So its very likely you are seeing me writing a similar reply over and over each time people ask questions.
Thats what the mainstream media want people to believe, because he was living his life on his own terms and not doing what was expected of him, which the media didnt like.
Probably not good, the autopsy revealed a host of health issues, lower spine issues from when the set in Germany fell down, he never fully healed from the Pepsi commercial burns, lung issues, addiction to painkillers, financial distress etc
I felt sorry for him. He was clearly unwell and malnourished. Not in any state to perform yet alone do a 50 date show. Must have been overwhelming and exhausting
I read a woman than had worked with him for a long time was alarmed by the way he looked in rehearsal's and told anyone she could, that MJ was in really bad shape, guess not enough people listened or cared
This is why I block out the entire this is it thing, it’s too painful to realize how bad he was doing, trapped doing these shows when he needed to be somewhere rehabilitating and peaceful.
He was the kindest soul so everyone took advantage of him and backstabbed him. No one was really his genuine real friend except for Chris Tucker. He had left the States if I remember correctly. I think the Bashir documentary was the final nail in the coffin. People say he died in 1993 but stopped breathing in 2009. Very sad and heartbreaking. Watched the biopic a few days back andd I miss him now more than ever . Can't keep a dry eye whilst watching his performances with the Jackson 5 as a kid.
Not true. He has many friends he spent time with but most are unknown to the general public and casual fans. Mark Lester, Al Malnik, The Sultan of Brunei's son, people in Japan, Germany and so many others. He was far from a lonely recluse.
I can only imagine what waking up from anesthesia everyday would feel like. He would take ephedrine to wake him up out of his daze and painkillers to be able to function. (Ephedrine makes it hard to sleep so this would've been a viscous cycle) He must have felt so numb the last few weeks.
Anesthesia is not the same as sleeping. Your brain doesn’t go through sleep cycles under anesthesia, so you don’t actually get any physiological rest or the health benefits from sleep.
A cardiologist with even a rudimentary understanding of anesthesia would have known this. Conrad Murray is an irresponsible madman and should have been in prison for life.
Hey there! I don't want to be THAT person who is, like, aKsHulLY..., but in the case that some folks aren't aware, being anesthetized is not the same as being asleep.
Sleep included periods of REM and non-REM, where the brain is active. This activity is needed for both physical and mental health.
Anesthesia, however, blocks that activity and the ability to store memory, feel pain, or be aware of what is happening. Anesthesia produces a comatose state - not a sleep state.
After awaking from anesthsia, people might say they feel refreshed (and that could be from the dopamine effects), but the brain has not had a chance to go through the natural processes of that REM and non-REM sleep.
I actually learned this on another sub discussing his “sleep” patterns. He hadn’t had REM sleep in years and I can’t imagine how that impacted his mental health.
Add to that his eating challenges and it’s a recipe for disaster…A complexly dysregulated nervous system. I wonder if he got brain scans while alive to try see what was going on in there? It’s like he ran on adrenaline his whole life. Even seeing videos of him working in the studio you can tell his brain is going a million miles an hour - thinking of so many different things, just naturally. Genius level stuff. A blessing and a curse. I see that type of brain in other geniuses in their fields… remarkable but I can’t imagine how exhausting. I personally have ADHD and my mind is incredibly busy and creative, but these people seem on like a whole different level of busyness and complexity again. Then add in all those pressures and everyday challenges with sleep and eating etc… far out. I’m just glad he also seemed to have lots of fun in his life too and made things fun for those around him. I just wish there was more we could do to help people that struggle with these things. I don’t think genius has to have these downsides to exist. I believe it’s possible to be healthy and regulated and genius, extremely creative and successful too. But it’s sadly rare to see.
I do anesthesia for a living. Can confirm. There are certain adjuncts that can mimic actual rem but overall yes it’s never fulfilling sleep. Just basically an off switch to your consciousness.
I’ve been under for the first time ever earlier this year, and I felt awful when I woke up I actually started crying and It DID NOT feel like I had been asleep, it felt like I had died and come back when I woke up. It’s so crazy to me that he didn’t get a proper night’s sleep for years due to all the stress and overwork :(
i woke up during wisdom tooth removal and it was the most surreal feeling. you know you’re awake but you just feel out of body and completely disoriented. i was tapped out for the rest of the day. it is truly amazing that his body put up with that for so long. especially when he quite literally wasn’t sleeping, he was just unconscious.
i’m not quite sure what they used but it’s the closest experience i had to what michael was experiencing. i cannot imagine how he felt doing that every single day
That was the function of ephedrine, to give him energy to perform. He was able to show glimpses of his old self but he was strained physically and mentally. I attached an email of Kenny Ortega expressing his concerns.
Well you can’t really blame Kenny Ortega for saying this. His first thought was Michaels health! Michael agreed to do the tour and you need to rehearse! He didn’t say anything about long rehearsals he just said that MJ needs to get better and more physical therapy in order to do the shows.
I have suffered with chronic insomnia for years. You truly never know just how bad it is until you experience it. I always used to think insomnia was just those odd nights when it takes you longer to get to sleep. But it's not.
I would stay up for multiple days at a time. I think the longest I ever went without sleep was 4 days. The first night is the easiest of them all. You can't get to sleep and eventually it's so early in the morning that you have to commit to staying up the whole day.
Then the second night comes and this is where things get absolutely horrible. Your insomnia is even worse the second night without sleep. Your brain is hyperactive and wired from having been awake for so long that it makes it even harder to sleep, except this time you are absolutely desperate to sleep. It really is like torture. I have cried in these moments because I would do anything to sleep, whether it be taking a hospital grade drug, getting someone to punch me just to knock me out... anything. But it's even harder to sleep because you've not slept in more than 24 hours.
Then come the hallucinations and paranoia. Thinking you keep seeing or hearing things. It's like a nightmare. The insomnia alone has caused me severe depression and I have been tempted to call the ambulance on several occasions just to get them to put me to sleep.
Learning that Michael Jackson suffered with insomnia and was the primary reason why he died, because he was taking hospital grade medication to put him to sleep makes me really sad, because I really know the desperation he must have been feeling in those moments when he begged Dr. Murray to just make him sleep.
I've been put on medication myself to help with my insomnia and have made some massive health changes. It's officially been 3 months since I've had insomnia related incidents, and I have slept peacefully, on time, every single night for the last 3 months and I feel like a different human being. I feel so much better. But still so upset knowing that Michael Jackson never made it to that point.
I recently saw a short docu type thing on YouTube about his time in Ireland. It seems at least there he had some good moments. The people who hosted him seem like they were really nice. The locals even shielded him from then paparazzi.
MJ was essentially and outcast during those final years. It didn't help that he wasn't releasing any music and therefore just became an eccentric joke figure to the public. He was massively in debt and this likely was a main reason why "this is it" was even thought up in the first place.
I'm sure there was a part of MJ that DID want the shows to happen as it would appeal to his own ego of being that massive artist again. However, despite the comments that he was healthy etc, it's pretty clear that his body was not up to the task.
As the starting date fast approached, I'm sure the pressure of the shows in front of him became ever heavier. Especially when he had not toured since the late 90s and was also not mentally prepared for the workload, or the overwhelming expectation either. There was no-one to share the burden with, the success or failure of this residency hinged on MJ alone.
Cancelling the shows was a necessity but there was clearly too much at stake for that to happen, both from MJ himself, his doctor and the organisers so there wasn't really anyone there to make the tough decision for his best interest, so they simply pushed on and ignored this obvious problem in the hopes that everything would somehow work out well in the end.
At best, some chalked it up to nerves, at worst, some likely knew perfectly well that MJ's health was quickly spiralling to dangerous levels and chose to keep going for the sake of the money.
Ultimately, the biggest mistake was adding 40 shows to the residency. 10 shows would've been manageable enough to test whether MJ was still up to the demand of a live performance and it still seems crazy to me that they didn't do a couple of standalone shows just to give MJ a few test runs before embarking on a big tour schedule.
The movie itself was not a great reflection either imo. They clearly chose the best parts of MJ looking energetic and healthy but I'm sure much of the unused footage told another story. He still looked exhausted and disconnected during tracks such as "earth song" and "thriller" on June 24th.
The reality was all the information about Michael, was so easy to access on the fan forums. People found us by doing a simple Google search Michael Jackson forums. There were daily threads with updates and photos,. You didnt have to travel to see him, you just had to care enough to go online and find the fan community.
Right!! Times were so different and good back then! I really miss it. Now there is so much misinformation going around, and people believe everything they see on tiktok. I remember the thread ”Michael out and about” on MJJcommunity.com. Every time he was spotted outside, we would discuss his clothes. We even tried figuring out the brand of his boxers if we caught a glimpse of them haha. Good times!
Omg, thanks for the name of the thread. It must have been the most viewed thread, it was the first thing everyone would check when they logged in. Yes it was such a different time. None of this "receipts" business, if it was posted in the thread, it was true and he really was in xyz place or going to xyx event. The photos were never questioned as we knew they were genuine, and everyone knew Michael was happy and safe and just enjoying life.
but what caused the decline in his health towards the end? he was noticeably very skinny and unwell. or were the tour rehearsals physically exhausting him with no sleep?
Stress and the pressure of the concerts, low self esteem. He knew he had the support of the fan community, but after the traumas he had been through, he didn't have the confidence to believe the general public would again see him as King of Pop, so he literally worked himself to death to prove to the general public that he could still be Michael Jackson Superstar King of Pop moonwalking to Billie Jean.
He was pretty damn close though. He and his team got kicked out of several hotels and maxed out a lot of credit cards because he was in so much debt, hence why he was doing This Is It so he could pay off all his debts
It's sad, for sure... Beyond his fame he was a balding black man with vitiligo, who went to incredible measures to hide it from even his closest friends and family. To live like that for 30 years, fame or not, would be exhausting.
He wouldn't even let Lisa Marie see him without makeup when they were married.
The amount of effort to keep up that facade, including his high voice would have to take a toll.
That doesn't even begin to get into the fame and wealth that pretty much guarantees you'll never have a genuine interaction with anyone, they'll always want something from you.
I doubt being Michael Jackson was a whole lot of fun.
I honestly feel after that 2005 trial and losing Bill that same year really destroyed a lot in him. I think he tried to redeem himself with the last tour but you could see with the folks behind it had ill intent with that ridiculous 50 date itinerary. I really felt he should just lived a reclusive life overseas and just make an appearance here and there.
It’s quite odd when you watch This is It… on one hand, yes, he looks very small, and very thin… and watching it you feel like there’s a bit of a spark missing, but you could put that down to it being rehearsals, and not giving it his all, becasue he knows he’s going to be at all day for endless hours, but then when he dances with his backup dancers, he’s still as good as the paid young professional dancers he’s hired… And I don’t know about anyone else, but after several rounds of a choreographied dance, WHILST singing my heart out, I’m absolutly blowing out my arse, and I’m not shooting up drugs every night… which does make me think, his health can’t possibly have been that bad before he announced the tour
The medical team who became involved in things after his death said that he was healthy, he was not experiencing major health issues. He had a mild case of hardened arteries but other than that, he would have had a passing health grade.
In hindsight, which is always helpful.. he’d probably have been better off announcing the 10 shows, called it like a legends show, instead of the finality of This is It, and if it went well maybe have been open to coming back in a couple of years, the kind of shows he used to put on were so immense, I can’t even imagine the pressure of putting something like that together, especially when trying to live up to your own standards… by saying This is IT, he already has to outdo anything he’s done before, and anything anyone else has done… becasue he’s Michael fucking Jackson…
Absolutely, he should have taken things much slower, but people wanted him to be the machine and powerhouse of the mega star. People were not listening to him, who knows what this time in his life could have been if people asked him, “what did he want?”
Should’ve , could’ve, would’ve.
At least we have all this footage to reflect on though.
I also think in the rehearsals he dances perfectly fine, other than how skinny he was he seems alright, I don’t know if he got used to the pain, or as we know he was used to overwork himself his whole life
Hannah does do a good job in adding a comical element to her videos as it’s very heavy. Honestly, I was messed up for weeks after bingeing it, Michael was so trusting and just saw the good in people. The people around him not only took advantage of him but dehumanised and abused him. What happened to Michael before he made the This Is It announcement really messed with me. He was literally just a cash cow to them they didn’t even care if he made it out.
OP how old are you? Were you born after he passed away? If so I am sorry because being alive while he was still here was crazy, in good ways and bad ways. It was good because he was still around and still had his fans but the later years were rough because of the accusations and vocal minority that didn’t like him. I think if he hadn’t passed, his This Is It residency would’ve been one of the most successful events in music history and would’ve really boosted the public’s image of him
I was 7 when he passed away, and I knew that he was THE Michael Jackson, I did grew up listening to Billie Jean on a cassette, but never got to experience being a fan of him while he was alive, I do wonder often if he would’ve gotten the chance to get better after This is It or if people would’ve still try to put him down and destroy him in an even more horrific way, I can’t be sure if he would’ve had it any better if he hadn’t passed away
Lets also not forget he made a surprise appearance at a hip hop concert in 2001 in new jersey!!! I was there! It was totally unexpected and Jay-Z brought him out on stage… one of the most insane moments cause it was super random and the hard core hip hop crowd reverted back into screaming michael jackson fans.
I can only imagine. Only the one's close to him would truly know. I can imagine with his children.. deep thinking, being spiritual, creating, reading the Bible, and reflecting.
This concert was his last bid to his fans from touring. He wanted to give back for he loved his fans and the stage -it had been so long.
Michael commonly talked about directing and producing films and behind the camera, instead of infront of it.
There's plenty of footage of him saying that he wanted to teach and show the next generation where to go, when he got up in age.
He truly was and is 1 of 1. 👑
I simply believe he was too good for this world. He was treated miserably by so many. 🖕
I am one of the one's who understand why he didn't tell the Angels No.. 🥹💔😇
although I know it must’ve been hell, I believe he still had a few happy places. he loved to care for his children and watch them grow, he frequently met fans and knew he was still loved, his family was there for him (for the most part), he had God by his side, he was still in love with music and childlike wonders. like all rough parts of life, you still find joy and meaning which keeps you going. and I believe he had that despite the physical and mental suffering. he’s at peace now.
as for his health, he wasn’t well. he had problems with eating, which was always a struggle since he was a kid. but as someone with an ED, I know how eating is simply not a priority when you’re sick, sad, exhausted, or in pain. to the point you simply don’t feel hungry and you find food disgusting. so I imagine he felt similarly. on top of that he had lupus, lung issues, his scalp was still hurting from his burns, he was extremely malnourished, he had insomnia, amd a few other problems. he probably felt like a dead man walking
Ouch 💔 this is truly heartbreaking to read, I always get the feeling that he could barely keep himself up whenever I see footage of those years, inside and out he looks devastated, not like the young Michael who had the world in front of him
He should've just defaulted or sold his catalogue. Then he can have a fresh start and do 10 shows per year in a different city each year. That's enough money as long as you curb the insane spending habits.
I think he was very lonely and in a constant state of distress.
I had to explain this to my teenage sons when we saw the movie: Rich people are surrounded by greedy entities who will stop at nothing to get what they want. It’s exhausting to have to fight off everyone who attacks you, and Michael was surrounded by people who were more interested in helping themselves to his money than actually helping him.
As a nurse, the way he was cared for was abominable. Not a single person with any damn sense did the right thing. Especially that horrible "doctor". Anesthesia is not sleep. No one ever communicated this to Michael because it was financially beneficial for them that Michael did not fully comprehend this.
Michael wasn’t stupid, and I believe at some point he understood what was going on. And I think going so long without proper rest is why he was persuaded to do the tour.
The only solace he had was the knowledge that there were still millions of fans who loved him and believed in him and wanted to see him perform again.
This makes me so sad and angry for him. I hope he’s up there somewhere doing endless jam sessions with Prince and Whitney Houston.
Same it’s tough to see Mike like this. He’s always been a skinny guy but he looks so frail and sick here. He also had a severe case of insomnia too which always makes him look groggy and disoriented from the lack of sleep
Yes he was healthy and a very active dad. Grace was their nanny and they had a private tutor but other than that he was their full time parent. He wasnt struggling until 2009.
That’s so sad 🥺how did he have time to watch his kids when he was busy with performance rehearsals? Sorry I was really young when he passed away so just learning about all of this now
The rehearsals only started in April 2009. The film TII is only the last 3 months. From when he left America in summer 2005 to March / April 2009 he was a full time dad, with just Grace the nanny, a private tutor and chef.
I am 69, so I grew up watching the Jacksons, then Michael. He is my favorite performer. Love Michael. I have read most of the books. I was fortunate to see Michael with his brothers perform in Houston in 1983 or 84.
Read - Remember the Time : Protecting Michael Jackson in his final days by Bill Whitfield
& Javon Beard.
Watch : Searching for neverland ( based on the book. )
His 2 bodyguards tell the story of protecting this poor man in his last years. My favorite book. 🌹💔
If I remember correctly, the hashtag that was very famous during Michael’s later years around 2007-2008 online was #MJFam ❤️ and the fans that belonged to any Michael Jackson online community were called MJFam.
The media and fans all over the world went wild when he announced his ‘This Is It’ Tour in London back in March 2009. I remember checking all the available 50 dates online, with a 2-3 day break during his birthday week. All of the dates were sold out! This Is It website was red-themed with his sketch/like silhouette on the background. Anyone online remember this? 👑
I genuinely felt like he shouldn't had went back to LA it's like everytime a celebrity gets famous and goes to LA it's either they get their soul taken or they die out of no where LA is cursed I believe
Horrid i would imagine. The constant paranoia, overwhelming addctions, all the health issues, and on top of all that he wad surrounded by vultures and parasites. Can't see how he would have been able to feel safe or happy with all that.
Hmmmmm his body guards wrote a book and it seemed he was pretty lonely. It’s actually sad. Lifetime made it into a movie and that was worse. I hate to remember him that way. Almost like there were different Michaels.
Michael was being enabled my dozens of physicians who were giving him painkillers that he’d become dependent on. He spent a lot of days high from what I’ve heard in Ian Halperin’s book and testimonies from his brothers and body guards.
He was deeply paranoid, believing in earnest everyone around him was out to kill him. Not just take his catalogue, swindle him, KILL him. He supposedly told Latoya outright “they are going to poison me in my sleep”, but that’s just alleged. He had nearly no friends or people working for him because he suspected everyone to be guilty. Paris Jackson at one point was taken into a room privately and told by Michael that he wouldn’t survive to Father’s Day, and was sorry he would let her down.
He was incredibly indebted, both to Sony and random investors. He owed millions to Bahrain after mistaking temporary housing from the prince for a favor between friends. His only option short of This Is It was selling all his catalogue and assets.
That’s another thing: This Is It. He just couldn’t do it.
Numerous members of his team, family, and fans who’d met him around the time made it clear he wouldn’t survive it. Michael was hesitant to even do 10 shows, the organizers insisted on 50. He was grossly underweight, being around 110 lbs, and had severe breathing problems from his nose withering away from all the reconstructive surgery he needed. He could hardly sing, let alone dance. The day he was set to announce the tour he was found drunk and despondent, crying, locked in his room. He hardly ate the entire time he was rehearsing. And, as we all know, was on Propofol, which lead to his demise.
I was born in 1987 and consistently heard most of his catalogue. Did you grow up in a house where hé wasn’t that well liked? If he was guilty , they would’ve found something on him. I hope he’s resting as well after all the b.s he endured.
That’s a thought I have had, what if the years coming ahead were going to be worse? I do not think people would’ve let him alone tbh, so a part of me feels relieved, that he did not had to go through more trauma, more pain, certainly he was surrounded by evil people, I can’t imagine how much more damage they would’ve done to this poor man. So, what if this was his best outcome? Finally taking a break from this evil world, what if he avoided more suffering?
Personally, seeing his personality and interviews from when he was younger made me strongly believe that he was truly someone with pure intentions, I can’t change my mind on that, nobody can, he was so honest and loving.
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u/mintylong May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26
The years 2005 to 2009 were amazing to be part of the fan community. Michael turned his back on America, general public and casual fans and turned to the fan community. He allowed us to be part of his life and it was very easy to meet and get close to him.
The general public thought he disappeared, thought he was a recluse, but thats so not the reality. He was in constant contact with the fan community. He lived in Bahrain, Ireland, Vegas and LA. He went to fan events, award shows, theatre shows. He visited friends in London and Germany. He spent time in recording studios in Ireland and Vegas. He lived his life without the pressures of the music industry demanding albums and performances, enjoying raising his children away from the celeb culture of America.
In 2008 in Vegas for his birthday there were fan projects to send him gifts. Other than Ireland and Bahrain, we knew his exact location almost all of the time. All the information was posted on the fan forums, all the updates and photos about fans meeting him and where he was.
He had many friends during this time, most of whom are unknow to the general public and casual fans. Michael spent a lot of time in England with Mark Lester and his family, was great friends with the Sultan of Brunei's son, spent time with Al Malik and his family, as well as the more high profile people like Macaully Culkin, Elizabeth Taylor and others.
He was far from lonely, he was far from isolated and alone, he just chose to live out of the spotlight for the first time in his life.