From pet monkeys to plastic surgery and dark secrets, the life of Wacko Jacko was never dull, writes Katherine Chatfield.
Oxygen tents, a reclusive life in a private fun park called Neverland, a pet chimp, multiple face surgeries, his marriages and, of course, the court cases … Michael’s controversial life, at times, almost overshadowed his amazing musical talent.
His bizarre lifestyle started making news in the early 1980s when it was rumoured he slept in a hyperbaric chamber to maintain his youthful appearance, and took hormone supplements to maintain his high vocal range.
His appearance was also starting to change and, by the time Bad was released in 1987, his lighter skin and finely shaped nose drew criticism that he was denying his African heritage. But Jacko was adamant his skin change was due to vitiligo, a skin disorder that causes depigmentation.
Michael’s extensive plastic surgery became a source of endless fascination. Photos document the changing shape of his face and chin, and some detractors even suggested that the amount of surgery he’d had on his nose would eventually cause it to fall off.
In 1993, 13-year old Jordan Chandler accused Michael of sexually abusing him at Neverland. Michael denied it but settled out of court for a reported $US20million.
In May 1994, Michael married Lisa Marie Presley, stirring speculation the wedding was a stunt designed to boost Michael’s poor public image. Despite Lisa Marie going on TV to ask, “How can you fake this 24 hours a day?”, just 19 months later, she filed for divorce citing “irreconcilable differences”. Three years later, he married nurse Deborah Rowe.
Michael’s health was also causing talk. In 1995 he collapsed onstage from dehydration and low blood pressure, and concerns for his mental wellbeing were raised during a 2002 trip to Berlin when he dangled his veiled three-month old son “Blanket” from a fourth-floor balcony. He later admitted it was a “terrible mistake”.
Michael was accused of child abuse again in 2003, this time by 13-year old Gavin Arvizo. Arriving at court in his pyjamas and looking fragile, Michael was said to be eating only one meal a day and weighed in at just over 40kg. Despite his acquittal, Michael’s health never recovered.
In recent months rumours circulated that the singer was severely ill with a rare genetic condition, and that he was in need of a lung transplant as he was suffering emphysema.
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