Elton John has made an admission about the late Michael Jackson, and it has left fans deeply alarmed.
The pair were both icons of pop music, but in Elton’s memoir, titled Me, which was released in 2019, he spoke out about his personal experiences of MJ, who passed away aged fifty back in 2009.
Now, Elton John is a British sensation. Known for his flamboyant costumes and magnetic stage presence, he has taken the world by storm with his chart-topping hits and unrivalled showmanship.
From humble beginnings in Pinner, England, Elton’s trajectory has been nothing short of extraordinary. With an unwavering dedication to his craft, he honed his piano skills, capturing hearts with his soul-stirring melodies and poignant lyrics. His collaboration with lyricist Bernie Taupin proved to be a match made in heaven, creating smash hits such as ‘Bennie and the Jets’, ‘Tiny Dancer’ and ‘Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)’.
Naturally, being a star of Elton’s magnitude means that he was in circles with other music superstars.
One of these was no other than Michael Jackson, who he first came across when he was a child.
“I’d known Michael since he was 13 or 14,” Elton wrote, as per Joe. “He was just the most adorable kid you could imagine. But at some point in the intervening years, he started sequestering himself away from the world and away from reality, the way Elvis Presley did.”
“God knows what was going on in his head, and God knows what prescription drugs he was being pumped full of, but every time I saw him in his later years I came away thinking that the poor guy had totally lost his marbles,” he continued.
“I don’t mean that in the lighthearted way. He was genuinely mentally ill, a disturbing person to be around.”
Michael Jackson has had multiple allegations of child s*x abuse against him, and although Elton didn’t directly comment on these, he did discuss the ‘Man in the Mirror’ singer’s relationship with children.
“For whatever reason, he couldn’t seem to cope with adult company at all,” he wrote.
Fans have taken to social media to respond to Elton’s claims.
One person said: “It didn’t help that Jackson came from an abusive family.”
A second wrote: “It was clear that something was wrong; I wonder at what point would he have been able to be helped if only it was recognised that there was a serious mental issue going on. “
A third added: “This shouldn’t surprise anyone. We’ll never sort it all out, but he wasn’t OK.”
