Health and appearance of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson was an American entertainer who spent over four decades in the public eye, first as a child star with the Jackson 5 and later as a solo artist. From the mid-1980s, Jackson's appearance began to change dramatically. The changes to his face, particularly his nose, triggered widespread speculation of extensive cosmetic surgery, and his skin tone became much lighter.[1][2]
Jackson was diagnosed with the skin disorder vitiligo, which results in white patches on the skin and sensitivity to sunlight. To treat the condition, he used fair-colored makeup[3] and likely skin-bleaching prescription creams[4] to cover up the uneven blotches of color caused by the illness. The creams would have further lightened his skin. The lighter skin resulted in criticism that he was trying to appear white.[2][5] Jackson said he had not purposely bleached his skin and that he was not trying to be anything he was not.[6]
Jackson and some of his siblings said they had been physically and psychologically abused by their father Joe Jackson. In 2003, Joe admitted to whipping them as children, but he emphatically rejected the longstanding abuse allegations.[7][8] The whippings deeply traumatized Jackson and may have led to the onset of further health problems later in his life. Physicians speculated that he had body dysmorphic disorder.[9]
At some point during the 1990s, it appeared that Jackson had become dependent on prescription drugs, mainly painkillers and strong sedatives. The drug use was later linked to second- and third-degree burns he had suffered years before. Jackson gradually became dependent on these drugs, and his health deteriorated. He went into rehabilitation in 1993.[10] While preparing for a series of comeback concerts scheduled to begin in July 2009, Jackson died of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication after suffering cardiac arrest on June 25, 2009. His personal physician was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in his death and sentenced to four years in prison.
Cosmetic procedures
Nose surgeries
Media reports state Jackson had extensive surgery on his nose.[36] Jackson denied those reports in his 1988 autobiography Moonwalk, saying he only had had two rhinoplasties.[37]
Shortly after Jackson's death Klein stated that he had rebuilt Jackson's nose because its cartilage had totally collapsed and that he had been 'exquisitely sensitive to pain'.[38] Medical records show that Klein administered Jackson Demerol during procedures.[39] Jackson had told Patrick Treacy that he had had a facial hypersensitivity caused by a botched cosmetic surgery.[40] Jackson's second wife Debbie Rowe, who had met Jackson while she had been working for Klein, said she had been designated to help him through procedures.[41]
In 2017, British broadcaster Sky canceled the airing of an episode of Urban Myths which cast Joseph Fiennes to portray Jackson with heavy white makeup and a constructed nose. The cancelation came after Jackson's family had expressed concerns in public.[42]
Facial structure
Surgeons speculated he also had a forehead lift, cheekbone surgery and altered his lips.[43] Jackson variously denied the reports of extensive cosmetic surgery, at times claiming to have only ever had surgery on his nose, while at other times saying that he also had a dimple created in his chin. Jackson attributed the changes in the structure of his face to puberty, a strict vegetarian diet, weight loss, a change in hair style and stage lighting.[37] He also denied allegations that he had altered his eyes.[44] In the unedited version of the documentary Living with Michael Jackson, Jackson was asked about his cheeks; he answered: "These cheekbones? No. My father has the same thing. We have Indian blood."[45]
Insomnia
Allan Metzger stated in his testimony for Murray's trial that Jackson began having recurring insomnia because each show often left him adrenalized and unable to sleep for days. Metzger would prescribe sleep medication for Jackson that helped him while he was working on We Are the World. However, during the 1996 HIStory World Tour, his insomnia became worse and his prescriptions were increased by different physicians.[87]
In his final months, Jackson's insomnia was still prevalent and he was dissatisfied with his lack of sleep. Nurse Lee stated she spent one night in Jackson's residence to monitor his nighttime routine. Jackson went to bed with classical music playing on a sound system and Donald Duck cartoons playing on a computer. That night Jackson slept only for three hours. He told Lee: "All I want is to be able to sleep. I want to be able to sleep eight hours. I know I'll feel better the next day." Lee stated that Jackson told her that he believed propofol would help him, but did not say the name of the doctor that would give it to him.[88]
Klein recalled Jackson could not sleep one night when he was on tour in Hawaii. Finally Klein and his office slept in Jackson's room.[38] One of his lawyers said Jackson suffered from sleeplessness when he was under pressure: "He gets upset, he doesn't drink, he doesn't eat, he can't sleep. It gets to the point where he just can't stand it. He is exhausted with this kind of thing."[89]
Drug use
Painkillers
In November 1993, Jackson announced that he was dependent on painkillers; he said he had recently undergone a scalp surgery, and the painkillers had been prescribed. In a taped statement Jackson said: "The pressure resulting from these false allegations, coupled with the incredible energy necessary for me to perform, caused so much distress that it left me physically and emotionally exhausted. I became increasingly more dependent on the painkillers."[50] His lawyers said Jackson would be treated for dependency overseas for one and a half months to two months.[90] In December 1993, Jackson returned to the United States.[91]
Jackson's dependency was questioned by the lawyer who represented the boy accusing Jackson of sexual abuse. In November 1993 two lawyers, who had seen Jackson a few days before he had canceled his tour, described their impressions in a sworn declaration. A plaintiff's lawyer in a copyright matter stated he had been "warned that the entertainer was taking painkillers because of recent oral surgery" before questioning him. The lawyer stated he had seen "no obvious effects of drug abuse".[92]
One of Jackson's lawyers stated she had seen him the day before and had concluded he had been 'unfit to give testimony' but 'seemed to be doing much better' the next day when he had given the deposition. Jackson's lawyer said these swings had continued over the next few days. She said she had been "deeply concerned" about Jackson's health.[92]
Propofol
Cherilyn Lee, a nurse who provided nutritional counseling to Jackson, said that on April 12, 2009, he had asked her for unspecified "products for sleep". On April 19, 2009, he told her the only medicine that would help was propofol.[93] Lee refused, telling him, "Michael, the only problem with you taking this medication ... is you're going to take it and you're not going to wake up."[88]
Jackson dismissed the warning, telling her he had been given the drug before and that he had been told that it was safe.[94] After Jackson's death, Lee said in an interview: "He wasn't looking to get high or feel good and sedated from drugs. This was a person who was not on drugs. This was a person who was seeking help, desperately, to get some sleep, to get some rest."[88]
Patrick Treacy, a cosmetic surgeon who had treated Jackson while he had been living in Ireland in 2006,[49][95] stated that he had never seen any drugs in the house and had never been asked for narcotics. Jackson had always insisted on the presence of an anesthetist when Propofol had been administered.[96]
Mental health
Appearance
Jackson's physical changes attracted widespread media coverage and criticism from the public.[44] Some African-American psychologists argued that Jackson was a poor role model for black youth. Dennis Chestnut said Jackson had given "black youth a feeling that they can achieve", but might encourage them to believe they had to be esoteric and idiosyncratic to be successful. Halford Fairchild said Jackson and other African-American celebrities would try "to look more like white people in order to get in films and on television".[112]
When Jackson was approached in 2003 about people thinking he was obsessed with cosmetic surgery because of his distressed childhood he replied: "Well, I know what's inside my head. That's all."[113]
In his interview in 1993, Jackson talked about the impact the speculations about his skin color had on him. "It is something I cannot help," said Jackson. "When people make up stories that I don't want to be who I am, it hurts me. It's a problem for me. I can't control it. But what about all the millions of people who sit in the sun to become darker, to become other than what they are. Nobody says nothing about that."[6]
Jackson publicly said that he was proud to be black.[36] Jackson's paternity of his three children is questioned in public due to their light skin color.[114]
Jackson's cosmetic surgeries are also regarded as an attempt to look white. Another theory says Jackson did not want to look like his father. People close to Jackson say he did not want to remove himself from the race.[115]
Eccentric lifestyle
In September 1986, the National Enquirer reported that Jackson slept in an oxygen chamber in order to prolong his life. Later editor Nick Maier declared that the story was not true. He said a polaroid of Jackson lying in the chamber was provided by Jackson's press representative. Maier added: "Many celebrities try to create a buzz around themselves. And Michael Jackson did exactly that. In the end, that backfired..."[97] Jackson used his eccentric image to cover his skin condition before speaking about it in public.[116]
Depression
Jackson's daughter stated her father had depression and had been prescribed antidepressants.[117] Jackson stated he used to cry from loneliness as a child starting at the age of eight or nine.[118] Jackson said his acne had a bad effect on his personality and depressed him. He hadn't looked at people when he had been talking and hadn't wanted to go out, but stated he had learned to feel better about himself and things had changed.[119]
Jackson stated in his biography he had one of the most difficult periods in his life when he was making Off the Wall. He felt isolated having only very few close friends. He used to walk through his neighborhood hoping to meet somebody he could talk to and who might become a friend. "Success definitely brings on loneliness", he added. "I've learned to cope better with these things and now I don't get nearly as depressed as I used to".[120]