As much as the world made Michael Jackson lareger than life, the King of Pop remained grounded through his music, charitable efforts, family, friends and loved ones. ESSENCE.com takes a look at those special moments and things that made MJ everyday people.
He always volunteered his time to many charities, whether it was through song or hands-on contributions, such as this fund-raising event he hosted at his Neverland estate on September 13, 2003, in Los Olivos, California.
MJ didn’t take himself too seriously. His gravity-defying move in his video for “Smooth Criminal” is legendary. He joked to LL Cool J that he had an “Indian swami come in and do a ritual to make it happen,” fooling the rapper for at least an hour until he confessed he was just kidding.
Michael never had a problem putting his friends first. He flew in from Bahrain to attend James Brown’s Augusta, Georgia, funeral on December 30, 2006, at the James Brown Arena. “My father loved and respected him,” Deanna Brown told ESSENCE of her father and Michael’s relationship.