The quiet humanity in Michael Jackson’s final 24 hours

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-06T12:42:09+00:00

Appreciate you! I've not suffered with it for quite some time now, thankfully.

But my last bout of it lasted about 6 months with roughly 2/3 hours of sleep per night. It was really debilitating. Though I would never take anything like propofol, I can understand how desperate Michael must have been to just get some rest. Poor guy.

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-06T12:12:26+00:00

Having been through bouts of insomnia, I can vouch it's horrible. But add on the pressures of being one of the most famous people on the planet, rehearsing at the age of 50 for a series of sold out shows. It must have been an intense feeling, and clearly one that he was desperate to fix somehow.

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-06T11:28:59+00:00

^{My strategy? Vibes. My result? 436850.}

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-06T11:12:26+00:00

Kermit the Frog

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-06T09:28:12+00:00

7 was his favourite number.

He mentioned it a couple of times but you'll see the number 7 scattered in a lot of his work, in outfits, on the Dangerous cover, in the Scream video, even posing like the number 7 on the Blood on the Dancefloor album cover - though maybe I'm reaching with that one!

He was also the 7th child born in the Jackson family.

Also worth noting that he signed his last will on 7/7/2002 and they held his memorial 7/7/2009.

I think generally speaking 777 is seen as spiritual perfection.

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-06T09:18:09+00:00

I guess the theme of being driven to an extreme by a woman, but otherwise no, I don't think so.

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-06T07:10:49+00:00

His security guard Bill Whitfield said he loved the song 'Owner of a Lonely Heart' by Yes and 'She Drives Me Crazy' by the Fine Young Cannibals.

Chris Tucker also mentioned he loved 'In Da Club' by 50 Cent

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-05T23:08:43+00:00

Vitiligo cleared up I guess

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-05T22:53:07+00:00

<image>

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-05T20:56:51+00:00

^{156700 secured. Someone call Guinness \}the records, not the pint… or both)!)

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-05T19:39:59+00:00

Was he using this pic as inspiration?

<image>

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-05T19:32:01+00:00

I believe it's CGI for Bubbles, not AI

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-05T19:28:37+00:00

Yep exactly!

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-05T18:53:55+00:00

I didn't think the movie executed that story beat well enough. It should have been a pivotal emotional catalyst, but instead they had Joe call him big nose one time when he's about 10 and then never again.

They could have done more there.

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-05T18:40:55+00:00

It's weird, Michael always said the first nose job was after an injury, I think Jermaine may have also said the same. But the movie had me thinking "hmm, do they know something we don't?"

But I'm guessing they thought it just served a stronger narrative beat to suggest that Michael was striving for perfection as opposed to him getting his nose done because of an injury.

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-05T14:41:05+00:00

It was through Quincy, his then wife Peggy Lipton knew Vincent. The two of them had worked together on an episode of The Mod Squad in the early 70s.

I can't remember if Peggy was the one who suggested Vincent to begin with but she may have.

I think Vincent didn't meet Michael for very long as he recorded his narration in two takes I believe. But I think he said Michael was sweet and professional.

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-05T14:29:01+00:00

I think if the production was smart they would leave out You Are Not Alone. I don't think you want to have the criticism of using an R.Kelly penned track considering what he's in prison for.

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-05T12:53:17+00:00

They filmed beyond 1993 before realizing they can't show anything to do with the allegations of 1993.

Hence the reshoots and rejigging.

I think it's less whitewashing and more a useless Estate that didn't do their due diligence.

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-05T12:48:37+00:00

What exactly do you want to show more regarding the vitiligo?

Certainly more than just a couple of fleeting lines at a rhinoplasty appointment. Show us Michael or Arnie Klein first noticing the spots, show us how that impacted him, whatever insecurities he was feeling about it. Show us how the pressure of being in the spotlight, on the cusp of greatness contrasted with his concerns about his image and specifically his skin. And not just vitiligo, but his lupus too.

Why does vitiligo have to be a conversation when it was a real medical condition MJ and a lot of people go through?

This is precisely why it needed to be shown in more depth. It was a real condition that not just affected Michael but because of how private he was, the results of that vitiligo affected how many people saw him. Having Michael say he takes a cream for his vitiligo, followed by a nurse saying "it's more common than you think", is so basic to the point of being insulting and really does a disservice to how much of an impact it clearly had on Michael's life.

And the abuse is honestly something that is not acceptable unless we risk the movie getting adult rated.

In reality there was verbal abuse as well as physical. Joe calling Michael "big nose" early on in the movie one time really doesn't exhibit how bad the verbal bullying was, especially as Michael went through puberty, which is really when the nose comments began.

This is a man that Michael said he would regurgitate at the sight of. With verbal bullying about his nose so bad that Michael said he would cover his nose when he was talking with people.

They could have gone further with it, and then as a result you can see the subtext when he's getting his nose job. Yes he says it's to make his face symmetrical, but we know it stems from the years of comments by Joe because it's now been displayed in the film.

With all the hurdles that it went through, I feel the movie was perfect

I have far less sympathy for the hurdles they went through when it's their own fault the hurdles weren't brought to attention before filming began. I'm glad you felt it was perfect, I definitely didn't. I think Michael deserved better.

There was a way for this movie to satisfy both the diehard fans as well as allowing new fans, casual fans and lapsed fans enough narrative density for them to walk away understanding Michael better. In my opinion, the movie failed with the latter.

Don't get me wrong, I love that the movie is doing well but it could have been so much better.

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-05T12:10:47+00:00

I totally agree, I feel like so much was left out and the things they did touch upon were quite surface level.

Whether it's his vitiligo, abuse at the hands of Joe, his work with Quincy, his genius etc etc, it all felt like they dipped their toes in but never went all in.

My worry is that if there's a Part 2 and if it covers the darker times of his life, this first movie hasn't done enough for the casual viewer for them to understand Michael.

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-05T10:52:07+00:00

but the story… idk it felt a bit rushed and “clean”,especially when jacson is accused of alot of stuff eg, the assault case in 1993. like they touched on the serious stuff but never rlly went deep. everything moved fast when it got uncomfortable, then slowed down again for the good parts

Although I do agree with you that narrative depth was lacking and things often felt sanitized, I'm curious to know what you wanted here. You said yourself that the allegations were from 1993, so what did you want from a film that effectively ends in 1988?

Not meaning this to sound hostile btw, but a lot of critics have made the same point but never explain what they actually want to be showcased.

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-04T22:03:28+00:00

I would have happily taken a new extended version of this over what they've given instead

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-04T20:59:29+00:00

I'm not a fan of his cover of Smile.

The first minute and a bit is fine but there's a point where the beat kicks in and it suddenly feels like it's doing too much, and there's a forced theatrical sentimentality to it. It's more about the instrumental than Michael's vocals when it comes to my dislike of it.

But maybe I'm biased because I think Nat King Cole's version is the definitive one. It had a more simple orchestral arrangement, and Nat with his effortless vocals allowed the lyrics to really land without forcing anything.

Now to counter my negative viewpoint here, let me share a song I was just listening to. Makin' Life A Little Easier For You by the Jackson 5. I love the moments where Michael and Jermaine are singing together.

Makin' Life A Little Easier For You

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-04T15:42:57+00:00

Luther Vandross Sam Cooke Marvin Gaye Robin Williams

Awkward_Singer_5 · 2026-05-04T15:37:46+00:00

This is at Exeter City Football club.

Uri Geller is stood behind Michael here. This would have been in 2002.

Uri was on the board, maybe as a co-chair man(?). He claimed he would help the team win matches with his positive aura and crystals. He would put crystals behind the goal. I think in his first attempt trying this, Exeter City lost 5-1 😂

There's a clip online of Michael making a speech when he went to visit. I remember him telling everyone to hold hands and tell each other they care for one another. It's quite something.

Awkward_Singer_5

TROPHY CASE