It’s been 14 years since the King of Pop, Michael Joseph Jackson (you know him as Michael Jackson) passed away. But till date, several aspects of his life are afresh in his fans’ minds. One such thing is his skin disorder which makes people search for how did Michael Jackson turn white
Michael Jackson had Vitiligo- a skin disorder in which white patches start to appear on the skin partially. It seems like a coincidence that fourteen years back he died on 25th June which is celebrated every year as World Vitiligo Day to raise awareness about this disorder.
Jackson’s skin color has always been a matter of discussion. In 1993, when he appeared on the talk show Michael Jackson Talks To Oprah, he was encountered with questions regarding his skin color. That is when he revealed publicly that he is suffering from vitiligo and said- “It is something I cannot help. When people make up stories that I don’t want to be who I am, it hurts me.” So what was the actual reason that the heart-throbbing pop sensation of the 20th century became whiter totes? And, what is the skin disorder Vitiligo? Read the article to discover.
| Full Name: | Michael Joseph Jackson |
| Known As: |
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| Date Of Birth: | 29th August, 1958 |
| Birth Place: | Gary, Indiana, US |
| Nationality: | African-American |
| Died On: | 25th June, 2009 |
| Cause Of Death: | Cardiac Arrest Due To Acute Propofol Intoxication |
| Place Of Death: | Los Angeles, California, US |
| Burial Place: | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California |
| Age When Died: | 50 Years |
| Height: | 5 ft. 9 in. |
| Profession: | Singer. Songwriter. Record Producer. Dancer |
| Net Worth When Died: | Million USD |
| Years Active In Industry: | 45 Years (1964 to 2009) |
| Ex-Wife: |
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| Children: | 3 Children (2 Daughters- Bigi Jackson and Paris Jackson); (1 Son- Prince Jackson) |
How Did Michael Jackson Turn White?
Even till date, the air has the rumors that Michael Jackson had undergone skin bleaching to change his skin color. Furthermore, it is also said that he was somewhat shamefaced of his race. In 1993, Jackson talked about his skin condition and revealed that he had Vitiligo, in his interview with Oprah Winfrey. He said. “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,” he also said- “I’m a black American, I am proud to be a black American. I am proud of my race, and I am proud of who I am. I have a lot of pride and dignity of who I am. I have a skin disorder that destroys the pigmentation of the skin. It is something I cannot help. When people make up stories that I don’t want to be who I am, it hurts me.”
But people couldn’t bury the thought of how did Michael Jackson turn white fully with vitiligo. It led to a plethora of speculations. Before we proceed to dig in further, let’s see what vitiligo is.
What Is Vitiligo?
Vitiligo is a skin disorder that spreads white patches on the skin in random order. The white patches or macules occur due to the body’s immune system attacking the healthy cells by mistaking them for alienated organisms. This in turn results in the skin cells losing pigment (color). It can happen due to prolonged exposure to the sun, genetic reasons, and alterations in the immune system.
Do you remember the white glove in Michael Jackson’s hand which became a part of his attributed signature look? It was also reportedly linked to vitiligo as many assumed he wore it to hide the patches on his hand. Cicely Tyson, who was Jackson’s friend, spoke to CNN and disclosed that the glove was to cover the pigmentation due to vitiligo. As per the source, she got the news from a mutual designer as she said- “All of a sudden, he said, ‘I’m doing this glove for Michael,’ ” she further added, “Michael was beginning to develop the vitiligo and it started on his hand.” “The glove was to cover the vitiligo; that’s how that glove came into being.”
This is true as per medical studies that vitiligo can start to appear on a certain body part and gradually develop on other parts. But can vitiligo turn a person completely “whiter,” as in the case of Michael Jackson? Or did he use any bleaching methods for turning white? And if not, how did Michael Jackson turn white completely? Keep reading to discover.
Michael Jackson- Black Or White?
Born in Gary, Indiana, Michael Jackson was the eighth son of Joseph Walter ‘Joe’ Jackson and Katherine Esther Jackson. He was born on the 29th of August 1958. Since his family shared a background in music, he developed an interest in music from a very early age and his father used to rehearse the kids for their family band that he was a part of. As a child, Michael often used to hear from his dad that his ‘fat nose’ was a fallen shadow.
Michael Jackson was quite considerate of his appearance. But how did Michael Jackson turn white? His mother reportedly shared after his death that he was afraid of how he would look with vitiligo and became obsessive about cosmetic surgeries. He had got his nose job done and had also undergone chin surgery. However, as per his mother he had undergone more than two surgeries.
He Wanted To Be Fit In The Skin Of A Dancer
Being a globally acclaimed figure, vitiligo wasn’t the only concern of Michael Jackson’s life. He significantly dropped his weight to appear in the ‘perfect dancer body’ which used to make him go dizzy. The paparazzi also reported that Michael Jackson used to sleep in a special oxygenated chamber in an attempt to slow down his aging. Nevertheless, his manager Frank DiLeo confirmed the late pop star perceived it as a healthy habit.
Michael Jackson was speculated to gulp down female hormone shots so as to keep his voice high and facial hair at bay and had eye surgery as well. If you’re wondering how did Michael Jackson turn white, you already know that he had an olive undertone skin by birth. His dermatologist, Arnold Klien, diagnosed him with discoid lupus erythematosus and later on with vitiligo.
He Had Undergone Cosmetic Surgeries
The King of Pop culture not only had to answer ‘How did Michael Jackson turn white?‘ but also had to explain about his surgeries. Although Michael Jackson only acknowledged his nose job and chin surgery, professional surgeons hold the view that he had multiple surgeries done to change his facial structure completely which included his forehead, cheekbones, and lips.
Michael Jackson also had to undergo a scalp injury as his hair caught fire from the sparks of ‘magnesium flash bombs’ that were poorly set during an ad shot. He was rushed to Brotman Medical Center afterward and had implants to level up his skull. Subsequently, he was on painkillers which interfered with his Dangerous Tour schedule. Failing to recover the hair loss, Jackson had to wear a wig.
Bleached Skin Or Vitiligo?
How did Michael Jackson turn white? John Landis, one of the directors Michael Jackson worked with, said he once showed him his bleached chest. However, Jackson never confirmed any such thing. In a letter to photographer William Pecchi Jr. in 1988, Jackson writes- “Maybe I look at the world through rose colored glasses but I love people all over the world. That is why stories of racism really disturb me. […] Because in truth I believe ALL men are created equal, I was taught that and will always believe it. I just can’t conceive of how a person could hate another because of skin color. I love every race on the planet earth. Prejudice is the child of ignorance. Naked we come into the world and naked we shall go out. And a very good thing too, for it reminds me that I am naked under my shirt, whatever its color.” (Source: Wikipedia)
As per medical research studies, vitiligo rarely affects anyone as it reportedly did Michael Jackson. This is to say that his own responses to how did Michael Jackson turn white appear shady totes. However, it can’t be certainly said whether turning from black to white and then to pale was the result of his vitiligo treatments or skin bleaching methods.
Revelations Post Death
Michael Jackson garnered mixed remarks regarding all the truth and speculations about how did Michael Jackson turn white. Some were of the view that he was one of the successful African-American artists who wanted to turn into white to rake in a chance in movies and television. On the other hand, some viewed him as a one-of-a-kind artist who has established a different benchmark for black people but somehow has some personal concerns.
At the time of his death, tubes of Benoquin were found in Michael Jackson’s home which he plausibly used for depigmentation (to get a lighter skin tone), and hydroquinone, which is banned by the FDA now following its severe ill-effects on skin. Jackson’s autopsy also confirmed that he had vitiligo at certain points, however, the reports were quiet on lupus-related matters.
Final Words
Michael Jackson’s style, voice, and moonwalk are still the talk of the town. But the much-celebrated singer of the Pop genre is till date been searched for infamous stories behind his appearance change, specifically body tone. The question- how did Michael Jackson turn white is an intriguing matter for many. The above article unfolds the mystery behind the cause of his sudden change of skin tone.
