Prince Jackson Sheds Light On Michael Jackson’s Battle With Vitiligo
In a recent appearance on Mike Tyson’s podcast, Prince Jackson, the eldest child of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, opened up about his father’s struggle with vitiligo, a skin condition that had a significant impact on the late music legend.
Vitiligo, a chronic disorder causing patches of skin to lose pigmentation, left Michael Jackson with areas of milky white skin. Prince revealed that his father often spoke to him about this condition, and it was even mentioned in his autopsy report. The exact cause of Michael’s vitiligo remains a topic of speculation, with some suggesting it could be related to lupus.
The condition took a toll on Michael’s confidence, as Prince shared, “He had a lot of insecurity around, kind of looking blotchy in his appearance. So he wanted to see if he could smooth out his appearance, to help with his security on his physical appearance.”
In 1993, Michael addressed his skin disorder during an interview with Oprah Winfrey, where he emphasized that it was not something he could control. At the time, rumors and speculations about his changing appearance and extensive cosmetic surgeries were widespread.
“I have a skin disorder the pigmentation of my 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. It’s a problem for me. I can’t control it,” he stated.
Prince, along with his siblings Paris and Bigi, rarely gives interviews, making his candid revelations about their family particularly noteworthy. During the podcast, he discussed his unique childhood, growing up in Neverland, Michael’s California compound, which he described as his home. The estate was home to a variety of exotic animals, including elephants, tigers, lions, and primates.
“[My dad] loved animals when he was a kid,” Prince explained. “As he was making more money and more music, he was able to buy more animals.”
Prince also touched upon his father’s legacy, pointing out that contemporary artists like The Weeknd drew inspiration from Michael Jackson’s music and style. He also praised Beyoncé for her ability to adapt and stay relevant throughout her career.
Even though it has been nearly 15 years since the Heal The World singer’s passing, Prince is still discovering new aspects of his father’s life and career. “Personally, I’m doing a lot of research on him and learning a lot about his story. And there’s so much to cover….when you see the performances from the Bad tour, the Dangerous tour, you see it from his perspective when he’s looking out and it’s just a sea of people watching him,” he stated.
He went on to express a deep curiosity about the impact of his father’s iconic performances, where he would see thousands of fans singing along and reaching out to him night after night.
