Jacko's acne hell
"I looked in the mirror and didn't like what I saw"
Michael Jackson sensationally defended having cosmetic surgery in a lost interview which he BEGGED never be made public.
Before his death in June, the singer had only ever confessed to having two operations - both to help him breathe - after he broke his nose dancing in 1979. He always blamed his wildly changed looks on puberty, his vegetarian diet, weight loss and stage lighting.
But in this exclusive interview from the early 1980s, Jacko admits a breakout of acne in his teenage years left him mentally SCARRED and paranoid about his appearance.
He said: "My skin broke out real bad. It was tough - especially after everyone had been calling me cute for such a long time.
"And the more I worried about it the worse I got."
Jacko said at first he tried changing his diet to fight the condition. But he soon discovered that performing on stage was the only way to take his mind off his looks.
He said: "I wore hats, I kept my head down all the time, I wouldn't look at people when I talked to them. I wouldn't say nothin' hardly. It was terrible. I felt I didn't have anything to be proud of. My success meant nothing.
"On stage I didn't think about it, it was gone. But when I came off stage, there it was again."
Jacko denied rumours circulating at the time of the interview - shortly after the release of Thriller - that he was having his skin bleached white and turning his back on his black audience.
"That's so silly," he said. "People will say anything to sell newspapers."
But asked about cosmetic surgery he defended the procedure, saying everybody did it: "I'm a perfectionist when it comes to skin."
He said: "I would look in the mirror and I didn't like they way I looked, so.. of course, never print this. Please don't...
"But take Marilyn Monroe, and all those people. They got the works. Julie Andrews, Raquel Welch. Even Elvis. You look at his nose and the difference.. it's true. But nobody ever mentions it."
But even then Jacko realised the surgical procedures could never cure the deep psychological damage from paranoia about his looks.
He said: "You can clear up physically but still mentally you're scarred - so you really haven't improved."
Dr. Arnold Klein, Michael's long term dermatologist and friend, revealed last month that he had been called in to "rebuild his face" before this year's planned This Is It tour.
He said: "He had severe acne scarring and scarring from a lot of the cosmetic surgery. The way he looked at his face, he wanted it to be absolutely perfect.
"I don't know why he started. Family members had made fun of the size of his nose. He was very sensitive to that."
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This article has 38 comments
I don't care what Michael looks like, he is still wicked awesome and the purest soul I have ever seen. And to be honest I think he looked good always! Hot hot hot! =)
By Michaela O'Sullivan. Posted November 14 2009 at 6:29 PM.
i think micheal is brillant and the songs he made tells us all something i wish he was here and if he could here this now I LOVE YOU !
VANESSA AND FAMILY XX
By VANESSA. Posted November 10 2009 at 5:52 PM.
I can HONESTLY say with or without zits, Michael Jackson was the best looking man alive, and then the voice, corrrr and on top that he had amazing talent!!!!! WHAT A BLOODY WASTE. THANKS GOD.
By Deborah Bain. Posted November 2 2009 at 10:53 AM.
hi i miss mj. i want facts about him thanks
By poo. Posted October 22 2009 at 4:54 PM.
It doesn't matter how he looks or what had he done or what not. He is he and we all love the way he is.
On top, Michael is never ugly. Everyone has pores back in their youth. It is no big deal.
I feel so sorry for the hard feeling that he had due to the abuse during his childhood. But I really hate those people who will not stop picking on his look. It is so disgraceful and in fact none of their business.
We all love Michael here ...
By Yoginy. Posted October 10 2009 at 3:08 PM.
MJ. A talented and beautiful generous person who gave so much and entertained us with his music from deep within his soul. You will always be the greatest to us your fans and live forever in our hearts. RIP
By doreen. Posted October 4 2009 at 6:26 AM.
Black or white, Michael est SPLENDIDE!!!!
By Ricky. Posted October 2 2009 at 1:42 PM.
I think that Michael Jackson was a beautiful person inside and out. He didn't need to do anything to make himself look a certain way. And he has said on numerous occasions that his father teased him and said he had a big nose. Joe Jackson is ignorant as hell. If he thought Michael was ugly, which he wasn't, where the hell do he think that Michael got it from? But anyway, I love Michael so much and I miss him more and more ever day.
We love you Michael!!
By Breanna. Posted September 29 2009 at 9:49 PM.
poor michael need a lot of love and some one to care for him he also need to be resure. he was a good looking men. he had a hard life when he was a child and was not much easy for him as he got oider.i for one love him and i still miss him so much r.i.p love youxxxxx
colleen
By Colleen bowen. Posted September 28 2009 at 11:08 PM.
Michael you're beautiful inside out, the fans around the world love you for what you're. It break our heart when you leave us behind. RIP Michael....
By claudia tan. Posted September 28 2009 at 3:08 PM.
Now tell me how many of you wouldn't have some surgery if you could afford it! I'm not a religious person but will always look upon Michael Jackson as a modern day Jesus. He came to heal the world and succeeded in some ways. His millions of ever loving fans across all races and nations will vouch for this as they are united in their grief and disbelief that cheap tabloid newspapers could not find real news, but instead decided to hound what can only be described as pure perfection in every sense. Changing the way you look cannot change who you are, Michael will always be perfect to his fans.
Goodbye Michael, may you rest in perfection x
By Meli. Posted September 28 2009 at 12:01 PM.
We are all insecure about ourselves at some point, but the whole world isnt judging most of us the way they did Michael. And as for not being able to father (not farther) his own children. Look at the above 1977 picture. The shape of his chin, the way his eyebrows go down and his eyes. Now bear in mind that Prince Micheal I mother is white and his hair was lightened as a toddler and tell me then he not his daddy. Leave the legend alone.
By Abby. Posted September 28 2009 at 10:46 AM.
Michael was a beautiful individual inside and out and out he had a beautiful smile and beautiful expressive eyes before the surgeries he was indeed a very handsome man too bad he did not see this for himself his real fans will always love him no matter what RIP dear Michael
By sharon . Posted September 28 2009 at 9:18 AM.
Michael was one of the most handsome men that I have ever seen. He had beautiful expressive eyes and a dazzling smile. Whenever I saw his kind face, it would take my breath away. I thought that he was gorgeous. I am saddened that he had such a distorted view of himself.
By Sheron. Posted September 28 2009 at 6:44 AM.
Michael I wish you saw yourself thru our eyes, you are the BEST creature of God. It kills me to hear you speak like this :'( It breaks my heart into million pieces, you are beautiful inside out
By yazmeen. Posted September 28 2009 at 6:16 AM.
I think Michael looked beautiful in his back then and now. Its normal what he went through during his adolsence, we all went through that phase. I remember hating my face at one point in my life, but then it was over, as with all of us. What really counts is the beauty inside, did Michael have that? Absolutely. Will his legend go on? Without a doubt. will he be foever loved? Tremendously. Love you Michael, thank you for being such a beautiful wonderful person.
By su237. Posted September 28 2009 at 4:52 AM.
What is such a tragic shame is that he was never ugly. Ever. The fact that he could not see this, makes it so tragic. Why did no one help him? Why did his family make fun of him? As a kid, you are really sensitive to appearance-criticism.
Despite what surgery he had, I think he was always beautiful. Inside and out. He still had those beautiful eyes, and that beautiful, honest smile. For people like Lisa Marie and the media, and a ton of others to say he looked weird is so insensitive and cruel. Since when was appearance the most important factor? Why could they not just appreciate the amazing musical God that he was? RIP MJ!
By Allie. Posted September 27 2009 at 4:07 PM.
So Many People Have Echoed My Feelings. Micheal Was A Gem. . . And Will Always Be Irreplacable. I Love Him. May He Now Know How Loved He Was (Is). With Love - And RESPECT! ! ! X X X X X X X.
By Sarah Eastward. Posted September 27 2009 at 3:52 PM.
Whatever was revealed, Michael is irreplaceable. Incomparable. He is perfect in my eyes. I love you Michael.
By bren. Posted September 27 2009 at 2:38 PM.
looks are not everything we all are going to get old and our features will change through time i think it was sad that michael thought he was not good looking i think if he never had so many procedures done to his face he would have been handsome as he was in his teens
By sara . Posted September 27 2009 at 2:02 PM.
Michael I love you and I missed you. you are very unique please RIP.xx
By sue. Posted September 27 2009 at 1:10 PM.
Michael I love you and I missed you. you are very unique please RIP.xx
By sue. Posted September 27 2009 at 1:07 PM.
I love Michael not because of his songs . But the way he was. I know he was sad and lonely man. But Michael will live for ever in our heart .
By Tina . Posted September 27 2009 at 12:47 PM.
Michael Jackson no matter what they said about you, i still love you and admired you dearly you are such a beautiful soul.. God Bless you Mike... we love you dearly... thank's for your musics... it will live on forever....
By rosalie tomboc. Posted September 27 2009 at 12:12 PM.
spots on plastic,well i never.lol.
By jim liston. Posted September 27 2009 at 11:48 AM.
mj,whatever your looks are you are still michael jackson that i admired eversince i was a little..its just an adolescent period during that time and anyone had been experiencing that,you dont have to worry..me as true fan and wanna be friends with you doesnt care...i love you and missed you mj..ou are forever in my heart..R.I.P.my king...
By nina. Posted September 27 2009 at 10:48 AM.
Every thing he did was down to him, even his death. Don't go looking for some one else to blame, the bloke was not right in the head. He could not even farther his own childern because he was in fear they might inherit some of his original features. Gifted as an entertainer, weirdo as a man.
By roy. Posted September 27 2009 at 10:17 AM.
michael..we love you and did you kno you had the most beautiful smile in the world and did you that we fell in love with your personality than your looks..you always looked fabilous i love you <3
By banu. Posted September 27 2009 at 9:45 AM.
What really amazes me is that Michael could have such a successful career in the entertainment world where there is such a heavy emphasis on outward physical appearance.Despite his acne, lupus and vitiligo the fans still cared primarily about his music and his messages to 'Heal the World"
Michael, you will always live on through your music!
By Raffe. Posted September 27 2009 at 9:29 AM.
See the trolls are out nice and early!
Jackson evidently had a lot more to worry about than acne...
By John. Posted September 27 2009 at 9:05 AM.
Michael Jackson, i dont care about your looks. Ugly or pretty, fat or thin, balck or white, old or young. I'll always love you, forever and ever. And, Im gonna miss you MJ. You rock my world, my childhood. Thank you for your songs you gave. I appreciate you very much.
By Aishah Ahadiat. Posted September 27 2009 at 7:55 AM.
Micheal gave us great music & dance...he was amazing...the best entertainer in my life time....but behind the mask he was lonely ...that breaks my heart ....sooooooo sad because "WE" his fans loved & adored him & there was no reason for him to be lonely.
I will miss him forever
Please just let him rest !!!xxxxxx
By sharon. Posted September 27 2009 at 5:01 AM.
I feel so sorry for Michael jackson because he was a very sad, lonely person. I can relate to his childhood and his suffering very well because I went through the same things myself. I love him dearly and although I wish that he was still here with us, I am also glad that he is finally at peace and no longer suffering. He will live forever in the hearts of millions and millions of adoring fans who will miss him for eternity.
By Linda F.. Posted September 27 2009 at 3:28 AM.
Beautiful man no matter what color.....black or white. Michael was truly the most beautiful soul that I have ever come across as a human being. I miss him terribly. RIP-KOP
By Tia. Posted September 27 2009 at 2:35 AM.
Ok so Michael had cosmetic surgery - BIG DEAL!
Does it make me love him any less? No of course not.
This obsession with his face needs to stop now because it's disrespectful.
By Rachel. Posted September 27 2009 at 2:05 AM.
Michael also had a skin disease, this is FACT!
By Tom Vjestica. Posted September 27 2009 at 1:06 AM.
what a shame! Bless him !
By j roberts. Posted September 27 2009 at 1:03 AM.
He had vitiligo aswell.
By Jan. Posted September 27 2009 at 12:22 AM.