Michael Jackson was once called a “disturbing person to be around” by Elton John.
Some musicians could only dream of having careers in music like John and Jackson’s, and occasionally their lives even overlapped.
The 77-year-old singer of “I’m Still Standing” made startling remarks about the King of Pop, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 50, in his 2019 biography “Me.”
John said that he had known Jackson “since he was 13 or 14” and that the singer was “the most adorable kid you could imagine” in an incredible clip that was obtained by Radar Online.
He says that when Jackson’s mental state deteriorated, especially in his later years, he started to retreat from reality, and that’s when things changed.
The vocalist of “Rocket Man” came to the conclusion that Jackson had “totally lost his marbles” by the 2000s.
John, meanwhile, is adamant that Jackson’s problems started far earlier.
John claimed that on a lunch date in the 1990s, he saw the pop legend looked unwell, covered in plaster and cosmetics. The singer was named Billy Jean.
John said, “The poor guy looked awful, really frail and ill.”
The “Rocket Man” singer claimed that when Jackson left the table “without a word,” the lunch took a bad turn.
According to People, he completed half of his four-year prison sentence.
Insinuating that Jackson was addicted to painkillers, John said, “What prescription drugs he was being pumped full of?”
According to John, Jackson was later discovered “quietly playing games” with her 11-year-old kid in the housekeeper’s cottage.
John enumerated his impressions of Jackson elsewhere in the narrative, asserting: “He
Despite having millions of admirers worldwide, Jackson’s legacy took a hit after accusations surfaced in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland.
The documentary, which was shot and produced by Dan Reed, centers on Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who claim that Jackson sexually molested them while they were kids.
The Jackson family discussed the claims that the “Thriller” singer sexually molested young children at his Neverland Ranch with Gayle King on CBS This Morning after the film Leaving Neverland was released.
Robson and Safechuck, according to the Jackson family, came forward asking for money.
Marlon Jackson, the brother of the singer, said: “I want people to know and understand that this documentary is not portraying the truth. Not a single piece of evidence has been found to support their account.
On June 25, 2009, Jackson passed away as a result of a deadly mix of prescription medications.
According to ABC News, the Los Angeles coroner’s office stated that the singer passed away from acute propofol intoxication, with the benzodiazepine effect being mentioned as a contributing factor.
Jackson’s mode of death was similarly determined by the coroner to be murder.
In 2011, Conrad Murray, Jackson’s personal physician, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
Remembering the Stars Who Have Died Since Appearing on ‘Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew’
Since the VH1 reality show’s 2008 debut, twelve of its alumni have passed away.
Celebrity Rehab was founded by Dr. Drew Pinsky to counter the tabloids’ depiction of addiction, according to a 2009 New York Times article on the set of the show. Pinsky, 65, was first opposed to the concept of receiving treatment on television. Following the premiere of the first season of the show, the addiction medicine expert told PEOPLE about his friend, counselor Bob Forrest, who persuaded him to get treatment: “He said, ‘I am so tired of people talking about rehab who have no idea what they’re talking about.’” They are unaware of the struggles and addictions that celebrities face.
The VH1 series, which ran from 2008 to 2011, featured a number of celebrities addressing their substance misuse problems in the Pasadena Recovery Center in California with Pinsky. Celebrity Rehab featured prominent artists, actresses, sports, TV celebrities, models, and more throughout the course of five seasons. Regretfully, following their performances on the reality show, twelve celebrities have passed away. Let’s examine their lives in more detail and how they openly discussed their difficulties in an effort to assist others.
If substance misuse is a problem for you or someone you know, please call the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. Please call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, or visit 988lifeline.org if you or someone you know is thinking about taking their own life.
It’s funny how life tricks us, isn’t it? The frontman of Crazy Town, who was well-known for being insane both on stage and, regrettably, off, died in June 2024 at the age of 49. Shifty went in and out of dangerous circumstances during his career, including comas and DUI accusations. It was heartbreakingly obvious how much cocaine and medications affected him. “If I kept at it, I was going to die,” he once said to PEOPLE. My goal is to remain sober.
Tom Sizemore
On March 3, 2023, Tom Sizemore, the guy whose Golden Globe-nominated performances could have you riveted to the screen, passed away. His struggle with drug usage was more tragic than amusing. Paul, his brother, said, “He was bigger than life.” More than anyone I know, he has impacted my life. I am heartbroken by his passing and will always mourn him.
Frankie Lons
Every child’s worst dread is to watch their own mother battle addiction before giving in to it. Frankie Lons, the mother of Keyshia Cole, had a turbulent life. What a horrible irony it was that she died on her own birthday. The emotional Instagram post from Elite Noel, her daughter, stated it all: “My mother in a body bag on her birthday is the worst anguish I have ever experienced! My heart ached so much.
Kitaen Tawny
At the age of 59, actress and ’80s star Tawny Kitaen passed away quietly at her Newport Beach home. Her children Wynter and Raine verified their grief with a statement, “You gave her life every day,” following her diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy. We love and miss her, and we are aware that her legacy will endure forever.
McKibbin, Nikki
Do you recall Nikki McKibbin from the inaugural season of American Idol? She was generous enough to give her organs before she went away at the age of 42 from a brain aneurysm. Craig, her spouse, put it poetically: “Even in the end, she is still giving.” An appropriate homage to a giving person.
Jason Davis
At the age of 35, the voice actor that embodied a character in Disney’s Recess passed away from fentanyl overdose. His mother remembered him as a season 4 participant who “had a true heart of gold with such a zest for life.”
Chyna
On April 17, 2016, Chyna, a formidable WWE performer, passed away. The mixture of drugs in her system was the accidental offender. Her life served as an example of publicly facing one’s inner problems while clinging to hope.
Mindy McCready
On February 17, 2013, Mindy McCready, a country music vocalist with a beautiful voice, suddenly passed away. She dealt with alcohol and opioid addictions on the show, and her end was clouded in sadness following the suicide of her boyfriend. A terrible domino effect.
Joey Kovar
Joey Kovar, a reality star from The Real World: Hollywood, passed away suddenly at the age of 29. A life that appeared to be headed toward happiness was ended by opioid abuse. With regret, his brother remarked, “He had turned into such a happy person.” I’m still not really clear what transpired.
Rodney King
On June 17, 2012, the civil rights activist passed away at the age of 47. King’s stress from the vicious assault he suffered in 1991 at the hands of LAPD cops drove him to battle substance usage. Alcohol, marijuana, PCP, and cocaine all had a nasty part in his death; he was discovered drowning in his swimming pool.
Jeff Conaway
The well-known face of Grease actor Jeff Conaway concealed personal troubles. On May 27, 2011, the man who lighted up Broadway and little theaters alike passed away. He battled his addictions all the way to the end, but his job and the people in his life gave him comfort.
Mike Starr
To wrap up this solemn homage, on March 8, 2011, Alice in Chains’ Mike Starr overdosed on prescription drugs. Friends, family, and fans came together for an open memorial service in Seattle to honor a life that inspires people via music.
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