As 'MICHAEL' Hits Theaters, Michael Jackson's Own Words About Being 'Lonely' Sound Even More Haunting
As the biopic MICHAEL hits movie theaters nationwide, a revealing admission from Michael Jackson about feeling lonely at the peak of his unprecedented global fame shows the hidden cost of global success.
In a conversation with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach for the book The Michael Jackson Tapes, the King of Pop admitted that despite being looked upon as an entertainment icon, there were moments when he just wanted to feel like a regular person.
TODAY shared a transcript from these interviews in 2009. Jackson admitted to "walking the streets looking for someone to talk to."
"It was during the Thriller album. I was looking for people to talk to. I was so lonely I would cry in my room upstairs," the entertainer admitted.
"I would think, 'That's it. I am getting out of here,' and I would walk down the street. I remember really saying to people, 'Will you be my friend?'"
He concluded, "They were like, 'Michael Jackson!' I would go, 'Oh God! Are they going to be my friend because of Michael Jackson? Or because of me?'"
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"I just wanted someone to talk to. Already in this comment you could see the development of the two personalities that would forever collide in Michael's person. There was Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, an aloof superstar who had everything and needed no one. And Michael Jackson, the shy kid under the mask, who lacked even a single real friend."
The 2009 book by Boteach was based on 30 hours of conversations recorded in 2000-2001. Jackson opened up about his loneliness, childhood trauma, strained relationship with his father, revealing his inner turmoil and spiritual views in his own words.
The feature film MICHAEL touches on Jackson's rise to the top of the entertainment world, and being crowned of King of Pop, showing the personal and professional sides of the entertainer. In a press release, the film's distribution company, Lionsgate, shared further details about what fans could expect from the highly-anticipated biopic.
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"MICHAEL is the cinematic portrayal of the life and legacy of one of the most influential artists the world has ever known. The film tells the story of Michael Jackson's life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of The Jackson 5, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world," it began.
"Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before. This is where his story begins."
MICHAEL is in theaters today.
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This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 7:19 AM.