In a candid revelation, Prince Jackson, the eldest son of the late pop icon Michael Jackson, has shed light on the deep-seated insecurities his father grappled with due to his skin condition, vitiligo. The condition, a chronic autoimmune disorder, results in the loss of skin pigment in patches. This revelation came during Prince's recent appearance on the "Hotboxin' with Mike Tyson" podcast.
Prince, now 26, was a mere 12 years old when his father passed away. Yet, he was acutely aware of the challenges and public scrutiny the "King of Pop" faced throughout his life, especially concerning his changing skin tone. "When I was younger, he was always explaining to me, speaking about that," Prince shared, referring to Michael's loss of skin color. He further highlighted that his father's autopsy report even mentioned the skin condition, speculating that it might have been triggered by vitiligo or a form of lupus.
Michael Jackson's struggle with vitiligo was a topic of much public debate and speculation. Many believed he was intentionally bleaching his skin to achieve a lighter tone. Addressing this, Prince said, "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 a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jackson vehemently denied the rumors that he was bleaching his skin. He emphasized the natural occurrence of the condition in his family and his inability to control it. "I have a skin disorder the pigmentation of my skin. It is something I cannot help," the late pop star told Oprah. He also pointed out the irony of people trying to tan their skin to become darker, questioning why his condition was under such intense scrutiny.
Michael's efforts to manage the appearance of his skin included using makeup to even out the blotchy areas. "I try to control it, and using makeup evens it out because I have blotches on my skin and I have to even it out," he had shared.
Despite the constant public attention and speculation, Michael tried to downplay the importance of his skin condition in the grand scheme of things. "But you know what's funny? Why is that so important? That's not important to me," he remarked during the 1993 interview.
Prince Jackson's recent revelations offer a deeper understanding of the personal challenges Michael Jackson faced, beyond his public persona. It's a poignant reminder of the human side of celebrities, who, despite their fame, grapple with personal insecurities and challenges just like everyone else.