Unlock all articles by subscribing to this international offer

All-Access + BusinessDesk Weekly

Herald Premium, Viva Premium, The Listener & BusinessDesk
Pay just
$10
$2
per week
See all offers
Already a subscriber? Sign in here
Or
NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • Deloitte Fast 50
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Entertainment

Michael Jackson was 'thrust into sex play' from an early age

BANG! Showbiz
3 Apr, 2019 06:14 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Focus: 'Leaving Neverland': Doco about more than Michael Jackson, offers abuse insight
Documentary Finding Neverland, about Michael Jackson's alleged abuse of two boys, Wade Robson and James Safechuck continues to court controversy. ...
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
0:00
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • subtitles settings, opens subtitles settings dialog
    • subtitles off, selected

      This is a modal window.

      Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

      Text
      Text Background
      Caption Area Background
      Font Size
      Text Edge Style
      Font Family

      End of dialog window.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      Autoplay in
      2
      Disable Autoplay
      Cancel Video
      Documentary Leaving Neverland, about Michael Jackson's alleged abuse of two boys, Wade Robson and James Safechuck continues to court controversy.
      NOW PLAYING • Focus: 'Leaving Neverland': Doco about more than Michael Jackson, offers abuse insight
      Documentary Finding Neverland, about Michael Jackson's alleged abuse of two boys, Wade Robson and James Safechuck continues to court controversy. ...

      Michael Jackson was left disgusted by sex after being exposed to seedy acts as a child performing in strip clubs as part of the Jackson Five.

      The late King of Pop and his brothers were made to gig at strip clubs by their father-and-manager Joe Jackson when they were at the start of their music career and one of Michael's "worst memories" was watching a stripper "called Rose Marie" push her underwear into the faces of the audience to make them sniff it when he was just six.

      R&B quintet Jackson Five pose for a studio portrait in January 1971 in Los Angeles, California. Photo / Getty
      R&B quintet Jackson Five pose for a studio portrait in January 1971 in Los Angeles, California. Photo / Getty

      These experiences in his formative years made Michael wary of women as by the time he reached his teenage years he had "been exposed to most grown up things".

      The 'Billie Jean' singer is quoted 1994 book 'Michael Jackson - The Bad Year' as saying: "Ever since I was young I've been surrounded by strange sights. Like fans ripping off their coats, and standing nude in front of me. And being sent mountains of sexy letters with every kind of suggestion in them. You wouldn't believe some of the things that I saw at an early age. One of the worst memories that I'll never erase is a stripper who played the same club we did when I was six. She was called Rose Marie. After she had taken everything off she pushed her underwear in the faces of the audience and made them sniff it. It was disgusting. By the time I reached my teens I guess I'd been exposed to most grown up things."

      Unlock all articles by subscribing to this international offer

      All-Access + BusinessDesk Weekly

      Herald Premium, Viva Premium, The Listener & BusinessDesk
      Pay just
      $10
      $2
      per week
      See all offers
      Already a subscriber? Sign in here
      Or
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.
      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      In the tome - written by journalist and BANG Showbiz managing director Rick Sky - it is also claimed that from an early age Michael was "thrust into sex play in the dives where the Jackson Five played as his father had devised a stage routine which included a sexually crude act: at the end of a song the young Michael had to go into the audience, crawl under the tables and lift up the women's skirts".

      The Smooth Criminal hitmaker also opened up about how he had a distrust of women who wanted to get close to him because he never knew what their true motives.

      Pop singer Michael Jackson of the R&B quintet Jackson 5poses for a portrait wearing a Mickey Mouse t-shirt in circa 1971. Photo / Getty
      Pop singer Michael Jackson of the R&B quintet Jackson 5poses for a portrait wearing a Mickey Mouse t-shirt in circa 1971. Photo / Getty

      As a result of his misgivings about the true intentions of girls, the pop star - who died in June 2009 at the age of 50 from acute Propofol intoxication - preferred to be single.

      In the book, Michael is quoted as saying: "I just don't have time for a steady girlfriend. My career comes first. It's hard just making friends, but as far as romance is concerned, it's even harder. With so many girls around, how am I ever going to know? Being an entertainer, you can't tell who is your friend. That's why most of the time, I'd rather be by myself than with anyone else."

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      'Michael Jackson - The Bad Year' was written in the wake of Michael being accused of child sex abuse by his 13-year-old friend Jordan 'Jordy' Chandler and the boy's father Evan Chandler. The musician eventually settled the matter out of court with the family for $US25 million.

      This year, Michael has been accused of child molestation by Wade Robson and James Safechuck in Dan Reed's documentary film 'Leaving Neverland'.

      Both men regularly toured with Michael and stayed over at his Neverland ranch where they claim they were sexually abused.

      James claims the abuse started when he was 10 and ended when he was in his mid-teens.

      Discover more

      Entertainment

      Justin Bieber apologises for 'insensitive' pregnancy prank

      03 Apr 08:03 PM
      Entertainment

      Watch: First look at Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker

      03 Apr 08:33 PM
      Entertainment

      Michael Jackson's nephew planning counter doco to 'get truth out there'

      03 Apr 09:59 PM
      Entertainment

      Michael Jackson 'slept with other people's sons'

      04 Apr 01:24 AM

      Wade stated that the abuse began when he was seven and ended when he was 14.

      The Jackson Estate has disputed the claims of both men.

      Save
        Share this article

      Latest from Entertainment

      Entertainment

      Beloved Play School star and jazz pioneer dies at 89

      Entertainment

      Maluma takes fan to task for bringing baby to loud concert

      Entertainment

      The chilling brilliance of Weapons and its unforgettable moments


      Sponsored

      Sponsored: What have you missed? Tips and tricks for home DIY

      Advertisement
      Advertise with NZME.

      Recommended for you

      New crop of female jockeys leading racing change
      Sport

      New crop of female jockeys leading racing change

      'Disgusting behaviour': Australian prisoners cook guinea pigs from animal shelter
      World

      'Disgusting behaviour': Australian prisoners cook guinea pigs from animal shelter

      Netflix downgrades deal with Harry and Meghan
      Royals

      Netflix downgrades deal with Harry and Meghan

      Photos released of ‘horrifying’ sea lion killings, as DOC seeks ‘callous’ killers
      New Zealand

      Photos released of ‘horrifying’ sea lion killings, as DOC seeks ‘callous’ killers

      Person critcially injured, lane blocked after rush hour crash on Southern Motorway
      Auckland

      Person critcially injured, lane blocked after rush hour crash on Southern Motorway

      Jellyfish force nuclear plant shutdown in France
      World

      Jellyfish force nuclear plant shutdown in France



      Latest from Entertainment

      Beloved Play School star and jazz pioneer dies at 89
      Entertainment

      Beloved Play School star and jazz pioneer dies at 89

      She earned an Order of Australia Medal in 2004 for her contributions.

      11 Aug 07:37 AM
      Maluma takes fan to task for bringing baby to loud concert
      Entertainment

      Maluma takes fan to task for bringing baby to loud concert

      11 Aug 05:37 AM
      The chilling brilliance of Weapons and its unforgettable moments
      Entertainment

      The chilling brilliance of Weapons and its unforgettable moments

      11 Aug 01:54 AM


      Sponsored: What have you missed? Tips and tricks for home DIY
      Sponsored

      Sponsored: What have you missed? Tips and tricks for home DIY

      03 Aug 07:46 AM

      NZ Herald
      • About NZ Herald
      • Meet the journalists
      • Newsletters
      • Classifieds
      • Help & support
      • Contact us
      • House rules
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms of use
      • Competition terms & conditions
      • Our use of AI
      Subscriber Services
      • NZ Herald e-editions
      • Daily puzzles & quizzes
      • Manage your digital subscription
      • Manage your print subscription
      • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
      • Subscribe to Herald Premium
      • Gift a subscription
      • Subscriber FAQs
      • Subscription terms & conditions
      • Promotions and subscriber benefits
      NZME Network
      • The New Zealand Herald
      • The Northland Age
      • The Northern Advocate
      • Waikato Herald
      • Bay of Plenty Times
      • Rotorua Daily Post
      • Hawke's Bay Today
      • Whanganui Chronicle
      • Viva
      • NZ Listener
      • Newstalk ZB
      • BusinessDesk
      • OneRoof
      • Driven Car Guide
      • iHeart Radio
      • Restaurant Hub
      NZME
      • About NZME
      • NZME careers
      • Advertise with NZME
      • Digital self-service advertising
      • Book your classified ad
      • Photo sales
      • NZME Events
      • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
      Unlock all articles by subscribing to this international offer

      All-Access + BusinessDesk Weekly

      Herald Premium, Viva Premium, The Listener & BusinessDesk
      Pay just
      $10
      $2
      per week
      See all offers
      Already a subscriber? Sign in here
      Or
      TOP
      search by queryly Advanced Search