Stories About Michael The Flirt

LaToya's Autobiography on Mike as a teen


Back then, Michael was extremely outgoing, and a flirt too, probably from always being around older musicians. We’d pass a pretty girl, and my brother would remark, “Boy, did you see the pair of cakes on her!” Or he’d steal peeks under dresses, then ask me with a giggle, “Guess what color panties she has on?”

“Michael!” I was hardly shocked, we’d come to expect that kind of thing from him.

Bobby Taylor would use cute girls to get the boys to sing well in the studio, 1969


Bobby Taylor, Mojo Magazine, 1969

His approach to recording the backing vocals, for which he used only Michael, Jermaine and Jackie, was quite different. “I was wondering how I was gonna get these little boys to do exactly what I needed ‘em to do,” Taylor chuckles, “and then it hit me: Cutie-pie girls! So I used to hire girls to come into the studio and hang out, just sit around and watch. I know how guys are, and they’ll always give you their best if there’s a pretty girl they want to impress.”

Michael Sneaking A Feel Of A Girl Jermaine Brought Up To Their Hotel Room, Early 70s


“You Are Not Alone” by Jermaine Jackson


There were so many girls coming at me back then and my teenage self found the attention impossible to resist, but sneaking a girl by Bill Bray’s door, and knowing when Joseph was not around, was a skill in itself. Because it was also ‘forbidden’ it felt like a home run every time I managed to get a girl beyond checkpoints and beyond the threshold of the bedroom door. I had never been so grateful for exterior fire exits and back stairways. The awkward problem, of course, was sharing a room with Michael. What made this worse was that if he knew I was pursuing a certain girl, he’d deliberately attach himself to my hip. But once – one golden once – Michael was nowhere to be seen and I managed to sneak away from some hotel gathering to hook up with the prettiest of girls.

Back home, I had been seeing a lot of Hazel Gordy, but while we liked each other – and send endless love letters – puppy love had not advanced into anything serious, leaving me free to build my experience on the road. We older bothers had a way of describing how far we got with a girl: from ‘first base’ (the kiss) to ‘second base’ (touching/clothes off) to third base (the sex) and, in my hotel room, I was an LA Dodger running wild, eyes closed, on top of this girl, kissing and touching with a freedom I didn’t think possible. “That feels really good…” she said. I was getting serious, she was groaning. Third base was in sight. I had one hand stroking her face, and the other on the mattress beside her head.

“I love how you stroke my thighs,” she continued, “… you’re real gentle…” I’m not stroking your thighs, I thought. “It feels good,” she whispered. I peeked open my eyes and maneuvered my head to take a sly look down the bed, and that’s when I saw it – Michael’s arm, reaching up and over from underneath the bed, his hand circling her thigh.

“MICHAEL!” I jumped up, the poor girl was mortified and Michael, chuckling, was already scrambling for the door. I could have killed him, not only because he was hiding there the whole time, but because he heard me whispering all these sensual, sweet nothings that he would tease me with for weeks after. I refused to speak to him that night. When we turned out the lights and he wished me goodnight, I said nothing. He waited a few minutes in the dark and then brokered the peace. “She got some real creamy thighs!” he said. And we both burst out laughing.

Robin Katz, Record Mirror, 25th November 1972
http://www.the-michael-jackson-archives.com/mj72.html


There were several times on the tour when Jermaine and Michael, in particular, would team up to do some very funny things so that I would have something to write about.

There was one meal that I was eating, and Michael came up behind me very quietly and just said, “How come whenever I see you, you always have something in your mouth?

I turned very red till I realised he was just pulling my leg.

Michael flirting with fans at a soundcheck, 1973
http://www.the-michael-jackson-archives.com/blackbeat84.html


A sound check can be a fan’s delight, for it offers sights usually reserved for insiders, like a young Michael adjusting his microphone stand and cordially flirting with two of my blushing female classmates, who obviously found their way into this joint a lot easier than Minnie and I .

Michael and Randy flirting with their MC, Jackson 5 concert, 1974


Backstage whilst New York City was doing its thing, I had a chance to meet the Jackson 5. All five young men… ranging from 11 to 21 were as good looking as their press photos.

Michael and Randy, the youngest, were little charmers who look you in the eye smilingly to say you were their prettiest MC.

Geri Reischl, The Second Marcia Brady, 1974





Geri: It was cool because when I was there we went across the street to the Sahara and that’s where Michael Jackson – the Jackson Five – were performing so I met Michael Jackson. And well, just during rehearsal, he asked me up on stage and he said, “Hey Geri” and I said, “Yeah…” and he said, “Let’s dance!” So I was dancing with Michael Jackson.

Sam: You danced with Michael Jackson! Wow!

Geri: I couldn’t believe I got to do that! It was amazing!

Tatum O’Neal, 1977





Susan Blond on Tatum O’Neal and Michael, March 1977

At the Rox her father Ryan flirted with me a little, so Tatum sat on Michael’s lap.

Janelle Commissiong





Janelle Commissiong, 1978

“I traveled down on a plane with a beautiful woman I later learned was Miss Trinidad & Tobago and the Miss Universe winner,” Manning added. It was Janelle Penny Commissiong, the 1977 winner who won international acclaim for being the first Black to claim the title.

“Michael kissed her on the cheek, singing his newest song Got to Find Me A Girl.”

Chrissy Clarke saw The Jackson Five at the Fiesta in 1977 or 1978


“I met Michael Jackson at the Sheffield Fiesta – it was The Jackson Five – the place was packed. They were absolutely brilliant. They’d just performed Destiny. He was the most amazing dancer – he had this presence about him. He was 17 or 18 – my age. He smiled at me, I was on the front row and he came and sat with me. He kissed me and held my hand, he was just a really, really nice guy. He gave me a flower. I was just mute! The paparazzi hounded him completely. I think he was always trying to get approval from people – his fans did it for him when maybe his parents didn’t.”

”Help me, Help me, I need some woman to touch me!” Michael pranking Todd Gray, photographer, sometime 1981


One time I took pictures of him while he was in bed because he was late for a meeting I’d set up and wouldn’t get up. He was like, “Todd, I’m gonna get you for that!” And he did. I’d forgotten all about what happened while he was performing one night and he’d told me to stand in a specific spot to take photos of him when he began singing that song. I did as I was instructed. So right before I go to take my position, Michael drops to his back and starts saying, “Help me, help me! I need some woman to touch me!” and every woman in that place collapsed on me. I was between them and Michael and I couldn’t even get one shot in and he gave me this look like, I got you. Afterwards, I said you think you’re so cute, and he says, “What do you mean, Todd?” I’m like, Mike that hurt; those people were crushing me and all he said: “Todd, the spirit just takes me sometimes and the spirit just took me.” That’s when I knew that was payback and that was the last time I stepped out of line with him (Laughs.)

Diana Ross, 1981








Diana: I knew you were going to be a giant star, I really did. But what I didn’t know, but what I didn’t know is that you’d get so sexy.
MJ: You’re embarrassing me. But I always knew you would.
Diana: What?
MJ: Be sexy. Do you guys think she’s sexy?

Diana Ross, Oscars, April 15th, 1991





But all turned out fine. Michael, tit-for-tat, dandled Diana Ross on his lap before Madonna returned and joined him for a grand exit.

Kissing a fan, Triumph Tour, Jet Magazine, October 15 1981





How Michael Jackson, sexy lead singer of the Jacksons, surprised a female fan who broke through a line of security guards at the Forum in LA to give him a gift while he was on stage singing a love song. Although Michael apparently wondered how she had managed to outmaneuver the security muscle men, he accepted the gift then pulled her into his arms and kissed her tenderly.

Karen Faye, on the photo shoot for the Thriller album cover 1982
http://www.mjj2005.com/kopboard/index.php?showtopic=53105


Faye said she was not at all intimidated by his fame. For example, when she saw that Jackson had with him a baby tiger, she flashed her tiger-print underwear.

“He went ‘Ah!’” Faye said while demonstrating how he covered his face. “He was just so embarrassed by that. But I think that’s why he called me back the next job. He liked people who have a sense of humor.”

Frank Cascio’s book on Michael and Karen:

“I called her by the nickname Michael had given her – Turkle. Michael loved Turkle and messed with her all the time. If she was wearing a zippered jacket, he’d try to unzip it. If she was wearing a skirt, he’d lift it up.”

Make Up Artists and Costume Designers that have worked with him since the early 80s
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/michael-jacksons-circle-rumors-11009138?tab=9482930&section=1206863&playlist=6627259


ABC: Was Michael Jackson gay?
Karen Faye: Absolutely not.
ABC: I mean, you say that with conviction
KF: He would always, like, wherever we were, he would always kind of (mimicking him, slyly eyes around herself) – he called it fishing. He looked around for all the hot girls. And he’d – “Turkle, Turkle, that ones really hot. Ooh, look how -ugh- look how her hair just swirls!”
ABC: So you don’t think that was an act?
Bush: (shaking head) No.
KF: What? That he was doing it for me?
ABC: Yes
KF: No (shaking head) no, absolutely not.
ABC: Did he ever comment on young men?
KF and Bush: No, no.
ABC: So you don’t think he was just in hiding by his sexuality?
KF: No (all shake heads)
ABC: Is it possible that he was asexual, not so interested in sex?
KF: Well, um, I think he had fears about intimacy, from his childhood. I don’t think he really had great examples of how a relationship works.
Bush: With Michael, I think sex didn’t rule his life, it wasn’t his goal in life.
Bearden: I think he was married to his vocation.
ABC: Do you?
Bush: Yeah, I think that came first.
Bearden: He was in love with his music
ABC: He certainly played around with gender roles, tried to bend them.
KF: He didn’t see the barriers, as far as art goes. He didn’t see – why do women do this, why can men only do that? – but he was not gay. He just liked what was beautiful and perfect.

Ola Ray, Thriller video, October 1983





“I met Jane Fonda at the studio while getting my makeup done and she asked me to take [Michael] a note and give him a kiss and a hug. When I told Michael about the kiss he said, ‘Well…!?’”

In London At Showing of Starlight Express, March 27th, 1984
http://www.the-michael-jackson-archives.com/maggers3.html


During the interval Michael is taken to the hospitality room backstage where he is served soft drinks by a barmaid.

“He asked me what her name was,” says Nick, “and when she said ‘Caroline’ he sang ‘Sweet Caroline’ to her! I don’t think she’ll forget that in a hurry.”

Jermaine Jackson, “You Are Not Alone”


We rode together as brothers en route to stadiums, but didn’t always share the same vehicle at others times because the Jehovah Witness elders took up two seats alongside Michael. Often, there was also Frank Dileo and photographer Harrison Funk. Growing entourages meant that it wasn’t always possible to travel together. But the following story was a funny memory of Michael’s that Harrison – whose friendship and less was trusted to roam freely with him for many years – has assisted with.

Their van had stopped at a set of traffic lights in Kansas City when Michael spotted three hookers on the street corner, with one wearing sequined hot pants. Michael’s eye couldn’t help but wander. “Oh my goodness, hurt me!” he said playfully – Jackson speak for, “Oh wow, she’s looking hot.” Then, just as the lights were about to change, he stuck his gloved hand out of the window and waved.

Three hookers did a double take, wondering if that was just… maybe… it can’t be… Michael Jackson? Just to make sure that they were certain, Michael opened the van door a little and, looking back as the van began to move away, he showed his face, chuckled and then slammed the door tight. He twisted around in his seat to watch three hookers jumping up and down in excitement. I don’t know what the two Jehovah Witnesses made of this interaction but it made Michael’s day and made one thing clear: he wasn’t always going to be squeaky clean.

Sherilyn Fenn, 1985





While working at the Samuel Goldwyn Soundstage, Prince received a visit from Michael Jackson, whom he promptly challenged to a game of table tennis, using a table that had been set up in the middle of the sound stage room. “Michael said, ‘I don’t know how to play ping-pong!’” Rogers remembers. “But Prince took one pad and gave Michael the other, and they started very politely volleying the ball back and forth. Suddenly, Prince said, ‘C’mon, Michael, get into it,’ and he slammed the ball into Michael’s crotch. I was rolling my eyes!’ ‘Oh God, he’s embarressing himself.’ But Michael knows how to handle himself and he didn’t seem to care. Then Michael started flirting with Sherilyn Fenn who was visiting Prince in the studio. Prince was pacing, but he wasn’t going to get into the game of flirting back. They said their hasty goodbyes.’”

Helene Phillips, assistant choreographer Captain EO, 1985





“I didn’t see anything freaky,” says Helene Philips, assistant choreographer on Captain EO. “No big ego. He was friendly and had a good time. I’d sit on his lap to discuss shots.”

Marva King, 1987





Then, I met Michael. One day I was invited to the studio and I met Michael. I was like, “Oh my God! I’m here with Michael Jackson!” and then my childhood thoughts and dreams just went through my head and Michael was admiring this beautiful waist top that I had. It had so many different panels of lace and he said, “It’s so beautiful!”

He kept walking around me, and I froze! I couldn’t even talk. I think I’m star struck! I did pretty good until I got to him, because I had a crush on him as a kid. Oh my goodness, I’m like, “Michael Jackson is admiring me!”

It’s so funny. We ended up getting to know each other. It took a while, because he had a lot of security and stuff, like, “What does she want?” and “Why is she really around?” You know, they watched me for a while. They studied me religiously, but then they learned, “Okay, she’s not so crazy and she doesn’t have any other motive, except she wants to work and she’s friends with Michael.”

Michael ended up taking to me, so I ended up becoming one of his playmates. We had too much fun! We were two young adults that were real childish, but we had so much fun! I would travel with him sometimes, and we would torture the press, we would hide and do things (laughs) and just have a lot of fun.

Tatiana Thumbtzen, 1987





That first morning, at that time mostly what the 2 did (she and MJ) would gaze at each other back and forth and just smiled & wave at each other the whole time. As she puts it, they just kept on repeating this silent, unscripted and unrehearsed scene over and over again. But it was Michael, who broke the ice and took it to another level.

TY: Though he did regularly gaze at me, I was in awe when I caught him looking at my butt. He just approached me and up close boldly studied my butt. Then he took a moment to look away for a second after he did that and it was as if he was thinking or as if he was somewhere else. Then after he took this little pause he just bluntly asked, ‘Were you a ballerina?’
TY: ‘Yes.’
MJ:’You wore pointy shoes and danced on your toes?’
TY: ‘Yes, I did.’
MJ:’Wow!’

Michael began asking me questions about my life. A few times he was a little flirtatious, like when he told me I had an incredible walk. I said, “Well, it’s just a walk.” He looked at me and smiled. “No, you have a very sexy walk.”

By our fourth take, the heel of my boot was caught in the cars upholstery and Michael put his hand on my leg to help pull it out. It blew my mind that he had actually touched my leg, which I pulled away and began to tumble out of the car falling on my butt and hard too! Michael started laughing hysterically as Joe Pytka yelled, “Get up, keep it going, keep it going, and don’t stop.” As I did, Michael got out of the car and started wiping my butt off.

The fall caused a run in my stockings and the stylist wanted me to change. I started walking off the set and Michael asked, ”Where are you going?” I explained that she wanted me to change my stockings. He disapproved by saying. “No, I like it. I think the run is neat. It’s sexy.”

During a quick break from the scene, Michael pointed out two birds high above us perched on a ledge — they were making love. He said, “Look,” while pointing up. I became embarrassed and shy and I looked away blushing. Michael stood gazing at me with this sweet smirk on his face that was somehow naughty.

Vanessa Williams, 87-89 sometime





Vanessa said that Michael had approached her at a party and flirted with her and asked her for her number. She had to tell him that she was married.