Michael Jackson Told Lisa Marie Presley He Was a Virgin at 35
Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, reportedly told his then-future wife, Lisa Marie Presley, that he was still a virgin at the age of 35. This shocking revelation came to light through hours of taped conversations Presley left behind before her death in January 2023. The tapes have been turned into a memoir by her daughter, Riley Keough, titled From Here to the Great Unknown, which was released on October 8, 2024.
Michael and Lisa Marie’s whirlwind romance and subsequent marriage in 1994 was one of the most talked-about relationships of the decade. They got married just 20 days after Lisa Marie finalized her divorce from musician Danny Keough, the father of her two children, Riley and Benjamin Keough. The couple married in a private ceremony in the Dominican Republic on May 26, 1994, stunning the world with their sudden union.
In the memoir, Lisa Marie recalls how Michael told her early in their relationship that he had never been physically intimate with anyone. He had reportedly kissed actresses Tatum O’Neal and Brooke Shields, but his relationship with both never progressed beyond that. He also mentioned that pop star Madonna had once tried to initiate something with him, but nothing had happened.
Lisa Marie, then 26, admitted that she was both surprised and nervous about Michael’s confession, unsure of what to expect. She explained that despite his initial shyness, Michael soon made his intentions clear and did not want to wait until marriage for physical intimacy. She said in the memoir, “When he decided to first kiss me, he just did it. He was instigating everything.”
Lisa Marie said she had never been happier than when she was with Jackson.Corbis Via Getty Images
The two shared a brief but intense relationship. Lisa Marie described their time together as the happiest she had ever been. She reflected that Michael showed her a side of himself that no one else saw, one that was “normal” and grounded, contrasting with his public persona. His family, including his mother Katherine Jackson and sister Janet Jackson, were reportedly surprised by the things he shared with Lisa Marie, as he had never been that open with anyone else.
Michael and Lisa Marie’s relationship, however, was not without its challenges. Lisa Marie revealed that Michael became increasingly distant as time went on. She started noticing behavior that reminded her of her own father, Elvis Presley, who passed away from heart failure related to drug use in 1977. The memoir highlights that Michael’s struggles with prescription drugs became more apparent to Lisa Marie during their marriage, causing tension between the two.
Riley Keough said Presley feared Jackson was using her when he kissed her onstage at the MTV Video Music Awards in September 1994.AFP via Getty Images
One of the most public moments of their marriage was at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards when Michael kissed Lisa Marie on stage. At the time, rumors swirled that the marriage was a publicity stunt, and Lisa Marie herself started to doubt Michael’s intentions. She admitted that she feared Michael was using her for his own gain, especially as his drug use and erratic behavior began to escalate. According to the memoir, members of Michael’s family even asked Lisa Marie to collect a urine sample from him so they could test for drugs.
The breaking point came when Michael began disappearing for days at a time and shutting Lisa Marie out of his life. When she confronted him, he became defensive and refused to admit that he had a problem. Eventually, Lisa Marie decided she could no longer continue in the marriage. She filed for divorce in December 1995, and the divorce was finalized in August 1996.
Despite their split, Lisa Marie and Michael continued to stay in touch. The memoir reveals that they even continued to see each other romantically for several years after their divorce. Michael had expressed a desire for Lisa Marie to have his children, but she declined. Lisa Marie’s refusal to become a mother to Michael’s children became a sore point in their relationship, though they maintained a complicated connection for years.
Lisa Marie was in London when Michael passed away on June 29, 2009, from cardiac arrest caused by propofol intoxication. Despite their separation, Lisa Marie remained deeply affected by Michael’s death. Riley Keough writes in the memoir that her mother sat with Michael’s coffin for hours after his funeral. In the months following his death, Lisa Marie told Riley that she had communicated with Michael through her dreams, feeling his presence long after he was gone.
The memoir sheds light on the complex and often misunderstood relationship between Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley. Their union was one of love, conflict, and ultimately heartbreak. Though they were together for only a short time, their relationship left a lasting impact on both of them. Lisa Marie’s candid recollections provide a glimpse into the private world of one of pop culture’s most iconic couples.
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