Hey, honey, I’m not sure if you know this, but apparently, if there’s one family that can’t stand Oprah Winfrey, it’s the Jacksons. And I’m talking about the entire family, including Janet Jackson, supposedly. The big issue Janet and the rest of the family have with Oprah is how she treated Michael Jackson and helped push a negative narrative that Janet never believed in. “I know my brother; he didn’t have that in him,” Janet said.
Now, I know some of you might say that Janet didn’t hesitate to associate with people who trashed her brother and wanted him jailed, thinking it would help revive her career—like when she did that interview with Oprah. But, apparently, that’s not true. The Jacksons have always insisted that they don’t believe the accusations against MJ. In fact, they’ve even suggested, including Janet, that MJ’s death might have been a setup.
“I’m sorry, Robin, I just—I know CU—I keep saying the same thing. I couldn’t, I just—it’s still, to this day, so hard for me to believe.” It’s clear that if this is how they feel about Michael, they’d definitely have a problem with anyone who said otherwise and was leading the charge in tarnishing his name—like Oprah Winfrey.
A lot of people think that Michael Jackson’s interview with Oprah Winfrey set off a ripple effect that impacted the rest of his life. You probably remember back in 1993 when Oprah interviewed Michael at his Neverland Ranch. It became the most-watched interview in TV history. The goal was to address all the rumors that had been swirling since the mid-1980s, like how people speculated Michael wanted to become white, how he supposedly wanted to become a woman, and the bizarre claim that he bought the Elephant Man’s remains.
There were also some really wild stories, like how he slept in an oxygen chamber, married Elizabeth Taylor, suffered from an eating disorder, and had a telepathic monkey as a best friend. On top of that, there were rumors about his sexuality and whether he was a virgin. The idea behind the interview was to clear up all this gossip and let Michael set the record straight.
But instead of improving Michael’s image, the interview took a different turn. Oprah asked him some very personal and intrusive questions, challenging his answers. One of the most talked-about moments was when she asked Michael about his friendships with young boys and why he spent so much time with them. Michael said he enjoyed being around children because they were innocent and pure, and he missed out on a normal childhood due to his fame. He also mentioned that he invited kids to his ranch to make them happy. However, Oprah implied there might be something inappropriate about his behavior and directly asked if he ever slept with children in his bed.
In the summer of 1993, just months after a pivotal interview, the first accusations of sexual assault against Michael Jackson became public, forever damaging his reputation. The documentary “Leaving Neverland,” a four-hour film featuring James Safechuck and Wade Robson recounting alleged childhood abuse by Jackson, further intensified the controversy. Oprah Winfrey contributed to the discussion by interviewing Safechuck and Robson, lending her support to their claims.
Michael Jackson’s image as an iconic and somewhat ethereal figure only heightened the impact of these allegations. Family members, including Taj Jackson who knew Wade Robson personally, expressed deep disappointment in Oprah’s involvement. Taj criticized Oprah for what he perceived as sensationalism, recalling past interactions where Oprah had portrayed Michael in a different light. Jermaine Jackson, Michael’s older brother, also criticized Oprah and other media outlets for embracing the allegations presented in “Leaving Neverland” without sufficient scrutiny. Jermaine emphasized that legal trials in the past had already established Michael’s innocence.
Another family member who spoke out against Oprah was Brandy. She expressed deep disappointment over what she perceived as Oprah’s betrayal of their family, despite the many times they had welcomed her into their lives. “After he passed away, she asked to interview my cousins, Paris, Prince, and Blanket,” Brandy recalled. “So, my grandmother invited Oprah to Havenhurst, to her home, and they had a sit-down. My grandmother wouldn’t have agreed to let Paris, Prince, and Blanket be interviewed if Oprah hadn’t seemed so sincere. It feels like we’ve opened our doors to her so many times, and this is how she repays us.”
Brandy also shared her belief that Oprah’s support for the “Leaving Neverland” documentary had more political motivations than people realized. “I think this whole thing is aimed at tearing Michael down, and Oprah took swift action to make it happen. As soon as we heard about the documentary, she already had interviews set up with Wade and James.”
It’s been reported that the entire family, including Janet Jackson, felt the same way. Janet had already been clear that the accusations against her brother were untrue, so Oprah pushing that narrative didn’t sit right with her. But it wasn’t just that—Oprah’s approach to Michael upset the whole family.
Another question that caused a stir was when Oprah asked Michael about his romantic life and whether he was a virgin. Michael confirmed he was dating actress Brooke Shields but chose not to answer the virginity question, saying it was personal and that he valued his privacy. Oprah’s implication that he might be hiding something made the situation uncomfortable for him.
Oprah also brought up Michael’s changing appearance and asked about cosmetic surgery. He admitted to having a nose job but clarified that he hadn’t undergone any other facial changes, attributing his evolving looks to vitiligo, a skin condition that affects pigmentation. “I have a skin disorder that destroys the pigmentation of the skin,” he explained. “It’s something I can’t control. But when people make up stories about me not accepting myself, it really hurts. It’s a struggle for me, and I wish people understood.”
Even after Michael explained that his changing appearance was due to vitiligo, Oprah kept pushing for more details, interrupting him as if she didn’t want to hear his side of the story. “I’ve never heard of skin bleaching, MJ. I don’t know what that is,” Oprah insisted. Michael replied, “Well, those products were around when I was young. They used to say, ‘Always use bleach and glow,’ but you’d need about 300,000 gallons.”
Oprah also delved into Michael’s relationship with his father, Joe Jackson, known for his tough parenting and accusations of mistreatment. Michael admitted his father had disciplined him and criticized his looks, yet he expressed love for him, a sentiment he’d shared openly before. “He would oil you down. It was this whole thing. When the ironing cord hit you, it was like dying. It burned all over—face, back, everywhere. My mom would plead with him, ‘Joe, you’re going to kill him.’ I felt helpless. I resented him for it.”
Oprah’s probing into Michael’s loyalty to his father and suggestion that he needed therapy to heal his trauma didn’t sit well with many. Fans and family felt Oprah was insensitive and biased against Michael, even exploiting his vulnerability to damage his reputation. His family, including Janet, saw through Oprah’s approach.
“Do you think Oprah betrayed Michael?” “Absolutely. Yes, 100%. And she betrayed my family again.”
Despite Janet’s public friendship with Oprah, there are rumors suggesting she wants little to do with her privately. Some even link Janet auctioning off earrings Oprah gave her as a sign of their rift. What do you think? Does Janet really dislike Oprah, or do you think she’s being hypocritical about her brother’s situation? Share your thoughts below.
