Did Michael Jackson and Brooke Shields Actually Date?
So, here’s the thing: Michael Jackson claimed he was dating Brooke Shields, but Brooke was like, “Uh, no, we weren’t.” And honestly, their whole dynamic still has people scratching their heads.
Michael once said they were a thing, but they kept it private, mostly hanging out at each other’s homes instead of going out in public. Meanwhile, Brooke described their bond as more sibling-like than romantic. “I feel closer to him than some of my boyfriends,” she said at one point.
They met when Brooke was 13, quickly becoming close friends because of their shared experiences as child stars. Brooke talked about how their connection felt safe and different: “We didn’t have to be wary of one another. It was a friendship on a very different level.” But while Brooke saw it as platonic, Michael seemed to think otherwise.
Some people believe Michael might’ve hyped up the relationship for publicity. Brooke even hinted at this, saying he’d tip off the paparazzi before their outings so they’d get photographed together. Things got even messier after Michael’s infamous 1993 Oprah interview. He casually mentioned Brooke as his girlfriend during the interview, which didn’t sit well with her. Apparently, Brooke called him after, saying something along the lines of, “This is pathetic. I’m trying to live a normal life—you can’t drag me into Crazy Town.”
That Oprah interview, by the way, was supposed to clear up all the wild rumors about Michael: like how people thought he wanted to be white, sleep in an oxygen chamber, or buy the Elephant Man’s remains. Instead, it turned into this huge spectacle. Oprah grilled him about everything—his skin, his surgeries, his relationship with his dad, and even his virginity. Michael confirmed he had vitiligo and admitted to a nose job, but he dodged the virginity question, calling it “too personal.”
The whole Brooke-and-Michael situation just left everyone even more confused. Was Michael exaggerating? Was Brooke leading him on? Or was this just a classic case of a friendship being misunderstood? Whatever the truth, their relationship—romantic or not—still has people talking.
In an interview with The Sunday Times Magazine, Brooke was asked if she and Michael Jackson ever shared a kiss. She replied, “No. There was one time in the car with cameras around, and he tried to kiss me. I told him, ‘No, stop. We’re just friends, and you need me as a friend.’ I remember when other actresses were after him. He was cute back then, before everything changed. But it never crossed my mind.”
When asked about how Michael reacted when she called him, Brooke said he just laughed it off.
Despite that, even after Brooke reached out to him, Michael often spoke about her being one of the loves of his life. In a 2001 conversation with Rabbi Schmuley, he said, “I think she loved me as much as I loved her. We dated a lot, went out a lot. Her pictures were all over my wall, my mirror—everything.”

However, Brooke consistently denied any romantic involvement. In an interview with People, she explained, “We felt really safe together. We felt invincible to all the craziness around us. We joked about how silly people were, watched movies, and ate candy. Of course, we loved each other, but nothing romantic happened. I’d be like, ‘Oh, please, knock it off.’ He was like a kid who asked about dating and romance. Nobody was guiding him, and I think he was terrified. He was scared and kind of juvenile—almost like arrested development.”
In her 2023 documentary Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, she once again emphasized that despite Michael’s claims, they never had an intimate relationship. Yet, in an earlier interview with Oprah, Brooke admitted they both had crushes on each other. When Oprah asked if they ever had crushes, she responded, “I think we both did, and maybe still do. Part of having a crush is admiration. We had a lot of fun together, and it’s almost unfortunate because we know each other so well. But he still amazes me every time I talk to him.”
When Oprah asked if Michael felt more like a brother than a boyfriend, Brooke didn’t give a clear answer but shared that their connection was unique. She said, “It was a different kind of love. I felt closer to him than with some of my boyfriends. And when he gave me the most beautiful ring, people blew it out of proportion. They said we were engaged, but it wasn’t about that. It was a friendship ring.”
Even though Brooke kept denying any romantic relationship, some believed that Michael’s feelings for her were obsessive. There were even rumors that he wanted to adopt a child with her. Reflecting on this in Rolling Stone, Brooke said, “I think he wanted to use his resources to make a difference. He knew I wanted that too. So, he’d reach out to me and say, ‘How can we make a difference together? It’s easier to adopt a child if you’re two people.’ He never formally proposed. It was never that clear-cut, but I think he was always searching for happiness.”
Although the true nature of their relationship remains ambiguous, Brooke recognized that their bond was incredibly special: “He was the first person to call when my dad got sick. When I had postpartum depression, he sent flowers. Even though we didn’t have our usual dinners for a while, he stayed consistent until the end.”
When Michael passed away, Brooke had been away from the spotlight regarding their friendship for over a decade. Despite that, Michael’s mother personally asked her to speak at his memorial.
As for the backlash Michael faced over alleged misconduct, Brooke shared her struggle to understand it:
“I don’t know how to think about it because it’s so hard to believe. I wish I knew the truth. Then I could figure out how to process it. But honestly, I’m just as shocked as everyone else.”
Adding to the drama, strange rumors about Michael’s involvement in rituals began to surface. In 2000, Vanity Fair published a story claiming Michael had spent huge amounts of money on blood-soaked voodoo ceremonies, including witch doctors, slaughtered animals, and bizarre attempts to curse his enemies. Some stories even mentioned Michael dropping $150,000 in Switzerland for rituals meant to wipe out 25 of his foes.
Despite the wild accusations, Brooke maintained that this wasn’t the Michael she knew.
Yet, people still question the nature of their relationship. Some believe Brooke is one of the few who spoke positively about Michael, while others wonder if she used him to her advantage.
What’s your take? Do you think Brooke was genuine, or was she just like the others who allegedly took advantage of Michael? Was Michael obsessed with her, or did they share a mutual love? And what about those strange ritual allegations? Share your thoughts in the comments below.