Considering the recent pandemic,
face masks have become more and more commonplace, the world over.
But when Michael Jackson was first photographed sporting his own surgical
attire, it only added to his Cindrich public persona during the mid 1980s,
along with bubbles, the monkey and photographs of Jackson's
sleeping in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, his new accessory became a source
of ridicule and speculation for the press and public alike.
Many rumors and related articles have surfaced over the years.
Suspicions included disasters with plastic surgery, the AIDS epidemic and the King
of Pop's radical efforts to avoid paparazzi intrusion.
So what was the real reason behind
Michael Jackson and his prolonged fondness for surgical masks?
Michael Jackson was first seen wearing a surgical mask in June 1986.
In his autobiography Moonwalk, Jackson said he was initially given a mask
by a dentist to keep out germs after he had his wisdom teeth pulled.
Although at the time press speculated
that the mask was worn due to a recent image transformation.
As People magazine noted, the mask,
quote has nothing to do with the pollen count or the epidemic spread of a disease,
but has, quote, everything to do with the new Kirk Douglas style cleft in his chin.
This statement was further supported when
Jackson appeared a month later with Liza Minnelli attending her father's
funeral, sporting a new dimple in his chin and a jaw line still slightly swollen
because of Michael Jackson's changing appearance.
During this period,
article circulated that Jackson's masks were necessary because he had suffered
from a series of plastic surgery disasters.
In 1988, New York magazine ran a story
claiming Jackson wore masks because of repeated rhinoplasties that had left
him without any nasal hair, leaving him vulnerable to airborne dirt and germs.
Because of the medical association.
Many suspected that Michael Jackson was, in fact paranoid in a germophobia
unfounded rumor speculated that Jackson was wearing surgical masks to prevent
himself from contracting HIV during the AIDS mass hysteria of the 1980s,
while others suspected he wanted to protect his voice by not breathing
in the L.A. smog or catching germs from fans during public appearances.
This would explain why Michael Jackson would often wear masks while on tour
and traveling internationally, having suffered from numerous throat
issues, including laryngitis during his history tour upon his death.
Jackson's autopsy confirmed he had some persistent lung problems throughout his
lifetime, having performed throughout his childhood in smoky bars and clubs.
Michael Jackson's throat, unfortunately, suffered from long term damage.
Jackson worked very hard to preserve his voice, spending hours warming up
and drinking almost scalding hot water to keep it protected.
While on extensive tours
and with thousands of fans lined up to see him perform, the masks would often be used
to protect his voice and his overall health.
However, it is likely that Michael Jackson was also protecting himself from the more
tangible threat of the public instead of any illness they may have been harboring.
Michael Jackson had a long history
of shyness in public places as his fame skyrocketed.
He became increasingly uncomfortable
with the relentless attention he would receive during the Thriller era.
Jackson resorted to wearing sunglasses
the majority of public events being perceived as mysterious and aloof.
He was often pressured to remove them for the photographers and fans.
After years of fame,
Jackson learned that the best way to survive was to shun personal publicity
and keep a low profile as much as possible.
As he wrote in his autobiography, quote,
I've been accused of being obsessed with my privacy and it's true that I am.
People stare at you when you're famous.
The disguises conceal just a bit of myself.
Michael Jackson's former tour attorney, Alan Mintz, stated in 1988 that the masks
were a, quote, superb camouflage, saying, quote, First,
if you see somebody coming towards you in a surgical mask, you're alarmed.
You do not embrace somebody wearing
a surgical mask, much like his signature fedora, hat and sunglasses.
The masks allowed him breathing space
in public places since he was followed by paparazzi.
Everywhere he went, the mask took pressure
off him to constantly look perfect, to smile, to speak, to perform at all times.
This anxiety surrounding his appearance
intensified further as he struggled with vitiligo and lupus becoming highly
allergic to the sun, giving him further reasoning to cover his face.
In later years, Michael Jackson was known
to resort to decoys in order to escape from intense crowds of fans and paparazzi.
At these times, with simply more practical
to disguise himself in a way that was easily replicable for others.
Although it's had its disadvantages as demonstrated when Jackson was visiting
London in 1996 while wearing his trademark hat and black surgical mask.
It was too much for a Covent Garden fire eater.
He mistook that, quote, King of Pop for an impostor, and it moved his surgical mask.
When he realized the man was Jackson,
he complained the superstar was taking away his business and as a result,
Jackson laughed and gave him a substantial financial contribution.