So you may think you know everything about the legendary Michael Jackson but here are 30 things that you probably didn’t know…
#RIPMJ: 20+ Things You Didn’t Know About The Legendary Michael Jackson was originally published on ioneglobalgrind.staging.go.ione.nyc
1. MJ was a victim of physical abuse from his father as a child. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, he shed tears and claimed that he was so terrified of his father that he would often vomit when he saw him.

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2. His favorite animated character from childhood was Pinocchio.

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3. When MJ listened to the songs from his days in The Jackson 5, he said he sounded like “Minnie Mouse.”

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4. His middle name was Joseph – Michael Joseph Jackson.

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5. “Billie Jean” is allegedly based on a true story. MJ claims an obsessive fan tried to say he was the father of her child.

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6. His first song to hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart was “Ben” in 1972.

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7. MJ was a huge Beatles fan. He paid $47 million for the publishing rights to the Beatles back catalogue in 1985 and sold a share of it to Sony in 1995 for $95 million.

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8. Get this… The costumes for the “Thriller” video came from the Salvation Army.

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9. Jackson invented and owns the patent for the special anti-gravity boots he wore that allowed him to lean forward extremely far in live performances of “Smooth Criminal.”

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10. MJ loved animals, and had several…strange pets. He had a python called Crusher, two llamas called Louis and Lola, and his most famous pet was Bubbles, the chimpanzee.

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11. Sources say MJ “borrowed” the Moonwalk from street dancers he saw outside a hotel.

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12. Sources say MJ “borrowed” the Moonwalk from street dancers he saw outside a hotel.

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13. The original song title for “Thriller” was “Starlight.”

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14. The original song title for “Thriller” was “Starlight.”

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15. Sources say MJ slept in an oxygen tent to live longer and for cosmetic purposes.

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16. Sources say MJ slept in an oxygen tent to live longer and for cosmetic purposes.

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17. MJ was a proud owner of a 2,700-acre Neverland Ranch that has a theme park, a menagerie, and a movie theater.

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18. MJ was a proud owner of a 2,700-acre Neverland Ranch that has a theme park, a menagerie, and a movie theater.

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19. “Home Alone” star Macaulay Culkin was one of MJ’s closest friends, and is the godfather of two of Jackson’s children.

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20. “Home Alone” star Macaulay Culkin was one of MJ’s closest friends, and is the godfather of two of Jackson’s children.

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21. MJ’s estate signed a deal with Sony that gave them access to his unreleased recordings for $250 million.

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22. MJ’s estate signed a deal with Sony that gave them access to his unreleased recordings for $250 million.

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23. MJ often wore a black armband to remind people of the suffering of children around the world.

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24. MJ often wore a black armband to remind people of the suffering of children around the world.

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25. The Los Angeles mansion he was renting just before he passed away once belonged to Sean Connery.

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26. The Los Angeles mansion he was renting just before he passed away once belonged to Sean Connery.

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27. MJ was allegedly a pretty avid reader… He was once accused by a library of owing $1 million in overdue book fines.

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28. MJ was allegedly a pretty avid reader… He was once accused by a library of owing $1 million in overdue book fines.

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29. Wikipedia, Twitter, and AOL’s Instant Messenger all crashed at 3:15PM on the day MJ died: June 25, 2009.

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30. Wikipedia, Twitter, and AOL’s Instant Messenger all crashed at 3:15PM on the day MJ died: June 25, 2009.

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