Despite later in life having fair skin, the ‘Billie Jean’ singer was African-American and had a darker complexion when he first became famous.
It has been reported that he suffered from vitiligo, a chronic condition characterised by the emergence of depigmented white patches on the skin, as per the NHS – which is what caused Jackson’s skin to go lighter as he got older.
Prior to his death, Jackson had a rare conversation with talk show host Oprah Winfrey in which he acknowledged his skin condition, saying he was proud of his African-American heritage.
“I’m a Black American. I am proud to be a Black American. I am proud of my race, and I am proud of who I am. I have a lot of pride and dignity in who I am,” he declared.