In a conversation on JRE Clips, legendary singer Lionel Richie shared a collection of anecdotes about his longtime friendship with Michael Jackson, shedding light on the extraordinary, isolating, and often bizarre reality of the King of Pop’s celebrity. Richie categorizes Jackson’s fame as reaching an “Elvis level,” a state of being “completely and wholly unmanageable”.

Unprecedented Fame and Isolation

Richie’s account focuses on two aspects of Michael Jackson’s early fame: his unparalleled charisma and his subsequent isolation.

Explosive Talent: Richie first witnessed Michael’s genius when the Jackson 5 performed “ABC’s,” marveling that the boy had the “oldest soul you’ve ever met” on stage, only to transform into an average “12 year old” the moment he was off.
The “Golden Goose” Effect: As Michael’s fame grew, his life became confined. Richie recounts trying to hang out with him in hotels, only to find Michael “hiding in the bathroom” because security had sealed off the floor to protect their “golden goose”. This constant, overwhelming protection led to the slow shutdown of Michael’s ability to enjoy a normal life or “play time”.

The Stolen Clothes and the Secret Nickname

The most striking story revealed the extent of Michael’s unmanageable fame: the rampant theft of his personal items.

Souvenirs from the Laundry: Michael Jackson’s fame was so intense that his clothing would be stolen as souvenirs. According to Richie, if Michael sent his clothes out to be laundered (including jeans, t-shirts, socks, and underwear), they simply “doesn’t come back”.
The Origin of “Smelly”: Because Michael’s clothes were constantly being stolen, he couldn’t maintain a normal wardrobe. He would wear a single pair of jeans “until they tried to run away from him”. If he came to Richie’s house, he would grab a new pair of clothes from the closet and change. The producer Quincy Jones, noting this habit of wearing clothes until the last moment, gave Michael the insider nickname “Smelly”. Richie clarified that the nickname was an internal joke about his need to wear clothes for a long time due to theft, not a comment on his personal hygiene.