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The late Michael Jackson was outspoken about sexuality and often caused controversy with his provocative dance moves. But a shocking revelation from his late ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley may surprise fans.
Back in October, Presley — who died at 54 years old in January 2023 cardiac arrest caused by a small bowel obstruction — posthumously published her memoir, From Here to the Great Unknown, which was finished with the help of her daughter Riley Keogh. Tidbits from the memoir have continued to resurface online as Keough has been on press tours promoting the book.
In the eye-opening tell-all, Presley wrote that Jackson was a virgin when the two first got romantically involved in 1994. At the time, the "Thriller" hitmaker was 35 years old.
"I think he had kissed Tatum O'Neal, and he'd had a thing with Brooke Shields, which hadn't been physical apart from a kiss," wrote Presley. She also revealed that Jackson had told her that Madonna "had tried to hook up with him once, too, but nothing happened."
Jackson was 10 years older than Presley, and Presley was in the process of getting divorced from her then-husband Danny Keough, who is Riley's father. Presley was married to Danny from 1988 to 1994, and married Jackson just 20 days after finalizing her divorce from Danny.
Jackson and Presley divorced in 1996, citing irreconcilable differences.
On Monday, November 18, Riley, 35, was still promoting From Here to the Great Unknown at a Los Angeles stop on the promotional tour. During the event, she shared her thoughts on the "Presley curse" — which refers to a series of untimely deaths involving the family. Said victims of the curse include Elvis Presley himself who died in 1977 at age 42, Lisa Marie, and Benjamin Presley, Lisa Marie's son, who died by suicide in 2020. (Additionally, Elvis's twin brother, Jessie, was stillborn.)
"I think the word 'curse' is used because my family are looked at as this not real mythology or something, but really it's just very common things, like addiction," Riley said at the event. "Everyone in here has loved somebody with addiction issues or has lost somebody tragically. I mean, the hope is that the future generations of our family aren't going to struggle so much with addiction. Of course, that's the dream."
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.
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