At the Copacabana show, Madonna not only recalls the importance of Michael Jackson, who died in 2009, but also makes a reference to herself, by resuming the mix between “Like a Virgin” and “Billie Jean” that she performed on “The Virgin Tour”, in 1985.
Years later, the two even went out together, amid rumors of a possible relationship.
Born in the same year and in the same month — August 1958 — and just two weeks apart, the stories of Madonna and Michael Jackson intersect when the two become successful with their pop music hits between the 1980s and 1990s. .
Although both had very different careers, focusing on different themes and shocking the world for different reasons, comparisons between them were constant. After all, two very different and talented people would be crowned King and Queen of Pop.
In the early 1990s, when both were already famous around the world, rumors of a possible relationship began to circulate. At the time, they shared the same manager, Freddy DeMann, who was responsible for introducing them.
Madonna and Michael attended the 1991 Oscar ceremony together, both dressed in white, and caused a stir in the media, which began reporting on the alleged couple.
Madonna and Michael Jackson at the 1991 Oscar ceremony (Photo: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
At the time, in an interview with VH1, Madonna said that the two decided to go together after saying that they had plans to go alone.
The two were spotted together a few more times at the time, but soon grew apart. According to the singer’s statements to the media, they had plans to work together on the single “In The Closet”, released that same year by Michael, but they disagreed with the way the song and the video should be made.
Madonna even said in interviews that Michael wanted a controversial title for the track (which means “inside the closet” in Portuguese), but refused to discuss the content of the song and the video.
Known for causing controversy and defending those who have been marginalized throughout her career, Madonna reportedly made too many demands on the King of Pop, who ended up giving up on the musical collaboration.
With very different personalities and careers, the two soon grew apart and lost contact. In the documentary “Michael Jackson Tapes”, which shows recordings of the singer’s voice, he went so far as to say that Madonna “was not a good person” and recalled some discussions between them when they were together.
At the 2009 VMAs, shortly after Michael Jackson’s death, Madonna gave an emotional speech about the King of Pop and his importance: “He seemed from another world, but he was only human. I can’t say we were friends, but in 1991, when I decided to get to know him better, I asked him to dinner and said: ‘Leave it to me, I’ll drive, just you and me’”.
“During dinner I was committed to getting him to eat chips, drink wine and say bad words. Things he didn’t seem to allow himself to do. It seemed to me that he was looking more for a friend than for romance”, added the singer.
Michael Jackson and Madonna in 1991 (Photo: Barry King/Liaison)
Madonna stated that it was important to make this speech, as she had not been able to say goodbye to Michael the way she would have liked. Since then, she has paid tribute to the singer on several occasions.
During an interview with James Corden’s program in 2016, on the board Carpool Karaoke, she revealed previously unseen details about her relationship with Michael. When asked if they kissed, the singer replied: “Of course, of course. Honey, I’m alive.”
“I took [a iniciativa], if you want to know the truth, because he was a little shy. However, he was a willing accomplice. I made him loosen up a little with a glass of wine, and that did wonders”, recalled the Queen of Pop.
