Strippers, Hookers and Sex Clubs: How did Michael Jackson’s Seedy Childhood Affect Him?

The personal relationships of Michael Jackson have been the subject of public and media attention throughout his lifetime.

He was introduced to the topic of sex at a very early age while touring as a member of the Jackson 5. He and his brothers would perform at strip clubs, sharing the bill with strippers and drag queens, and the sexual adventures of his brothers with groupies further affected Jackson’s early life.

These pivotal events impacted his love life in the years to come, as well as his often polarising view of women in general, as demonstrated in his music and public persona.

From a young age, Jackson was exposed to sex. He received mixed messages on the subject from his parents. His mother Katherine was a devout Jehovah’s Witness and conveyed her thoughts clearly; lust in thought or deed was sinful outside of marriage, and physical intimacy should be saved for marriage.

In contrast to his wife, Jackson’s father, Joseph, a steel mill worker, shunned the religion and would have the Jackson 5 perform in strip clubs and seedy bars in the earliest days of their career. He allowed nine-year-old Michael to watch from the wings of the stage as male audience members whistled at women who stripped until they were nude.

While playing at Chicago’s Peppermint Lounge, the brothers made use of a peephole in their dressing room, through which they had a clear view of the women’s bathroom. They would take turns watching, and as Marlon recalled, “learnt everything there was to know about ladies”.

During other residencies, the siblings would perform the Joe Tex song “Skinny Legs and All”. Joseph would instruct a young Michael to make his way into the audience, crawl under tables, lift up ladies’ skirts and peek at their under garments as part of the performance. Though embarrassed, Jackson gave in as he knew the audience loved the routine.

Following such performances, the Jackson brothers would then be tucked up in bed by their oblivious mother and reminded of the virtues of being a good Jehovah’s Witness. Katherine remained unaware of her sons’ strip club activities for many years.

As members of the increasingly successful Jackson 5, Michael’s brothers Jermaine and Jackie found fame advantageous. As they toured the country, they had sex with many female fans. Their guide was their father Joseph, who would often organize and arrange sexual encounters for his sons as well as cheat on his wife Katherine with their sons’ groupies. The two brothers would bring girls back to their hotel room, where younger siblings Michael and Marlon were instructed to “play sleep”.

One girl, who had sexual relations with Jermaine, recalled such an experience:

“I jumped into bed with him and he climbed on top of me. As he climaxed, he shuddered so loudly I was afraid he would wake up Michael and Marlon, who were sleeping three feet away in the next bed. Or at least I thought they were sleeping. As I was slipping out of the room, I heard Michael say to Jermaine, ‘Nice job. Now, can we please get some sleep?’”

While Marlon would correspond with and eventually marry his wife Carol at 18, Michael never had sex with groupies, finding his brothers’ behaviour toward women disgusting. In addition to not touching groupies, Jackson reportedly never had an interest in having any type of sex as a youngster.

In one alleged incident, when he was 15 years old, a male family member arranged for two prostitutes to take his virginity. They were told to “work him over”, before being locked in a room with him. Instead, Michael picked up a Bible and read verses to the girls, who later left in tears.

James McField, who worked with the Jackson 5, stated that Michael often needed someone to talk with. It was at these times that women would be introduced to him for companionship. McField asserted that he never witnessed anything sexual, and that such females were not Jackson’s type; “He liked nice girls, pure girls who appeared to have no street background.”

Jackson occasionally warned and advised the groupies and prostitutes sent to pleasure his siblings. One Jackson fan recalled being selected from the audience to meet with Jackie. Backstage, she was handed a scrap of paper with an address to the location in which they were to meet. Michael approached her from behind and warned her that his brothers did not treat women right and that his brother only wanted to use her for sex. Changing the subject, the female fan asked for the pop star’s autograph, which he obliged in addition to writing, “Please, don’t go”. The woman ignored Michael’s request and headed to the Jacksons’ apartment complex, where she had sex with Jackie. Afterwards, Jackie informed the woman that they would not meet again. Ashamed and upset, the fan left the apartment in tears.

On another occasion, a prostitute was brought to Jackson’s room after a concert in Madison Square Garden. At which point, the pop star interrogated the sex worker, asking why she was a prostitute? Whether she wanted to have sex with him? And how much it would cost? The woman responded that she was a prostitute for the money, but that she would have sex with him for free because she wanted him. The prostitute then proceeded to unbutton her blouse, exposing her breasts. Apparently repulsed, Jackson turned his head and begged her to “put them back”. The singer suggested that they talk instead but would still pay her, which the prostitute declined to do; she was not there to talk. Instead, she gave Jackson her telephone number, urging him to call her when he wanted to “get off”. Jackson acknowledged the prostitute as she left, stating that he would perhaps call her one day, though he never did.

It’s unclear exactly what impact these frequent sexually charged scenarios had on Michael Jackson at a young age and how they manifested themselves as he became an adult.

Journalist J. Randy Taraborrelli reflected on Jackson’s early life and noted that at such a young age, the singer may not have been psychologically equipped to fully understand any sexual stimulation he may have received from such voyeuristic events. The writer further commented that Jackson’s views on sex must have been conflicted between those of his virtuous mother and his promiscuous father.

What is clear through his music and relationships, is that as an adult, Jackson would often group women into two clearly defined camps, the manipulative temptress and the romanticised ideal of femininity. Displaying a fascination with both, with the temptress represented in songs like ‘Billie Jean’, ‘Dirty Diana’ and ‘Dangerous’. But then at the same time maintaining platonic relationships with women that represented purity and the ‘girl next door’. As to consummate the relationship would somehow taint the relationship with impure thoughts as to honour his mother’s puritanical thinking and reject his abusive father’s misogynistic manner, he conducted himself throughout Michael’s lifetime.