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Hollywood Kids: Growing Up Too Fast

Michael Jackson 1994 Grammy awards with Quincy Jones.

Michael Jackson 1994 Grammy awards with Quincy Jones.

Credit: Chris Walter/WireImage.com

Quincy Jones: Michael Jackson "Didn't Want to Be Black"

Thursday – July 02, 2009 – 2:20pm

In a new interview with Details, Quincy Jones -- who helped launched Michael Jackson's career -- opens up about the sad and strange evolution in the late singer's appearance over the years.

Jones - who first worked with Jackson on 1979's Off the Wall - tells Details they'd talk "all the time" about how Jackson was changing.

"But he'd come up with, 'Man, I promise you I have this disease,' and so forth, and 'I have a blister on my lungs,' and all that kind of b.s.," he says. "It's hard, because Michael's a Virgo, man -- he's very set in his ways. You can't talk him out of it. Chemical peels and all that stuff."

See how Michael Jackson's face has changed over the years

"I've been around junkies and stuff all my life. I've heard every excuse," he says. "It's like smokers -- 'I only smoke when I drink' and all that stuff. But it's bulls**t. You're justifying something that's destructive to your existence. It's crazy."

Revisit Michael Jackson's most unforgettable moments

Jones says Jackson's obsession with his appearances got to be "ridiculous."

"Chemical peels and all of it. And I don't understand it," he says. "But he obviously didn't want to be black." Asked if that is the reason Jackson had undergone so much plastic surgery, Jones says, "Well, what do you think? You see his kids?"

See photos of Michael Jackson and his kids through the years

Jones isn't sure why Jackson had such a deep-seated issue with the way he looked. (In a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey, The King of Pop said he used to wash his face in the dark because he had pimples. "I wouldn't want to look in the mirror... and my father teased me," Jackson said. "He would tell me I was ugly.")

"I'm just a musician and a record producer. I'm not a psychiatrist," Jones says. "I don't understand all that stuff. We all got problems. But there's a great book out called Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart. Did you see that? That book says the statute of limitations has expired on all childhood traumas. Get your stuff together and get on with your life, man. Stop whinin' about what's wrong, because everybody's had a rough time, in one way or another."

Look back at Michael Jackson's life

So what does he think killed Jackson (who died June 25 at age 50 after suffering cardiac arrest)?

"I would think that the pressure of the concerts and the debt and everything else..." he says. "...If you sit there and just stay hung up on one negative thought, you will become that thought. I know that Lisa Marie Presley said that she always thought he was going to die like Elvis. You sit and think about that stuff, it'll happen to you. If you start thinking about darkness instead of light, or fear instead of love, you'll get in trouble. I really believe that."

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  • February 15, 2010 - 12:03am keiko2010 Says:

    Michael DID tell the truth...the autopsy report verifies it...inflammation on his lung and YES - vitiligo. What frustration for MJ that even Quincy wouldn't believe him.

  • January 02, 2010 - 9:58pm Khandi-Girl Says:

    I AM REALLY GLAD THAT I AM NOT FAMOUS BECAUSE BEING FAMOUS HAS ITS PERKS AND DOWN SIDE.MOST BEING DOWN BECAUSE GROWING UP IN THE PUBLIC EYES CAN DESTROY YOU AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPEN TO MICHAEL J HE HAD TOO MANY FAKE PEOPLE IN HIS LIFE THAT DID NOT HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS. GOING TO SCHOOL AND BEING A VICTIM OF BOTH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE CAN HAVE A LASTING EFFECT ON SOME PPL SOME GET OVER IT OTHERS DNT, SO FOR JONES TO SAY WHT HE SAID HE CAN GO TO ****. THE MAN IS DEAD WHY CNT MJJ HAVE PEACE SINCE HE DID NOT HVE IT HERE ON EARTH. SO MANY PEOPLE HVE DESTROYED MJJ NO WONDER WHY HE LEFT THE COUNTRY. AND BY ALL MEANS MR JONES NEED TO KEEP MJJ'S CHILDREN OUT OF IT. I LOVE YOU MJJ REST IN PEACE!

  • December 30, 2009 - 8:09pm Leonada Says:

    Quincy can crawl back under the rock he's been hiding under all these years with these outlandish comments. He made a HUGE name for himself from Michael's success and now he has the audacity to come out with these two faced remarks? Al Sharpton said that many so-called "famous" people would be speaking about Michael after his death and those same people are the ones who weren't there for him when he needed them. We don't care to hear your opinions about who didn't want to be black Quincy. Especially from someone who's never even been with a black woman. Look at Michael's kids??? Look at yours!

  • December 30, 2009 - 12:50am Paulie Says:

    "Have you seen his kids?"...Have you seen Jones' kids? I don't think Jones has ever been with a black woman. Does that mean he doesn't want to be black either? Michael did have a disease (you idiot) and he did have chronically inflamed lungs...That's why people should publicly keep their mouths shut less they have to remove a foot from them. Anyway, I have read reports that they both fell out when Jones wasn't 100% behind Michael when doing an album. Michael doesn't like nonbelievers around him. He thinks (much like Jones says) that positive will bring positive results. And he wanted someone who believed his album would be and do the best.

  • November 10, 2009 - 1:58pm cecelia Says:

    I have written an article on MJ that I believe addresses a different perspective than has been talked about as of yet. Is there any way I can send it in for review? cecelia 301-674-9320

  • October 31, 2009 - 4:01pm AARTZ Says:

    Jones is one to talk. He's only married white women!! (its uncalled for but absolutely true!) I understand he's probably trying to work through his own anger and sadness over Michael Jacksons death but if it had bothered him for so long, why hadn't he said anything before? Oh thats right, its probably b/c Michael would have be infuriated at such a thing. Its totally ridiculous that Jones would say stuff like this NOW. It proves nothing and it doesnt do any good. Im shocked and pissed off Jones would go this far and for me this makes him lose a lot of integrity , im sure a lot of MJ fans have a similar feeling...

  • October 11, 2009 - 2:06pm Anonymous Says:

    But the authopsy tells if he had lungs problems...anyway

  • October 10, 2009 - 1:29am Adam Says:

    THIS IS THE ONLY TRUTH I'VE HEARD ANYONE SAY THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE MICHAEL PRESS. QUINCY IS THE ONLY PERSON IN ENTERTAINMENT BALLSY ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY BE HONEST.

  • September 29, 2009 - 8:02pm Anonymous Says:

    i can't believe Quincy Jones said this...it can't be. This has to be a joke! :(

  • September 14, 2009 - 12:07pm Mayra Says:

    This man is the most disgusting person there is! After all he went through with Michael, how could he say such things about him??! Now that he's dead he can't even defend himself.. I saw another interview in wich he said that Michael wasn't so talented as people think. F... You, Quincy Jones!!!
 

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