Michael Jackson’s life has always been shrouded in mystery, with headlines often painting a controversial and puzzling picture of the King of Pop. However, Matt Fiddes, Jackson’s close friend and former bodyguard, is determined to set the record straight about the man behind the myths. In an emotional interview on Anything Goes with James English, Fiddes shared intimate details about their friendship, Jackson’s struggles, and the misconceptions surrounding his life.
Fiddes, a martial arts entrepreneur-turned-bodyguard, first met Jackson through their mutual friend, Uri Geller. What started as a request for martial arts training blossomed into a deep friendship, with Fiddes ultimately offering his protection free of charge. “I didn’t need the money,” Fiddes explained, emphasizing his desire to be a trustworthy ally in Jackson’s life, especially amidst the exploitation the star faced.
One of Fiddes’ biggest missions has been dispelling the media’s “Wacko Jacko” narrative. “It takes hours to become Michael Jackson. It’s all an act,” he said, describing how Jackson would intentionally play into the media’s fascination. “He would make himself ridiculous to wind the media up,” Fiddes revealed in a separate interview, highlighting how calculated Jackson’s public persona often was.
Fiddes also addressed some of the controversies surrounding Jackson as a father. He explained the use of masks for Jackson’s children as an attempt to shield them from intrusive media scrutiny. Ironically, this tactic backfired, with tabloids offering exorbitant sums for unmasked photos of the children.
The infamous 2002 balcony incident, where Jackson was photographed dangling his infant son Blanket over a ledge, was another moment Fiddes clarified. He explained that the situation looked more dangerous than it actually was due to the camera angle. However, Jackson was devastated by the backlash, locking himself in his room for a day. “He knew he’d made a massive mistake,” Fiddes shared.
Fiddes also spoke candidly about the tragic decline of Jackson’s health in the months leading to his death in 2009 from a prescription drug overdose. Alongside Uri Geller, Fiddes made efforts to curb Jackson’s access to painkillers, even confiscating drugs and attempting to block certain doctors. “We went to great efforts to keep the doctors away,” he told Sky News. Despite their interventions, Jackson’s dependence on prescriptions ultimately proved fatal. “[The doctors] have Michael’s blood on their hands, and they know what they’ve done,” Fiddes said, expressing his anger and heartbreak.
After Jackson’s death, Fiddes faced another personal blow when the star’s family cut off all contact with him. Speaking on the Anything Goes podcast, Fiddes suggested that financial motives may have influenced the disassociation. “It was deeply painful,” he admitted, reflecting on the loyalty he had shown throughout Jackson’s life.
Fiddes remains a fierce defender of Jackson’s legacy, offering a heartfelt glimpse into the complexities of the man behind the music. Through his revelations, he hopes to remind the world of the human being Michael Jackson truly was—flawed, misunderstood, but deeply caring and endlessly creative.
