Lionel Richie Says Pal Michael Jackson Was Nicknamed 'Smelly' for Poor Hygiene: 'He'd Wear Pants Until They Were Unwearable'

I think one other thing to consider about the exploitation point is whether LR would have ever told this story if MJ was here today.

Something tells me he wouldn't have found it a funny story to share and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have dared to include such detail in his memoir. Behaving differently towards a person when circumstances change is indicative of someone who lacks integrity. I hope he stops exploiting his dead friend for publicity. He can do and has done way better than this.

Whitty Hutton said:

Because it's a memory he has of his friend that he finds humorous and wished to share

Ol' Dirty Bastard was a person that died tragically like MJ, and while he was alive did things that made him look waaay worse than what Lionel described MJ as being at times. Picking boogers, walking around high out his mind without shoes, starting fights with people and not remembering he did it, burying buckets of chicken in the backyard, the list goes on....
And when people that knew him tell these stories they tell them with smiles and laughs because even though these are typically things that would make a person look bad those were parts of who he was that they just have to laugh about in their experiences with him.

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There's all those crazy stories that people tell about Keith Richards, Ozzy Osbourne (urinating on the Alamo, snorting ants, biting doves & bats), members of Mötley Crüe, Rick James, etc. Mötley Crüe themselves talked about some of this in their book The Dirt. There's been people saying Prince would do things like disappear & levitate. There's also the Sammy Davis Jr. being a member of the Church Of Satan stories. Even Eddie Murphy mentioned this.

There's also band members who have insulted each other in the media like the Van Halen brothers vs. David Lee Roth & Sammy Hagar. Alex Van Halen & David Lee Roth did not like that Eddie played on Beat It. Not because it was Mike, but they did not agree that any of the members should work on other acts records.

Interesting to me that some people here say it's just a small excerpt of the book and therefore it doesn't matter.

Did you read what he wrote? Keeping in mind that people who are not MJ-fans will read it and have a certain opinion about Michael afterwards? Keeping in mind that the media will blow it up? Keeping in mind that "friends" wouldn't do that?

If my friends wrote that about me in a book and thousands of people would read it and I was famous etc. I would really question this friendship.

You see... Brad Sundberg also tells a lot of stories, not all of them are positive but he is always respectful. Don't know why this is so hard for other people.

Like I said MJ was such a devoted (ex)-Jevovah/Christian he wanted to live a modest life, like Jesus. Vegetarian, gave away his belongings, trying not to swear, celebrate, family life, love for children, not childish but childlike, being frugal, don't waste, love animals, love for seniors etc.

Him not caring about his looks or smell is actually a good thing: it proves he did do the things he was critized/extorted for out of pureness

someplace_else said:

Interesting to me that some people here say it's just a small excerpt of the book and therefore it doesn't matter.

Did you read what he wrote? Keeping in mind that people who are not MJ-fans will read it and have a certain opinion about Michael afterwards? Keeping in mind that the media will blow it up? Keeping in mind that "friends" wouldn't do that?

If my friends wrote that about me in a book and thousands of people would read it and I was famous etc. I would really question this friendship.

You see... Brad Sundberg also tells a lot of stories, not all of them are positive but he is always respectful. Don't know why this is so hard for other people.

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Sorry but why would he pick up another person's dirty undercrackers, not having it sounds wrong to me and he should know better no one wants to hear that very shadey from a so called friend

Victorious said:

Like I said MJ was such a devoted (ex)-Jevovah/Christian he wanted to live a modest life, like Jesus. Vegetarian, gave away his belongings, trying not to swear, celebrate, family life, love for children, not childish but childlike, being frugal, don't waste, love animals, love for seniors etc.

Him not caring about his looks or smell is actually a good thing: it proves he did do the things he was critized/extorted for out of pureness

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You are so far reaching hard here, your strong opinion proves nothing and this was CLEARED up a few posts ago he NEVER STANK PERIOD, so why are you still insinuating he didn't CARE about his looks or smell as being a GOOD thing,

I am so glad you do not speak for how much he cared lol! He LOVED GOD & JESUS and SOAP & WATER lololol are you kidding me!
I get that we can express our opinions but to try to force your narrative that Michael not caring about his looks or smell is actually a good thing is NOT the FACTS and NOT the TRUTH about him!

Not going to lie, it is very very concerning for me that some "FANS" would actually defend and support these MJ HATERS comments and going to great lengths to PROVE the HATERS right blows my mind I am sorry! I mean if you were a fan of Michael's would you not punch someone in the nose if they OFFENDED him? I would all day every day in my world defending him!!

I mean do you actually BELIEVE that knowing Michael was a PERFECTIONIST to a fault everywhere else in his life but oh no in a shower, a bath tub or shampoo & soap he just did not give a damn about at all, what a filthy genius right????
Do you hear how this narrative sounds like he was some dirty and unwashed clueless superstar right?????
How could anyone say such a disrespectful, degrading and dishonest comment about him and that be OK and then prove the LIE was somehow or in some way the TRUTH and say they loved Michael Jackson?
I know why because you CAN'T let anyone maliciously malign someone you LOVE with all your HEART!
Or I could also be some unwashed and un-intelligent and out of my head just like Michael as well I guess!!

No sense stating your point of view on this forum anymore reminds me of a certain political group and their support for their Messiah. Wrong or right you are always wrong. Peace out Moonwalkers better days ahead.

MJ TinkerBell said:

I mean do you actually BELIEVE that knowing Michael was a PERFECTIONIST to a fault everywhere else in his life but oh no in a shower, a bath tub or shampoo & soap he just did not give a damn about at all, what a filthy genius right????
Do you hear how this narrative sounds like he was some dirty and unwashed clueless superstar right?????

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Lol, did you actually read my post?

Also Lionel Richie doesn't mention anything new here, MJ's smell was mentioned before by his mother, sister and several producers. The same as how he treated his clothes and shoes. I tried to explain why I think he (probably) did this, rather thank me for that because that is what this forum is for.
Did it change, did he pay more attention to his (private) appearance later on in life? I think so.

Lionel Richie is not 'somebody' btw, he is almost just as big of a legend as MJ, he doesn't need to make up shit in any way, and contrary to you was physically close to Michael a lot of times

Victorious said:

Like I said MJ was such a devoted (ex)-Jevovah/Christian he wanted to live a modest life, like Jesus. Vegetarian, gave away his belongings, trying not to swear, celebrate, family life, love for children, not childish but childlike, being frugal, don't waste, love animals, love for seniors etc.

Him not caring about his looks or smell is actually a good thing: it proves he did do the things he was critized/extorted for out of pureness

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tbh, I'm not quite sure about this as a theory. For Christians there is the saying 'cleanliness is next to Godliness'. Afaik, Jehovah's Witnesses regard personal cleanliness as being very important.

I just watched a short clip of Lionel on Joe Rogan trying to explain what he was getting at with this anecdote but I don't think it really clarified anything (imo). He did make the point that it was an 'insider' nickname and the 'insiders' (the people close to Michael) would understand the context. I'm wondering if perhaps he's just a really rubbish storyteller.

He mentioned the thing about Michael's clothes being stolen all the time which is just

Yes, these are words used out of context. The media does this on purpose...

Victorious said:

Lol, did you actually read my post?

Also Lionel Richie doesn't mention anything new here, MJ's smell was mentioned before by his mother, sister and several producers. The same as how he treated his clothes and shoes. I tried to explain why I think he (probably) did this, rather thank me for that because that is what this forum is for.
Did it change, did he pay more attention to his (private) appearance later on in life? I think so.

Lionel Richie is not 'somebody' btw, he is almost just as big of a legend as MJ, he doesn't need to make up shit in any way, and contrary to you was physically close to Michael a lot of times

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LOL do you actually hear yourself in this post reply??

So let me get this straight you are CONFIRMING/VALIDATING that Loonie Lionel is justified in every word he has said about Michael in the most disrespectful, derogatory and degrading way because you are clearly protecting Loonie's HONOR/LEGACY here as his fan! Kool OK ...
Apparently to YOU Loonie Lionel IS btw, almost just as big of a legend as MJ

I didn't see you defending Michael's honor but you made sure Loonie was defended 100% here on this MJJ website, funny so maybe you should join the Loonie Lionel Fan Club of your superstar ALMOST as big as Michael too, or do you have your membership on there already?

This was all I wanted to know about what you posted and now I know where your really at, I hope that you can handle ALL the negative comments and backlash that your Loonie star has earned from this day forward from MJ Fans that won't ever let this type of low life LEECHING from anyone GO! This is only the beginning of them having their say about a book he should have just kept to writting about himself and his career sleep not leeching off of Michael so people might actually buy a copy of it! Do you have your copy yet??

Thank you so much for the clarification and inspiration for your post! We will of course have to 100% AGREE to 100% DISAGREE and there is no need for me to continue addreesing this topic with you!
It is a GOOD thing that we both get to express ourselves freely on this amazing MJ site and I have said what I wanted to say and in this regard to be respectful above everything I sincerely hope you have a nice day!!

This explains the red.

Judging by what Lionel says here, it seems he was talking about when Michael was a teenager, "The kid when he was 12, 13, 14, send underwear out, it doesn't come back."
"We wore the same size by the time he became that teenager."

Also, looks like he heard the fans about the Smelly nickname and he's trying to distance himself from it now, but he should have told the correct story if now he knows he was wrong about the origin of the nickname...

From 1:16:00 to 1:25:00 (I didn't watch the whole interview, I just went through it quickly to find the part where he talks about Michael, so let me know if I missed other parts):

Why don’t you leave Lionel alone and attack Taylor for using the J5 on her new track. I haven’t seen any credits to J5 for something that sounds relatively close to ABC.

Smooth72 said:

No sense stating your point of view on this forum anymore reminds me of a certain political group and their support for their Messiah. Wrong or right you are always wrong. Peace out Moonwalkers better days ahead.

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Kelley is the Guru

Smooth72 said:

Why don’t you leave Lionel alone and attack Taylor for using the J5 on her new track.

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Which song?

Smooth72 said:

I haven’t seen any credits to J5 for something that sounds relatively close to ABC.

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Why should the J5 get any credit for a song that (apparently) didn't sample their vocals?

etoile 37 said:

(...)
Also, looks like he heard the fans about the Smelly nickname and he's trying to distance himself from it now, but he should have told the correct story if now he knows he was wrong about the origin of the nickname...

From 1:16:00 to 1:25:00 (I didn't watch the whole interview, I just went through it quickly to find the part where he talks about Michael, so let me know if I missed other parts):

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THIS

etoile 37 said:

Judging by what Lionel says here, it seems he was talking about when Michael was a teenager, "The kid when he was 12, 13, 14, send underwear out, it doesn't come back."
"We wore the same size by the time he became that teenager."

Also, looks like he heard the fans about the Smelly nickname and he's trying to distance himself from it now, but he should have told the correct story if now he knows he was wrong about the origin of the nickname...

From 1:16:00 to 1:25:00 (I didn't watch the whole interview, I just went through it quickly to find the part where he talks about Michael, so let me know if I missed other parts):

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Thanks for sharing.

I appreciate that he recognised the issue and attempted to correct it.

Fuzball said:

Which song?

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I'm seeing lots of comments saying it's iwyb

Fuzball said:

Why should the J5 get any credit for a song that (apparently) didn't sample their vocals?

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Agreed. The credit would have to be for the songwriters, not J5.

I haven't heard the TS song but the convo online seems to be raging back and forth as to whether it's a sample, an interpolation or just a funk guitar lick that sounds similar but isn't a straight lift from the J5 recording.


EDIT - unless you meant 'which TS song?' I just saw a comment naming the song. Wish I could unsee that!

etoile 37 said:

Judging by what Lionel says here, it seems he was talking about when Michael was a teenager, "The kid when he was 12, 13, 14, send underwear out, it doesn't come back."
"We wore the same size by the time he became that teenager."

Also, looks like he heard the fans about the Smelly nickname and he's trying to distance himself from it now, but he should have told the correct story if now he knows he was wrong about the origin of the nickname...

From 1:16:00 to 1:25:00 (I didn't watch the whole interview, I just went through it quickly to find the part where he talks about Michael, so let me know if I missed other parts):

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It´s just sad.

Fuzball said:

Which song?


Why should the J5 get any credit for a song that (apparently) didn't sample their vocals?

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Wood

bluemoon7 said:

It´s just sad.

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I'm still p****d that LR said what he said in his book.

That said, I've just read the J5 chapter in the book and he does paint a lovely picture of Michael in those early J5 years. I could really see Michael, standing in the wings at MSG, the J5 show a sell-out, Michael all excited.

My favourite quote might be this:

"Michael had a way of looking up into the lights, far off, and then looking back at me, making sure I saw what he saw ... In a softish voice, he asked me one night, during the first leg of the tour, 'Lion-nel, do you know? Do you know what bigger than big is?'

zinniabooklover said:

That said, I've just read the J5 chapter in the book and he does paint a lovely picture of Michael in those early J5 years. I could really see Michael, standing in the wings at MSG, the J5 show a sell-out, Michael all excited.

My favourite quote might be this:

"Michael had a way of looking up into the lights, far off, and then looking back at me, making sure I saw what he saw ... In a softish voice, he asked me one night, during the first leg of the tour, 'Lion-nel, do you know? Do you know what bigger than big is?'

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That part's spot on, Michael was uber-curious since he was a little boy.

Slightly offtopic; this reminds me of Russ Terrana, audio engineer at Motown, who's similarly portrayed Michael's curious nature.

"As for Michael Jackson, as a young kid, he was always very polite and extremely curious of how the recording process and equipment worked. He use to sit with me and ask all kinds of questions about recording. It was not easy being Michael Jackson. There was always someone wanting something from him. Wealth and fame can be a very heavy burden."

zinniabooklover said:

I haven't heard the TS song but the convo online seems to be raging back and forth as to whether it's a sample, an interpolation or just a funk guitar lick that sounds similar but isn't a straight lift from the J5 recording.

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Smooth72 said:

Wood

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just listened to "wood" - it definitely has IWYB-vibes.

zinniabooklover said:

I'm still p****d that LR said what he said in his book.

That said, I've just read the J5 chapter in the book and he does paint a lovely picture of Michael in those early J5 years. I could really see Michael, standing in the wings at MSG, the J5 show a sell-out, Michael all excited.

My favourite quote might be this:

"Michael had a way of looking up into the lights, far off, and then looking back at me, making sure I saw what he saw ... In a softish voice, he asked me one night, during the first leg of the tour, 'Lion-nel, do you know? Do you know what bigger than big is?'

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Fuzball said:

That part's spot on, Michael was uber-curious since he was a little boy.

Slightly offtopic; this reminds me of Russ Terrana, audio engineer at Motown, who's similarly portrayed Michael's curious nature.

"As for Michael Jackson, as a young kid, he was always very polite and extremely curious of how the recording process and equipment worked. He use to sit with me and ask all kinds of questions about recording. It was not easy being Michael Jackson. There was always someone wanting something from him. Wealth and fame can be a very heavy burden."

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Often I think what a "miracle" it is that Michael not only lived to be 50 (which is not old at all) but had a career like this. His life must have been brutal at times, especially as a young person. He is a role model to me im many ways.

Fuzball said:

Slightly offtopic; this reminds me of Russ Terrana, audio engineer at Motown, who's similarly portrayed Michael's curious nature.

"As for Michael Jackson, as a young kid, he was always very polite and extremely curious of how the recording process and equipment worked. He use to sit with me and ask all kinds of questions about recording. It was not easy being Michael Jackson. There was always someone wanting something from him. Wealth and fame can be a very heavy burden."

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That's a lovely quote from Russ. But also, just so sad.

Fuzball said:

That part's spot on, Michael was uber-curious since he was a little boy.

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My bad. I should have posted a longer quote from the book. Wasn't meaning to misrepresent what Lionel was saying. I think it's more about Michael's ambition, his vision.

"We talked about everything else. After a rehearsal or before the show we'd sit on the edge of the stage or get to talking as we walked.

Michael had a way of looking up into the lights, far off, and then looking back at me, making sure I saw what he saw ... In a softish voice, he asked me one night, during the first leg of the tour, 'Lion-nel, do you know? Do you know what bigger than big is?

I nodded. Did I? He was pushing me.

I was given a chance to hear this kid's inner child talk about how big he wanted to be. He let me glimpse how he saw this vision of celebrity. And it was gigantic.

Could I see it? The way he put it, yes. My inner child couldn't see it for me on my own, but when thirteen-year-old Michael Jackson and I hung out after a show on the edge of the stage and looked into any empty auditorium - suddenly I could believe it."
P.136 (hbk edition)

Unless I see evidence to the contrary I'm going to assume that's an accurate recollection from Lionel and an accurate assessment of what Michael was really talking about in that moment - even though he was still so young.

Fuzball said:

just listened to "wood" - it definitely has IWYB-vibes.

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(I think I heard something on the radio in my car recently, it put I Want You Back in my head and I was wondering why... maybe it was this.)

I suspect it's got references to other songs too as it changes styles a bit. Not a fan anyway.

Back to The TOPIC:
This is where I feel Loonie believes he is in a COMPETITON with Michael (as if lol) since a young age he has known him and I think he has had this type of energy toward Michael through those years like is HE the ghost of JEALOUSY!

In the video you will see Loonie in various clips of interviews of him regarding Michael!
Even throws shade at Prince too, why not right!!
You will also see that Loonie could have shared this amazing and sweet story about "Muscles" instead of his stinking clothes!!!!

Lionel Richie On His Rivalry With Michael Jackson | Price of Fame In His Own Words!

MJ TinkerBell said:

Back to The TOPIC:
This is where I feel Loonie believes he is in a COMPETITON with Michael (as if lol) since a young age he has known him and I think he has had this type of energy toward Michael through those years like is HE the ghost of JEALOUSY!

In the video you will see Loonie in various clips of interviews of him regarding Michael!
Even throws shade at Prince too, why not right!!
You will also see that Loonie could have shared this amazing and sweet story about "Muscles" instead of his stinking clothes!!!!

Lionel Richie On His Rivalry With Michael Jackson | Price of Fame In His Own Words!

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They were working in the same industry within a similar time period, so yes competition and even jealousy is inevitable. And let's not forget that LR made some great music too.

While I think it's fair to criticise the point of the title thread, I don't think it's fair to disparage LR like this, he has on the whole been positive of MJ. He did address the controversy over what he said in the JR clip and attempted to reframe it in a more positive way, which is more than what others have done after using MJ to get in the headlines.

jasmine.uddin said:

They were working in the same industry within a similar time period, so yes competition and even jealousy is inevitable. And let's not forget that LR made some great music too.

While I think it's fair to criticise the point of the title thread, I don't think it's fair to disparage LR like this, he has on the whole been positive of MJ. He did address the controversy over what he said in the JR clip and attempted to reframe it in a more positive way, which is more than what others have done after using MJ to get in the headlines.

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There are so many amazing and kind hearted MJ Fans that are ALL love and we do not get upset often but when we do, watch out we do not take talking BS about Michael LIGHTLY or EASILY no apologies for it!!
I appreciate you as always @jasmine.uddin your awesome but please do not try to SELL or DEFEND Loonie to me I have listened to him my entire life even before you were born and this TOPIC is not about HIS music is it sis no I really wished it was too. How could I forget about BLACK artists making music magic and hey I used to love him too and now that is over finished due to his many poor choices nothing to do with his music.
We all have to be careful who we defend because they have proven at some point they will BETRAY/EXPLOIT Michael for any financial gain is what I call the "MJ Leeching Syndrome" it's real and it Is sick to watch them one by one FAIL to defend their friend Michael!!

If this MJ leeching is as far it goes as his "sharing" shady secrets about Michael then awesome we will all go back to forgetting everything he says tomorrow and laughing at him on IDOL once a week yay!

But if this is only the beginnng of how he is planning on promoting his books that are supposed to be about HIM and not his MOST FAMOUS FRIENDS then 1000% he will be ADDRESSED if that time comes for anyone disrepecting Michael period!

I just wanted to clarify what I meant by the JEALOUSY theory of other artists towards him in the industry competing and LOSING to him over,
and over, year after year again and again even since from his young childhood! Called him a "Midget" I know for a fact that I saw somewhere in an interview how offended, insulted and dismissed Michael felt when the ADULTS around him labelled HIM a midget because he sang with such a depth in maturity they could not believe was coming out of a 9yr old child!
They repeatedly described him like that like he was a joke, like he was a toy gimmick, Michael hated that name and hated that they called him it!!

I only wished we as his true fans could have fought and protected Michael more while he was alive I know we did our best for him but I surely have the power now to shut any MJ hater down immediately and protect his LEGACY where ever I go fo sho, trust that!!!

I am also wondering how so many people were confused about buying $600.00 tickets to just go listen to him talk about his book (Michael) and what is in it, because come on you know they believed it was going to be singing or something more for that kind of money, right?
Nope now these "Loonie Fans are demanding their money back as they damn well should!
Loonie apparently made yet another poor choice that is seriously affecting his OWN fans currently!! Very telling indeed about his actions are showing who he truly is now even to his own fan base!
He is on my Watch List of Michael Betrayers I hope he doesn't continue to make embarrassing decisions and become a detriment to his own legacy!

Another HUGE difference between them was Michael would never cheat or treat his Fans or Friends like that for money he needed from a book he decided to write about other people's private and personal information and business!!!
That is why even Loonie calls Michael the KING because it is about how you TREAT the people of your Kingdom with L.O.V.E!