Michael Jackson privately admitted he was molested as a child, claims close friend

Fresh revelations surrounding Michael Jackson have surfaced after one of the late pop icon’s close friends claimed that Jackson privately confessed to being sexually abused during childhood.

The allegations were made by Emmy-winning producer and longtime Jackson associate Geoffrey Mark in a recent interview with the New York Post.

Geoffrey Mark says Jackson opened up in private conversations

According to Mark, Jackson admitted during personal conversations in the late 1990s and early 2000s that he had been “inappropriately touched” by an adult while working as a child performer.

Mark alleged that Jackson did not initially view the abuse as wrong because such behaviour had been normalised around him at a young age. He reportedly claimed the singer described the acts using a deeply disturbing phrase that reflected how psychologically conditioned he had become.

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The producer further stated that he believes Jackson carried immense emotional trauma from childhood, which may have shaped many aspects of his adult behaviour and emotional development.

What has Mark said?

Speaking to the portal, mark shared, "Michael said that he was sexually abused. He didn’t use those terms, because he didn’t think of it as abuse or sex. It was playtime. Michael shared, very broadly, news that there was intergenerational touching and beyond. It’s not like Michael said, ‘Oh, I was abused.’ That would never have crossed his mind. Because he had been conditioned that this was normal and natural... Other then it did happen a lot, it was a part of his growing up and was normal.”

“I shared that I really couldn’t chime in because my father had both sexually molested and physically tortured me,” Mark recalled. “And Michael found that revelation to be strange. He almost sort of cocked his head like a dog, like he was not understanding . . . It was something he thought was normal and natural, and did not understand why, when it happened to me, I was upset about it.”

Fresh claims arrive amid renewed scrutiny over Jackson allegations

The revelations come at a time when renewed attention has once again fallen on longstanding allegations surrounding Jackson.

Earlier this month, four members of the Cascio family, Eddie, Dominic, Aldo and Marie-Nicole Cascio, publicly accused the singer of years of grooming and sexual abuse in an interview with 60 Minutes Australia.

The siblings, who were once considered part of Jackson’s inner circle, alleged that the abuse began when they were children and continued over several years at locations including Neverland Ranch and during international tours.

One of the accusers also claimed Jackson manipulated and psychologically conditioned them into protecting him publicly for years.

Opening about it, Mark added that Jackson might have sought to relive his childhood joy, not realizing his experience was distorted.

“If I thought that Michael was evil or a predator, if I thought there was evil intent on his part, I probably wouldn’t be talking about it. Michael, to the best of my knowledge, thought that he was entertaining children the way he was entertained.”

Michael Jackson consistently denied allegations during his lifetime

Throughout his life, Jackson repeatedly denied all allegations of child sexual abuse.

The singer faced multiple accusations beginning in 1993, including the high-profile Jordan Chandler case, which ended in a civil settlement without an admission of guilt.

In 2005, Jackson stood trial on child molestation charges involving another accuser and was acquitted on all counts.

Following his death in 2009, additional allegations resurfaced through documentaries such as Leaving Neverland and subsequent lawsuits filed against his estate.

Jackson’s estate has consistently dismissed the claims as false and financially motivated.

Biopic Michael faces growing controversy

The new claims have also intensified scrutiny around the upcoming biographical film Michael, which is expected to chronicle the singer’s life and career.

Reports suggest the film does not significantly address many of the abuse allegations that have continued to surround Jackson’s legacy.

The biopic, starring Jaafar Jackson as his uncle Michael Jackson, has already generated major debate online over how it portrays the singer’s personal life and controversies.

Widely regarded as one of the most influential entertainers in music history, Jackson’s legacy remains deeply polarising years after his death. While millions continue to celebrate his groundbreaking contributions to pop music, dance and performance culture, allegations and investigations surrounding his relationships with children have continued to generate intense debate globally.