really, exactly how DID Jackson become white all over his body?

[Stoid]

Seriously. The man was born black and died white. The pictures of his exposed chest and legs and arms recently. Not makeup. He had genuinely become white.

How?

[BrandonR]

He claims to have had Vitiligo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitiligo). Now, assuming said disease didn't completely cover his body, he could have used a powerful makeup (http://www.colortration.com/) to cover it up/even it out, or perhaps he bleached his skin? I know he had a close relationship with his dermatologist (at least one of which has been in the media spotlight as of late, and who a few sites say could be the biological father of his kids).

Now, I have my doubts that he would meticulous put makeup all over his body every day so I wonder if he really did bleach his skin, or if such a thing is even possible/recommended.

Edit: Here's a picture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson_gives_autographCropped.jpg) of Michael claiming he's in the early stages of Vitiligo, despite the fact that he's already several shades lighter than the original Mike. Odd to say the least.

[HorseloverFat]

Yeah but vitiligo leaves all manner of patches and weirdness on the skin. He's just white. No patches of dark anywhere. I think its pretty obvious that most of that man's life was lies on top of lies.

In many parts of the world especially Asian and Africa, skin whitening is a huge industry. MJ probably tried some of the methods explained here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_whitening#Topical_treatments

You can buy some Hydroquinone here:

http://www.eskinstore.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=4486&idcategory=2266

[BrandonR]

A related video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3H6hRNwgtc

[Randy Seltzer]

Here is an article (with pictures) about Lee Thomas (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2007/12/18/1197740229199.html), a black news anchor with vitiligo. The article mentions Jackson. I'm not an expert, so I don't know how the disease affects different people, but Lee's appearance is markedly different from Jackson's.

[Cagey Drifter]

I've seen Indian people (in India) who seem to have become completely white (at least in all visible areas) due, presumably, to vitiligo. Perhaps it has different effects on different people?

[Todderbob]

I've seen pictures of Michael Jackson where he most definitely was splotchy.

Here (http://floacist.wordpress.com/2007/06/10/vitiligo-photos-michael-jackson/) is one of them.

[Captain Carrot]

Here is an article (with pictures) about Lee Thomas (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2007/12/18/1197740229199.html), a black news anchor with vitiligo. The article mentions Jackson. I'm not an expert, so I don't know how the disease affects different people, but Lee's appearance is markedly different from Jackson's.

Well, he says the disease is random, so... It also seems to me that he's not had this as long as Jackson has, and so his wouldn't have progressed as much.

[BrandonR]

Here's some more pictures of Jackson and other Vitiligo sufferers: http://blogs.ign.com/ThaPr1meK1ng/2009/05/08/119969/

[Qadgop the Mercotan]

Vitiligo can cause the sort of depigmentation that would result in the patterns (or seeming lack of them) seen on MJ. I've had a few patients who were nearly totally depigmented from the disorder.

[Snnipe 70E]

I have it and thank God not bad.

My hands are mostly white while my arms are splotichy. Every summer I work at a music festable and have to wear gloves on my hands. 4 Years ago with sun block I ended up with 2nd degree burns across my hands. I am afraid that if it spreads to my face and arms I could be in trouble.

[Bearflag70]

Edit: Here's a picture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Jackson_gives_autographCropped.jpg) of Michael claiming he's in the early stages of Vitiligo, despite the fact that he's already several shades lighter than the original Mike. Odd to say the least.

Almost as odd as the wardrobe of that dude getting the autograph.

[Sapo]

Could he possibly have infected himself with vitiligo to become white?

[friedo]

Vitiligo is not an infectious disease.

[RickJay]

There are hundreds of pictures that clearly show his skin was splotchy and dotted by depigmentation. He put a huge amount of effort into hiding it but it was impossible to completely cover it up all the time.

There's no serious doubt he had vitiligo.

[Cagey Drifter]

There's no serious doubt he had vitiligo.

Really? I didn't think anyone really believed that (except me).

[Todderbob]

Really? I didn't think anyone really believed that (except me).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson

Wikipedia has a ton of instances of "vitiligo" without it mentioning even the slightest controversy as to whether or not he actually had it.

[Mahaloth]

I wish I could find the video, but it is explained in the Jackson response to Martin Bashir's surprise attack interview special he put together.

Anyway, Jackson's make-up artist says that they originally colored Jackson's white patches darker, keeping him more or less "black" in appearance. As the vitiligo worsened, they agreed that he would have to be more or less bleached/made-up white.

So they did.

I'll try to find the video clip online, even, but I'm not sure.

[Mahaloth]

Well, I can't find the exact clip, but it is in the "Take Two" Living with Michael Jackson video, which is online.

If you are truly interested in the answer, watch the thing and find the part I referenced. I don't have time to filter through it right now.

Here is the link:

Living with Michael Jackson: Take Two (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=living+with+michael+jackson+take+two&search_type=&aq=f)

[Guinastasia]

Didn't the original the molestation charges state descriptions of his genitals and buttocks area being "splotchy?"

*shudder*

[Chief Pedant]

There are hundreds of pictures that clearly show his skin was splotchy and dotted by depigmentation. He put a huge amount of effort into hiding it but it was impossible to completely cover it up all the time.

There's no serious doubt he had vitiligo.

The guy spends a fortune getting plastic surgery to make his nose look caucasian, thinks (or pretends) his caucasian children are his own, and just happens to get a disease that turns him white? Oh, and by the way a variant of it that makes him a nice uniform light color when it's finished running its course. Oh, and by the way, a variant that sort of progressively lightens the same areas over the years...or at least a variant that lets him get "treated" with bleaching to even it out gradually.

Sure....mmmm hmmmm....sure.

Believing he had vitiligo as the cause of him turning so uniformly pale is right up there with the folks who apparently believed those kids were fathered by him. I remember bursting out laughing when Michael explained to that Bashir guy how the masses were totally confused about color inheritence, and how it was quite ordinary for parents of any color to have children who are any other color. (I have no idea what Mr Jackson himself personally believed about fathering the younger Prince Michael, so for all I know he was actually being sincere.)

But there's a point at which the gullibility of the polloi strains my credulity.

[Shawn1767]

I figured that he had vitiligo, and then lightened his skin to match the light patches. That way, he wouldn't be as splotchy. Why does that take an incredible amount of gullibility to believe? It seems perfectly logical. Do you think he's want to look like that guy in the picture in this thread where he's black and white all over his face? Maybe he did want to be caucasian or maybe he was under some sort of delusion that he was turning caucasian and wanted to complete the process. But I could see where someone with vitiligo would attempt to even out the color if possible. I don't think that requires some crazy thought process to believe.

[Cagey Drifter]

The guy spends a fortune getting plastic surgery to make his nose look caucasian, thinks (or pretends) his caucasian children are his own, and just happens to get a disease that turns him white?

Wikipedia describes it as a "a relatively common chronic disorder" (1-2% of population (!)) and that high levels of psychological stress (e.g. fame, loss of childhood, lack of privacy, Joe Jackson) can make individuals "more susceptible to vitiligo." Given that, it may not be that odd.

[AK84]

One of my bosses had vertaligo. He was a man with light brown skin and it was bad on him. I can't imagine what it would look on someone who was much darker. And I know that he found it extremely vexing.

[pilot141]

He lightened his skin.

Because he wanted to.

He mangled his nose, lips and chin as well - because he wanted to.

He wanted to look white, but he ended up looking like a caricature.

With the lies about his marriages, his children, his health, etc I will just assume that his skin is just like everything else about him - fake.

[Cabbage]

Didn't the original the molestation charges state descriptions of his genitals and buttocks area being "splotchy?"

*shudder*

Yes they did. I remember wondering at the time if that could be used as evidence in his conviction. However, before that time he had already mentioned he had vitiligo, so I remember thinking that it wouldn't be a big stretch for an accuser to gamble on that. Not that I'm trying to defend him; I've always been fairly agnostic about everything I hear regarding MJ, but I don't think this is damning evidence.

[Chief Pedant]

I figured that he had vitiligo, and then lightened his skin to match the light patches. That way, he wouldn't be as splotchy. Why does that take an incredible amount of gullibility to believe? It seems perfectly logical. Do you think he's want to look like that guy in the picture in this thread where he's black and white all over his face? Maybe he did want to be caucasian or maybe he was under some sort of delusion that he was turning caucasian and wanted to complete the process. But I could see where someone with vitiligo would attempt to even out the color if possible. I don't think that requires some crazy thought process to believe.

I figure he had light patches from early bleaching efforts and kept bleaching til they smoothed out.

But of course it's perfectly logical that he had breathing problems requiring nose reconstruction, albino children with only their mothers' physical characteristics, and an unusual variant of vitiligo to boot. Perfectly logical.

I'm also confident his various drug exposures were equally medically appropriate and have perfectly logical explanations. :dubious:

With enough money and spinmeisters, just because something is walking and quacking like a duck doesn't mean there isn't a perfectly logical explanation of why it's not actually a penguin.

It's still a duck, though.

[IvoryTowerDenizen]

I wonder if the vitiligo started first, and with his mental state as it was, he decided he should become more "white" looking and that drove the crazy plastic surgeries etc. Evidence suggests that the disease started well before the insane plastic surgeries. (I know this is GQ, but it seems like people are posting speculation).

[Blue Mood]

Of course he had vitiligo. I don't understand how people on this board who claim to fight ignorance can continue to be so swayed by the tabloids on this issue. For those saying how completely even his skin tone is, you are actually only commenting on his face and hands, as the rest of his body was always covered up.

Here's (http://floacist.wordpress.com/2007/06/12/full-information-on-vitiligo-michael-jackson/) a good link explaining more. The bottom of the article has links, including a rare view of his depigmented body (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/floetic_justice/tdcauvitiligo5.jpg).

[Cagey Drifter]

The photos in the links given above seem to indicate that he indeed had vitigilo. Those of you who are just spouting your personal opinions should pay attention to those photos.

[Shawn1767]

But those photos were probably put out by Michael Jackson to promote the idea he had vitiligo. In fact, they were probably Photoshopped.

Oh wait, that's what all the detractors are going to say.

I went to public school here in New Orleans. I also teach in a public school. I have therefore seen hundreds of african american children and people. I had seen and known about vitiligo before it was reported that Michael Jackson had it. I was not shocked by that possibility when it came out. His children and plastic surgery are separate issues from the vitiligo. The pictures linked to above show his splotchy skin on his wrists and arms.

[Eats_Crayons]

Anyway, Jackson's make-up artist says that they originally colored Jackson's white patches darker, keeping him more or less "black" in appearance. As the vitiligo worsened, they agreed that he would have to be more or less bleached/made-up white. One summer I worked in a bistro and one of the guys int he kitchen was quite depigmented by vitiligo. His mother did just that with make-up when he had portraits taken when he was younger. They covered the light patches until the light-to-dark ratio went so far the other way, it simply made more sense to tackle the remaining dark patches.

Initially when I met him, I thought he might be an albino African-Candian who had died his hair and thick, bushy eyebrows dark. His arms were much more splotchy, but he generally wore long sleeves and had gloves to handle food, so it was quite a while before I noticed he had patches of pigment . At the time I had never heard of vitiligo and thought it was still related to albinism. He originally had very dark skin, developed patches and eventually lost most of the pigment from his face, neck, hands and a significant amount of his torso (I never saw his torso, personally).

We were chatting one and he said when he was young, his mother would put dark pancake make-up on his face for school photo day. As he got older and got lighter and lighter, it became ridiculous to continue using dark make-up when his face was overwhelmingly white, so they started covering the remaining dark areas with caucasian hues of pancake. The result was an eighth grade photo of a black boy and a ninth grade photo of a white boy with an afro. To be honest, I saw the eighth grade photo and it really looked like make-up. If not for his features, it would have looked like blackface.

At the time I knew him, he didn't particularly care enough to bother covering up, but he continued to wear long sleeves at work only because at a previous job where the kitchen was open concept, a couple customers complained because they thought he had leprosy.

Michael Jackson was undeniably weird, but I have no problem at all believing the logical and quite plausible vitiligo explanation for his palor. I believe Latoya Jackson has also gone on record saying she has vitiligo as well, but not the the same extend as Michael.

[Eats_Crayons]

Could he possibly have infected himself with vitiligo to become white?This is the most bizarre speculation I have seen in quite awhile.

[Laudenum]

This is the most bizarre speculation I have seen in quite awhile.
Especially since it isn't infectious.

[Eats_Crayons]

Especially since it isn't infectious.Precisely. But even if it was infectious, it would be quite absurd. I would be conceptually on par with: "I would like to lose weight. Hey, I hear there's some kind of 'wasting disease'! I should look into that!"

Anyway, I have to log off. I've noticed I'm getting quite the farmer's tan, so I'm going to go and see if a bout with albinism will even it out. How do you catch albino pox anyway? ;)

[Mahaloth]

Could he possibly have infected himself with vitiligo to become white?

Uh, I think he's kidding.

Please, tell me you were kidding.

Right?

:confused:

[BigT]

I really hate having debates in GQ. And whatever happened to the rule of debates that, unless you have evidence to the contrary, you take someone at their word? Or at least assuming stupidity before malefocense?

Anyways, if we are seriously going to debate this, shouldn't we be using cites, instead of IMHOs? At least let's make an argument better than "Jackson has lied to us before, [which also needs a cite] therefore he was lying about having a skin disorder."

[barbitu8]

The fact that he sustained third degree burns to his scalp may have had something to do with it.

[Broomstick]

I've seen Indian people (in India) who seem to have become completely white (at least in all visible areas) due, presumably, to vitiligo. Perhaps it has different effects on different people?
Absolutely it affects different people differently. Some people only have one or two small white spots. In other case it can almost completely eradicate skin pigment on a person. Here (http://www.jackson.ch/Anderes/vitiligo2.jpg) is an example.

I think it's possible MJ really did have extensive vitiligo. I am not 100% convinced of it, but apparently there is some evidence that gives the claim weight. Even if there were a lot of lies and deceptions regarding MJ that doesn't mean everything he claimed was untrue.

[Mangetout]

... whatever happened to the rule of debates that, unless you have evidence to the contrary, you take someone at their word?...Was there such a rule?

[Brandus]

I don't see how anyone can view those photos and NOT believe he actually had vitiligo. I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt so here is an alternative explanation for his whiteness.

He's a popular black entertainer who has a disease that destroys pigmentation. Have you seen pictures of albino africans?

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=albino%20africans&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

The brain sees white skin so expects white features, but you have african features and white skin. It can be a little unsettling to those not expecting it. Since appearance is everything in the entertainment industry, he basically had whiteness forced on him. It was logical for him to embrace it.

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

The fact that he sustained third degree burns to his scalp may have had something to do with it.What? :confused:

[Laudenum]

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=albino%20africans&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

The brain sees white skin so expects white features, but you have african features and white skin. It can be a little unsettling to those not expecting it. Since appearance is everything in the entertainment industry, he basically had whiteness forced on him. It was logical for him to embrace it.I didn't understand your point until I clicked on the link.
It's bizarre how animalistic they look. Like some kind or gorilla-human, or tiger-human crossbreed.

I wonder how white people turned black would look?
Or albino asians?
Or black asians?

EDIT: don't mean that in a racist way, but black features on white skin is sooo not attractive if those pictures are representative. Kept looking and found some worse ones.

[Freudian Slit]

Is it at all relevant to point out that I've seen video clips of him jumping into swimming pools/being squirted with water guns without him looking at all splotchy afterward? Or is his make up just that good?

[Laudenum]

I think it was made permanent after a while, so save him the hassle of continuously reapplying.

[Freudian Slit]

I think it was made permanent after a while, so save him the haste of continuously reapplying.

So that gets back to the OP's question. How did he permanently bleach his skin? Are there pills you can take for that?

[DiosaBellissima]

So that gets back to the OP's question. How did he permanently bleach his skin? Are there pills you can take for that?

Doesn't vitiligo just continue to progress? I did read that there is some pill you can take when you have vitiligo that will speed up the process and some people opt for that instead of staying super splotchy. Any truth to this?

[HorseloverFat]

I've seen pictures of Michael Jackson where he most definitely was splotchy.

Right, those look nothing like real vitiligo

http://www.bagofnothing.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/bwthomasap.jpg

http://www.bio.davidson.edu/Courses/Immunology/Students/Spring2003/Leese/Vitiligo.jpg

http://www.greathomeremedies.com/vitiligo3.jpg

[holmes]

Doesn't vitiligo just continue to progress? I did read that there is some pill you can take when you have vitiligo that will speed up the process and some people opt for that instead of staying super splotchy. Any truth to this?

From Blue Moon's link:The depigmentation process takes awhile to complete and it is permanent. The medication monobenzylether of hydroquinone is used to do this and is very strong, it is only prescribed to vitiligo patients.

[holmes]

Sorry, I don't think there's pill. It appears to be topical.

[DiosaBellissima]

Right, those look nothing like real vitiligo

http://www.bagofnothing.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/bwthomasap.jpg

http://www.bio.davidson.edu/Courses/Immunology/Students/Spring2003/Leese/Vitiligo.jpg

http://www.greathomeremedies.com/vitiligo3.jpg

Okie dokie, I can Google search, too:

http://atozbeauty.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/vitigilo22.jpg

http://www.indiandermatology.org/gallery/vitiligo/Vitiligo.jpg

The appears to be a tremendous difference in how the disease effects people and the fact that a doctor has come in this thread and said MJ isn't atypical in his experience should say something to the layman Googlist.

[Guinastasia]

Yes they did. I remember wondering at the time if that could be used as evidence in his conviction. However, before that time he had already mentioned he had vitiligo, so I remember thinking that it wouldn't be a big stretch for an accuser to gamble on that. Not that I'm trying to defend him; I've always been fairly agnostic about everything I hear regarding MJ, but I don't think this is damning evidence.

No, but they were able to describe them in detail is.

What? :confused:

Here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson#1982.E2.80.9385:_Thriller.2C_Motown_25.2C_We_Are_the_World_and_business_career):

Jackson suffered a setback on January 27, 1984. While filming a Pepsi Cola commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Jackson suffered second degree burns to his scalp after pyrotechnics accidentally set his hair on fire. Happening in front of a full house of fans during a simulated concert, the incident was the subject of heavy media scrutiny and elicited an outpouring of sympathy.[40] PepsiCo settled a lawsuit out of court, and Jackson gave his $1.5 million settlement to the "Michael Jackson Burn Center" which was a piece of new technology to help people with severe burns.[40] Jackson had his third rhinoplasty shortly afterward and grew self conscious about his appearance.[20]

[barbitu8]

What? :confused:

OK. They were 2d degree burns. Wikepedia: Jackson suffered a setback on January 27, 1984. While filming a Pepsi Cola commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Jackson suffered second degree burns to his scalp after pyrotechnics accidentally set his hair on fire.

[Guinastasia]

Word is -and note, this is JUST a rumor, sorry, no cite -- that is when he started getting hooked on pain-killers.

[barbitu8]

What? :confused:

OK. The burns were second-degree. Wikepedia: Jackson suffered a setback on January 27, 1984. While filming a Pepsi Cola commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Jackson suffered second degree burns to his scalp after pyrotechnics accidentally set his hair on fire.

The latest issue of TIME, Vol. 174, No. 1 states: After he was injured in a fire while shooting a Pepsi commercial in 1984 and, later, in a stage fall, he became dependent on prescription medication and on Dr. Feelgoods who cater to the pharmacological demands of the stars. "The doctors prescribed so much [sic] drugs, it was crazy," said a longtime Jackson family attorney, Brian Oxman. Jackson often looked frail and wasted away in his public appearances, the result said another tabloid [referring to a prior paragraph and not the grammar handicapped lawyer], of a malady called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a genetic condition that leads to the breakdown of the lungs...

[Cagey Drifter]

Right, those look nothing like real vitiligo

you're ridiculous. If he did have it, and i'm inclined to believe he did, he wouldn't go out in public without putting on tons of makeup to cover it up-- like he and his assistants maintained.

[Johnny L.A.]

Cicely Tyson said that her costume designer also designed for Michael Jackson. She said the vitiligo started on his hand, and that's why he started wearing the glove. TIFWIW.

[Johanna]

I wonder how white people turned black would look?
Tamil? (http://lankapura.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/portrait-of-a-tamil-lady.jpg)

Or black asians?
Malagasy? (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_GKFCuF7YegQ/R1Lvmokvo-I/AAAAAAAAB8A/xyqiQMg4Y8M/s1600-R/folder.jpg)

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

Here:I know full well about his head getting burns back in the 80s, but I was wondering what the hell that had to do with his vitiligo.

[Johanna]

I wonder how white people turned black would look?
Godfrey Cambridge in Watermelon Man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermelon_Man_(film)).

[Eyebrows 0f Doom]

Godfrey Cambridge in Watermelon Man (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermelon_Man_(film)).
Godfrey Cambridge is black. The first part of that film was done with him in whiteface makeup.

[Rilchiam]

I believe he did have vitiligo. I don't think the numerous plastic surgeries undermine the vitiligo claim; I think vitiligo may have been the impetus for the surgeries.

He spent his childhood and adolescence being told by his father how fug he was. He wasn't, of course, and he may have spent a lot of time telling himself he wasn't, but without believing it deep down. Then he got the nose job, which boosted his confidence, and no reason it shouldn't have. Plenty of people get a boost in their self-esteem from one procedure: nose job, liposuction, chemical peel or what have you. But it seems that it was about that time that the vitiligo developed. D'oh! After all the years of telling himself there was nothing wrong with him, suddenly there was something wrong. And that may have begun the process of going off the rails. The vitiligo got worse and worse, with no way of stopping it, so he became fixated on facial reconstruction as something he could control. If I'm right and he did have it, perhaps without it he would have stopped with the first nose job.

[janeslogin]

Good explanation by someone who should know on Larry King Wednesday night. Excellent chance it will repeat this weekend.

In short there is the common disease that causes white spots. He had it bad. The places between the white spots were made white using a cream.

[friedo]

According to MJ's dermatologist on Larry King, the vitiligo was caused by lupus.


It's never lupus.

[Johanna]

Godfrey Cambridge is black. The first part of that film was done with him in whiteface makeup.

I know. That was a joke answer.
Hey, what's that noise overhead? Sounds like some sort of rushing air current.

[Eyebrows 0f Doom]

I know. That was a joke answer.
Hey, what's that noise overhead? Sounds like some sort of rushing air current.

OK. There's no indication in your post that you were anything but serious, but whatever.

[p4poetic]

There's no point in arguing whether he had it or not; there are medical documents that confirm that he was diagnosed with discoid lupus and vitiligo in the early 80s. During the 2003 trial, both the prosecution and the defense maintained that he had this skin condition, as well as the doctor in a deposition. Had he been lying, he would of been charged with a serious crime.

I believe he did have vitiligo. I don't think the numerous plastic surgeries undermine the vitiligo claim; I think vitiligo may have been the impetus for the surgeries.

He spent his childhood and adolescence being told by his father how fug he was. He wasn't, of course, and he may have spent a lot of time telling himself he wasn't, but without believing it deep down. Then he got the nose job, which boosted his confidence, and no reason it shouldn't have. Plenty of people get a boost in their self-esteem from one procedure: nose job, liposuction, chemical peel or what have you. But it seems that it was about that time that the vitiligo developed. D'oh! After all the years of telling himself there was nothing wrong with him, suddenly there was something wrong. And that may have begun the process of going off the rails. The vitiligo got worse and worse, with no way of stopping it, so he became fixated on facial reconstruction as something he could control. If I'm right and he did have it, perhaps without it he would have stopped with the first nose job.

But he had plastic surgery on his nose way before he was diagnosed with vitiligo, as early as 1978 (the first time was due to him breaking his nose on stage, actually).

The guy spends a fortune getting plastic surgery to make his nose look caucasian, thinks (or pretends) his caucasian children are his own, and just happens to get a disease that turns him white? Oh, and by the way a variant of it that makes him a nice uniform light color when it's finished running its course. Oh, and by the way, a variant that sort of progressively lightens the same areas over the years...or at least a variant that lets him get "treated" with bleaching to even it out gradually.

Sure....mmmm hmmmm....sure.

Believing he had vitiligo as the cause of him turning so uniformly pale is right up there with the folks who apparently believed those kids were fathered by him. I remember bursting out laughing when Michael explained to that Bashir guy how the masses were totally confused about color inheritence, and how it was quite ordinary for parents of any color to have children who are any other color. (I have no idea what Mr Jackson himself personally believed about fathering the younger Prince Michael, so for all I know he was actually being sincere.)

But there's a point at which the gullibility of the polloi strains my credulity.

I knew someone would say that...

I don't know what exactly do you mean by a 'caucasian nose' but I've never seen any white people with a triangular shaped nose. Also, where does that leave the Caucasian people who have nose jobs as well? Secondly, he went under depigmentation to even up his skin. Before that, he was putting on brown make up.

And unless you have the DNA test that proves otherwise, its a very pompous claim to state as a fact that they are not his children.

Example. These are actress Garcelle Beauvais' twins:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/fisherwy/R-k9PWV-siI/AAAAAAAAOKw/8YhtFFQg2L0/Garcelle+Beauvais-Nilon+Twin+Boys+Picture%5B4%5D.jpg