What Happened to Michael Jackson?

Michael Jackson became the King of Pop and one of the most famous entertainers in history — but what happened to the man behind the legend? This documentary explores the incredible rise and complicated life of Michael Jackson, from his childhood with the Jackson 5 and the beginning of his solo career to the worldwide success of Off the Wall and Thriller. We look at the moments that transformed Michael Jackson into a global superstar, including Billie Jean, Beat It, the legendary Thriller music video, and his iconic moonwalk performance at Motown 25. But the story doesn't end with Thriller. As Michael Jackson became more famous, his private life became increasingly difficult to separate from his public image. This video explores his extraordinary success, Neverland Ranch, his changing public image, the controversies surrounding him, the 1993 allegations, the 2005 criminal trial and acquittal, and his final attempt to return to the stage with This Is It. Michael Jackson's story is more than the story of a musician. It is the story of a child star who became the King of Pop, a global cultural icon whose music changed the entertainment industry, and a man whose enormous fame made his personal life increasingly complicated. This Michael Jackson documentary covers his rise to fame, Thriller, Motown 25, Neverland, his career, controversies, 2005 trial, This Is It, and his legacy. The research for this video draws on publicly available material and archival reporting from sources including the Recording Academy / GRAMMY, Billboard, ABC News, Los Angeles Times, NPR, FBI records and other contemporary news archives. Some stories were never meant to be forgotten. Welcome to Forgotten Stories.