Emmanuel Lewis’s interview offers a vivid, firsthand account of his long friendship with Michael Jackson, beginning with their unexpected first meeting on the set of Thriller. Lewis explains that contrary to popular belief, he was not personally invited by Michael, calling the rumor “a bald‑faced lie” and clarifying that a friend surprised him with the visit. His mother approved the late‑night outing, and Lewis recalls being carried on his friend’s shoulders as they approached the set, hearing “that’s Michael’s music, and it’s playing it awful loud.” The moment he saw Jackson performing the iconic zombie choreography, he recognized the magnitude of what he was witnessing, even if he didn’t yet understand its future cultural impact.
Lewis describes their first interaction as warm and respectful, emphasizing that he refused to meet Michael alone and insisted his mother accompany him. When Jackson asked, “Are you afraid of me?,” Lewis laughed and replied, “Come on man, you’re Michael Jackson, you couldn’t hurt a fly.” This exchange set the tone for a friendship grounded in mutual admiration and family values. Jackson invited Lewis to his home, where Lewis met Katherine Jackson and later engaged in a spontaneous dance‑off with Janet Jackson. These early encounters reveal a natural, playful dynamic that contradicts the media’s later sensationalism.
The interview also highlights the deep integration of their families. Lewis recounts how, after Jackson’s 1984 Pepsi accident, he received a call urging him to check on Michael at the Sheraton. Shocked to find him recovering alone under an alias, Lewis insisted, “Nah, nah, nah, B. We’re coming to get you.” Jackson then lived with the Lewis family for over a year while healing from severe burns. Lewis recalls, “He literally recuperated for months living in my condo,” and describes how his mother and brothers cared for Jackson daily. This period cemented their bond and demonstrated the trust Jackson placed in the family.
Throughout the interview, Lewis paints a portrait of Jackson as a joyful, mischievous, and down‑to‑earth person. He describes water‑balloon fights, pillow fights, dance routines, and Jackson’s comically ineffective disguises—“a fedora… white socks and penny loafers… a five‑year‑old could call you out on that one.” Lewis emphasizes that there were “two Michaels”: the global icon and the private friend who loved movies, comedy, and simple outings like McDonald’s. Their shared experiences as child performers created a natural understanding between them, and Lewis repeatedly stresses how normal and human Jackson was in private.
The interview also addresses the darker period of allegations against Jackson. Lewis describes how deeply the accusations hurt Michael, especially because they targeted “something that is near and dear… performing for the kids.” He explains that Jackson’s love for children stemmed from his own lost childhood, and that the accusations were the opposite of his character. Lewis recounts how media figures like Martin Bashir tried to pressure him into implying wrongdoing, but he refused, stating, “None of that… makes any of it the truth.” He also notes that some accusers later admitted they had lied, saying, “After he died… a few of those people came forward and said… it never happened.”
Lewis reflects on the tragedy of Jackson’s final years and the emotional weight of the This Is It title, which he immediately recognized as ominous. He describes Jackson as “the biggest kid, adult kid I had ever met,” comparing him to Walt Disney in his creativity and childlike wonder. The interview ultimately portrays a decades‑long friendship built on trust, shared experiences, and genuine affection—one that was repeatedly distorted by the media but remains, in Lewis’s words, “always… nothing but a great friend” to him and his entire family.