Elton John says Michael Jackson was a ‘disturbing person to be around’

Elton John has revealed that Michael Jackson was a “disturbing person to be around,” according to his own experiences.

Back in 2019, the 75-year-old ‘Rocket Man’ legend released an autobiography titled, Me: Elton John, which is filled with shocking divulgences about his life in the music industry.

Among those revelations are his recalled interactions and comments about the late King of Pop, who passed away in 2009 at the age of 50 after going into cardiac arrest.

“I’d known Michael since he was 13 or 14. He was just the most adorable kid you could imagine,” John wrote in his book, as cited by Complex. “But at some point in the intervening years, he started sequestering himself away from the world and away from reality, the way Elvis Presley did.”

Sir Elton John spoke about his experiences with Michael Jackson in his memoir, Me: Elton John. Credit: Harry Durrant / GettyThe ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ artist suspected that the ‘Thriller’ hitmaker’s relationship with prescription drugs – which eventually killed him – was the reason for his change in character.

“God knows what was going on in his head, and God knows what prescription drugs he was being pumped full of, but every time I saw him in his later years I came away thinking that the poor guy had totally lost his marbles,” he penned.

“I don’t mean that in the lighthearted way. He was genuinely mentally ill, a disturbing person to be around,” John explained.

Furthermore, the pianist wrote about Jackson’s alleged mental state after the release of high profile docuseries Leaving Neverland in 2019, which revisited the sex abuse allegations made against the musician.

While he didn’t share his thoughts on the ‘Billie Jean’ icon’s allegations, he did briefly mention that the late star appeared to prefer the company of children to adults.

“For whatever reason, he couldn’t seem to cope with the adult company at all,” he wrote.

Michael Jackson died in 2009. Credit: Phil Dent / GettyJackson wasn’t the only famous person John spoke about in his memoir as he also wrote about his sweet experience with Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away last year at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

The ‘I’m Still Standing’ singer revealed that she had a great sense of humor, writing: “I know the Queen’s public image isn’t exactly one of wild frivolity, but… in private she could be hilarious,” per The Independent.

In addition to this, he opened up about his relationship with Princess Diana and claimed that he witnessed Sylvester Stallone and Richard Gere almost fight for the late princess’s affections at a dinner party.

John also talked about his rivalry with Tina Turner, and the time he criticized Bob Dylan’s fashion sense.

Me: Elton John can be purchased online.