The Michael Jackson Tapes
Book Cover

Conversations

On LonelinessOn Jealousy vs. AdmirationOn Wanting Love

Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.

Get Adobe Flash player



Shmuley Boteach
: Were you ever jealous of someone in your career who made you work harder?

Michael Jackson: Never jealous. Admiration, complete admiration.

SB: So admiration can bring even greater goals than jealousy because it's positive and not negative. So you would look at say, Fred Astaire and say, “I want to be able to do that.”

MJ: Yes, absolutely, Shumely. Complete inspiration, never jealousy. It’s wrong, but people are like that aren’t they? It’s true Shmuley?

More

SB: No, I think you're right, I think that positive...

MJ: Can’t people look at somebody who's great and get totally jealous of them?

SB: Sure, but you've never felt that?

MJ: I don’t understand a person who could do that.

SB: For you it has always been inspiration? You have been in awe and wonder...

MJ: Can a person become jealous of God?

SB: Sure. Look at guys like Stalin and Hitler. They tried to be God. They wanted to decide life and death.

MJ: Wow.

Close

Bottom divider