Michael Jackson has been pulled into the Jeffrey Epstein firestorm after a photograph showing the late pop star standing beside the disgraced pedophile surfaced in the Justice Department’s latest document dump.
The image, released Friday as part of more than 300,000 Epstein-related files, quickly went viral after it showed Jackson posing next to Epstein during what appeared to be a private encounter.
The DOJ provided no context for the photograph, fueling immediate speculation online.
Now, one of Jackson’s former bodyguards is pushing back.
Matt Fiddes, who claims he was part of Jackson’s security team at the time, says the photo has been wildly misinterpreted and insists there was nothing sinister about the interaction.
He claims Jackson had no idea who Epstein even was.
“We were just viewing houses as Michael wanted to live on Palm Beach so he could be close to his friend Barry Gibb,” Fiddes wrote in a social media comment. “We never even knew who Epstein was. He was not famous then.”
According to Fiddes, the meeting happened around 2003, when Jackson was spending time in Florida while recording music with Gibb.
Fiddes said a real estate agent arranged multiple home viewings during the trip and that Epstein’s house was simply one of several stops.
“He, like the other house owners we viewed that week, wanted a picture with Michael,” Fiddes said, adding that Jackson was known for being polite to everyone he met.
Fiddes stressed that Epstein was never part of Jackson’s social or financial circles and dismissed any suggestion of a relationship between the two as “nonsense.” He also said another bodyguard and Jackson’s doctor were present during the visit, per the Daily Mail.
The Epstein files release has sparked outrage across the political spectrum, largely due to massive redactions and a lack of explanation for many of the photos included. While the appearance of Jackson in the files raised eyebrows, there has been no allegation of wrongdoing tied to the singer in connection with Epstein.
The photo of Jackson was one of several featuring high-profile figures released without captions or background. Other images included former President Bill Clinton and singer Diana Ross.
None of the individuals pictured has been accused of crimes related to Epstein.
Jackson’s inclusion in the files comes amid growing criticism of the DOJ over how the Epstein materials were handled. Lawmakers from both parties have accused the department of creating confusion by dumping raw documents without context while heavily redacting other sections.
Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) have both slammed the release as insufficient, arguing the public still does not have a clear picture of Epstein’s network or how powerful prosecutors handled figures.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has defended the redactions, claiming they were necessary to protect the identities of victims and comply with federal law. He insisted the department was not shielding politicians or public figures.
Fiddes, for his part, said the damage caused by the photo speaks to the larger problem with the Epstein file release.
“It was making big news as we looked at houses with him on Palm Beach,” he wrote. “I’m surprised the truth is not being told.”
