Featured Image Credit: tenderxni/TikTok
Topics: Michael Jackson, UK News, Celebrity
Ali Condon
A lot of strange characters have passed through the Houses of Parliament over the years but, to this day, one of the most unusual cases was when Michael Jackson stopped in for a visit.
The King of Pop took a guided tour of the government buildings with his good friends psychic Uri Geller and magician David Blaine - plus MJ's personal hairdresser - back in 2002 and the whole thing was a total whirlwind.
The 'Thriller' singer had been in the UK for a brief, unannounced visit for a few appearances across London when he stopped to take a look around the Houses of Parliament.
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One of the most bizarre - and most awkward - parts of the tour came when Michael Jackson tried to sit on the benches at the House of Commons. Click on for some truly cringe-worthy viewing:
In a very unusual moment for one of the most famous men in the world, Michael was quickly ushered back up from his seat and told that the benches were strictly off-limits.
Eyeing up the famous green leather bench, Michael goes to sit down before a guide tells him: "No, no. Sorry! Not allowed to. Not even you."
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Jumping to his feet, Michael tries to play it off and asks: "Oh come on, are you serious?"
The flustered tour guide replies that even he isn't allowed to sit on the exclusive seat.
He and MJ eventually come to an agreement that he can 'touch' the bench instead.
A friend of Michael's can then be heard joking: "But he's the king!" but the strict guide is having absolutely none of it.
"Seriously, you have to be elected," he insists, making absolutely no exceptions for the King of Pop.
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After uncovering footage from Michael's visit, one person shared the clip of the embarrassing bench exchange to TikTok.
People couldn't believe that the pop star had been told off simply for sitting on the wrong chair.
"They did not have to do him like that," commented one viewer.
"No 'cause I’d be so embarrassed," wrote a second.
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"The way they talked to him during this visit was so patronising," added a third.
Others revealed that they had seen the same thing happen to other visitors to the Houses of Parliament.
"Don’t worry Michael, you're not the only one. I sat on those’s chairs and got kicked out," confessed one TikToker.
"When I went there, a travelling family, through no fault of their own (language barrier), did the same thing. And got the same result," shared another.
Say what you will about the Houses of Parliament, but it's good to see they weren't playing favourites - at least on that day.