Michael Jackson is unquestionably one of the greatest and well-known singers of all time, and his music has very much had an influence on a lot of artists today.
Whether that's the iconic 'Thriller' or 'Billie Jean', his instantly-recognisable moonwalk, or the white glove that would appear in a lot of his performances.
The glove, for example, became part of the MJ brand after a while, as fans would not have recognised him without the iconic clothing accessory.
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Many people presumed the glove was just part of Jackson's image - something that made him unique in the music space.
But the reason why Jackson wore the glove is actually quite a sad one, according to a friend of his, who claimed the glove was for Jackson to hide his vitiligo.
The skin condition is a long-term disease where pale white patches develop on the skin, according to the NHS.
It's caused by the lack of melanin, which is the pigment in skin - and while it can affect any area of skin, it is most common on the face, neck, hands and skin creases.
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Actor Cicely Tyson, who died in 2021 at the age of 96, shared a fashion designer with MJ in the 1980s.
She was made aware of a glove being made by the designer for Jackson so he could hide his vitiligo
Speaking to CNN in 2019, Tyson said: "All of a sudden, he [the designer] said, 'I'm doing this glove for Michael.'
"The glove was to cover the vitiligo; that's how that glove came into being."
Jackson confirmed himself he had the skin condition in a rare interview with Oprah Winfrey, with the legendary singer even admitting he found it hurtful when it was being discussed in the press.
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"This is the situation, I have a skin disorder that destroys the pigmentation of the skin. It is something I cannot help, OK?" Jackson said.
“But when people make up stories that I don’t want to be what I am it hurts me … It’s a problem for me that I can’t control.”
Over the years, many have questioned why Jackson decided to wear just one glove instead of two.
Well, as per The Independent, Michael himself explained: "I felt that one glove was cool… wearing two gloves seemed so ordinary."
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He has certainly got a point there, two-gloved Jackson would have been rather strange indeed.
Topics: Michael Jackson, Music
Callum Jones