His ‘Thriller’ video had all the ex

His ‘Thriller’ video had all the excitement of a major movie release. Jackson became a true icon of pop culture and influenced dozens of today’s top stars.

Jackson’s personal life created significant controversy and earned him a nickname he hated, ‘Wacko Jacko’. He angered many by having plastic surgery and lightening his skin to look white. His reputation was badly damaged in several high-profile child sexual abuse cases in 2003 and 2005. The courts cleared him on both occasions.

His awards and records are proof of the phenomenal success he achieved. He won World Music Award's Best-Selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium, and was the American Music Award's Artist of the Century. ‘Thriller’ remains the best selling album of all time. ‘Vanity Fair’ magazine named him the "Most popular artist in the history of show business".