Michael Jackson, the King of Pop known worldwide for his electrifying performances and monumental fame, also had a quieter, more humble side—one that those who encountered him personally remember fondly.

A remarkable story shared by New York City photographer Bettina Cirone reveals just how unassuming Jackson could be during a casual outing in the late 1970s, long before his solo superstardom reached its peak.

In 1977 or early 1978, during the transitional period when Jackson was moving from the Jackson Five to his role as the Scarecrow in The Wiz, Cirone met the young star at a New Jersey amusement park—likely Six Flags Great Adventure.

Accompanying Stephanie Mills, the actress who played Dorothy in the Broadway production of The Wiz, Jackson’s demeanor was so modest that Cirone initially mistook him for Mills’s boyfriend.

When she mentioned this, Jackson gently corrected her with no ego or offense, simply stating, “I am not her boyfriend.” This brief exchange highlighted the humility beneath the global sensation’s rising fame.

A few months later, Cirone crossed paths with Jackson again at a more star-studded event. Jackson approached her to photograph him alongside Caroline Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (Jackie O).

At the time, Jackie O had begun her career in publishing and had not yet collaborated professionally with Jackson, though she would later be involved with his 1988 autobiography, Moonwalk. After snapping a photo that Cirone felt was less than perfect, she offered to retake it for a better shot.

To her surprise, Jackson quietly declined, saying, “This one’s fine.” This unassuming response perfectly encapsulated Jackson’s nature—content with a simple moment rather than perfection, even when mingling with American royalty.

Cirone’s anecdote, shared on her personal blog shortly after Jackson’s death in 2009, offers a rare glimpse behind the curtain of one of music’s greatest icons. It reveals a young artist who, despite impending superstardom, remained approachable and grounded.

Their encounter also highlights the unlikely intersections of culture and celebrity in late-1970s New York and New Jersey, where figures like Jackson and the Kennedy family’s next generation found themselves in shared social circles.

Photographs from similar occasions, such as Jackson attending the Robert F. Kennedy Tennis Tournament with Jackie Onassis—where he was introduced to Caroline Kennedy and John F.

Kennedy Jr.—still circulate online, reinforcing the genuine connections Jackson fostered beyond the stage and studio.

In hindsight, this humble moment at an amusement park and a quiet photo with Jackie O and Caroline Kennedy remind us that true greatness often shines brightest not just in dazzling performances, but also in simple acts of kindness and humility.

For those who witnessed it firsthand, Michael Jackson’s sweetness and down-to-earth nature remain some of his most enduring legacies.