A move that seemed to break the rules of physics left the world in awe. Michael Jackson’s famous anti-gravity lean from the Smooth Criminal video baffled everyone. How could he lean so far forward without crashing flat on his face? The mystery became one of his most talked-about tricks.

Scientists revealed the average person can only lean about 20 degrees before tipping over. Michael somehow hit a jaw-dropping 45-degree angle. The secret was not magic, it was innovation. He wore custom shoes with a hidden slot that locked onto a peg in the stage floor. That clever design gave him just enough support to make the impossible look real.

Michael Jackson’s Anti-Gravity Lean Explained | Inverse

Fans were still blown away, knowing the trick only worked because of his incredible strength. One wrote, “Even with the ‘cheat’ it’s a phenomenal example of strength.” Others praised the “massive muscle control and endurance” needed to hold the lean, saying his “tendons must be made of steel cables.”

The lean was proof of Michael’s genius for stagecraft but he did not need tricks to leave audiences stunned. His pure talent alone created another moment that shook the world and went down in history. When Michael performed “Billie Jean” live at Motown 25, he unveiled the moonwalk for the very first time. The crowd erupted the moment he began gliding backward as if on air. Nobody had ever seen anything like it. The performance was electric, instantly cementing his place as the King of Pop.

Billie Jean 720p60 1st Moonwalk LIVE Performance at Motown 25 Michael Jackson

It is hard to believe, but Michael was unhappy with his own performance. He wished he had spun longer and held his final pose with more precision. Fans, however, still call it “the most iconic MJ performance of all time.” One summed it up perfectly: “He was a phenomenon.”

Michael Jackson’s legacy is carried forward by the fans who celebrate him daily. They keep his music, moves and magic alive across the world. For more timeless performances and to join a community that never lets the King’s spark fade, his official YouTube channel and Facebook page remain the best places to gather.