In a series of heartfelt reflections across the years, actress and model Brooke Shields has shared candid insights into her longstanding friendship with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Far beyond the gossip and headlines, their bond was rooted in shared childhood experiences, mutual respect, and a unique emotional connection that defied conventional labels.

“I was 13 when I first met him,” Shields recalled. “We just immediately hit it off. We laughed so hard.” Unlike many people who sought something from Michael, Shields made it clear that her intentions were pure. “I wasn’t trying to get a music career. I wasn’t trying to get anything from him. We just started hanging out.” Both thrust into the spotlight from a young age, Shields and Jackson found comfort in each other’s company. Their shared experiences in the entertainment industry helped build a deep trust that allowed a genuine friendship to flourish.

“We acted like little kids together,” she said, describing their bond as a space where they could finally be themselves—something rare in their respective lives. “Neither one of us really had the environment to do that safely.”

Over the years, Shields became one of the few people Jackson could trust. She described him as articulate, innocent, and full of joy. “There’s a very genuine innocence that he has. He’s sheltered himself so much that that’s been maintained.” She admired his love for simple things—flowers, animals, children—and the way he would rather talk about happiness than fame.

Despite constant speculation, Shields clarified the nature of their relationship. “I think we both had a crush and still do,” she admitted. “But it wasn’t a typical romantic relationship. He felt closer to me than some of my boyfriends. He gave me the most incredibly beautiful ring—not an engagement ring, but a friendship ring.” Shields emphasized that their love was built on admiration and deep understanding rather than physical romance.

Jackson’s eccentricity, often viewed by outsiders as eerie, was to Shields a mark of his genius and sensitivity. “When someone is that talented and that sensitive, their conversation is going to be different,” she said. “It’s not eerie. It’s just unique.”

She also opened up about how difficult it was to watch the world ridicule him. “I’m constantly upset by what people say. They don’t give him a chance. When people see genius, it scares them. To feel better about themselves, they try to belittle him.” Shields acknowledged how deeply those attacks affected Jackson, who was a profoundly sensitive person.

When asked about Jackson’s changing appearance, Shields admitted it was never a topic of discussion between them. “We talk on the phone a lot, and it’s his voice that gives it away,” she said. “We don’t dwell on things like that.”

Their friendship endured for decades. “He was the first person to call me when my dad got sick,” she said. “When I had postpartum depression, he sent me flowers.” Though they had fewer dinners in later years, Jackson remained consistent in her life. And when he passed away, it was his mother, Katherine Jackson, who asked Shields to speak at his memorial. “I thought I wasn’t going to be invited. His father never liked me,” Shields confessed. “But his mom said, ‘I want you to speak.’”

In a particularly emotional memory, Shields recounted confronting Joe Jackson at the funeral. “I said, ‘You never liked me. But I want to thank you for your son, because he changed the world and was my friend.’” She believes Michael struggled deeply with his relationship with his father, who he felt was unnecessarily harsh.

Years later, Shields had a chance encounter with Jackson’s daughter, Paris, at a Calvin Klein event. “She turned to me and said, ‘So you’re my dad’s friend,’” Shields recalled with emotion. “I looked at her and said, ‘I really miss your dad.’” The two have since developed their own unique connection.

Brooke Shields’ stories offer a rare, unfiltered look into the private life of Michael Jackson. Through her words, the world sees not the spectacle, but the human behind the legend—a sensitive, complex soul who simply longed for love, joy, and true friendship.