Sixteen years after the tragic death of Michael Jackson, new insights into the pop icon’s final moments have emerged, shedding light on his personal struggles and the intense pressure he faced leading up to his untimely passing.

In his memoir Crazy Lucky: Remarkable Stories from Inside the World of Celebrity Icons, John Mason, a close friend and personal attorney of Jackson, offers a candid and poignant account of the King of Pop’s final months.

In 2009, Jackson was preparing for his highly anticipated This Is It concert residency, a series of performances slated to run from July 2009 to March 2010. Unfortunately, the world would never see the first show, as Jackson passed away just one month before its opening night, at the age of 50.

Mason recalls a chilling phone call he received while living in Reno, alerting him to Jackson’s deteriorating health. Despite collapsing during rehearsals, Jackson’s trademark determination kept him going, driven by his commitment to the fans and the show.

Behind the scenes, however, the star was struggling with severe insomnia, a condition that concert promoters attempted to manage by bringing in Dr. Conrad Murray.

Murray, who would later be convicted of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Jackson’s death, reportedly administered nightly doses of propofol, a potent anesthetic typically used in surgery, in an effort to help Jackson sleep.

In Mason’s account, Jackson’s desperation is palpable, with his final words reflecting his unwavering dedication: “I can’t function if I don’t sleep. They’ll have to cancel it. And I don’t want them to cancel it.”

The financial burden that weighed heavily on Jackson during this time is also revealed. Nearing bankruptcy and facing the potential loss of his iconic Neverland Ranch, Jackson’s reliance on medication was, in part, driven by the pressure to rest enough to continue performing.

His doctors, however, failed to properly assess the dangers of mixing sedatives with propofol, leading to a tragic overdose.

Jackson’s death on June 25, 2009, was attributed to cardiac arrest caused by this lethal combination of drugs. His passing sent shockwaves through the world, leaving fans and loved ones devastated by the loss of a musical legend.

Mason’s memoir provides an intimate, though still allegedly incomplete, glimpse into the final days of the King of Pop’s life. His account adds complexity to the mystery surrounding Jackson’s death, offering a deeper understanding of the financial and personal pressures that contributed to the events leading up to that fateful day.

While the tragic loss of Michael Jackson continues to resonate around the world, these new revelations serve as a reminder of the immense human toll that fame and artistic genius can sometimes take.