Stephanie Mills Speaks Out: The Untold Story of Her Relationship with Michael Jackson

For years, whispers surrounded Michael Jackson’s private life, but one voice that brings rare clarity and warmth to his story is that of singer Stephanie Mills. In a series of heartfelt interviews, Mills recounts her close, personal relationship with the King of Pop—a story few knew, and even fewer believed. In her own words, she paints a portrait of a shy, affectionate young man, deeply misunderstood by the world.

“Yes, it’s true,” Mills confirmed when asked about dating Jackson. “I was his only little chocolate drop.” Their relationship blossomed in the 1970s, during the time he was working on The Wiz. Though young and still growing in fame, their bond was genuine, grounded in shared experiences and simple joys.

Mills recalls how Jackson would visit her backstage regularly. “He used to come to the show all the time and hang out. He was really, really shy—but I was aggressive,” she laughed. At just 15 or 16 years old, Mills, like many girls in America, dreamed of becoming Mrs. Michael Jackson.

They spent intimate time together during the filming of The Wiz, even sharing a bed. “I used to do his laundry, cook for him—even though I couldn’t cook!” she said. One particularly sweet memory involved the two of them walking down to the laundry room together. “He was very real. Just a regular kind of guy.”

Mills emphasized the depth of their connection. “Michael was a great kisser. Very affectionate. I was so in love.” However, she’s clear on one thing: they never had sex. “We didn’t go there. But he was very much a man—strong, loving, caring. People thought he was soft, but he wasn’t.”

As their lives evolved, so did the circumstances. Mills wanted marriage, but Jackson wasn’t ready. He was entering the height of global fame, which brought with it new people, new pressures, and a world that expected him to change. “I didn’t want to go to certain people’s houses for dinner,” she said. “They didn’t even season their chicken!”

Mills witnessed the changes firsthand. By the time she visited him on the set of the Bad video, he had already transformed physically and emotionally. “I whispered something to him—he didn’t like it. But I’ve always kept it real with him. I’m a Black woman. I approach him differently.”

Despite the heartbreak of parting ways, Mills always held respect and love for Jackson. “He was never upset, never said a bad word about anyone. He was the sweetest man I’ve ever known.” She flatly rejected the scandalous accusations that later haunted his legacy. “Michael was not a pedophile. He loved children because they were innocent and didn’t have an agenda. Adults always wanted something from him.”

Mills also criticized the way Black stars like Jackson were treated. “They tolerated us—they didn’t celebrate us. Michael was the biggest-selling artist in the world, and they still treated him like just another Black man.” She believes the industry and society misunderstood him deeply, pushing narratives that were both false and harmful.

“Michael was love,” Mills said emotionally. “That’s all he knew—love. He was before his time. The world wasn’t ready for someone like him.”

She also criticized the media for their double standards. “Look at Elvis Presley—he married a 16-year-old, but no one talks about that. But when it’s a Black artist, they want to destroy the legacy.”

For Mills, the message is clear: “Michael Jackson is the King. Period. Pop, R&B, whatever you call it—he’s the King.”

Her words offer a poignant, personal view of the man behind the myth—a reminder of the love, the laughter, and the pain that shaped one of music’s most iconic figures.