In 2003, British journalist Martin Bashir conducted an interview with Michael Jackson for the documentary “Living with Michael Jackson,” which aired on ITV. During this interview, Bashir questioned Jackson about undergoing plastic surgery. Jackson responded by denying any facial surgeries, stating, “No, I have had no surgery on my face at all. Everybody in Hollywood gets surgery. It wasn’t invented for Michael Jackson.” He did, however, admit to a nose procedure, explaining, “Just the nose. It can help me breathe better so I can hit higher notes.”
Recently, members of The Behavior Panel, a group of body language experts on YouTube, analyzed this interview and highlighted a particular hand gesture Jackson made. When asked about the number of surgeries, Jackson held up two fingers, using the back of his hand—a gesture that expert Chase Hughes noted deviated from Jackson’s usual open and calm communication style. Hughes observed that this gesture was followed by a brief fluttering of Jackson’s eyes, suggesting cognitive processing. He explained that such eye movements can occur when individuals are processing a significant amount of information.
Hughes also pointed out that during this seemingly straightforward question, Jackson’s eyes shifted to his left (nine o’clock position from the viewer’s perspective). Hughes suggested that if he were the interviewer, he would take note of this eye movement and compare it to Jackson’s responses to other basic questions to establish a baseline for his behavior.
In the same interview, Jackson addressed questions about sharing his bed with children who were not his own. He defended the practice, stating, “Why can’t you share your bed? That’s the most loving thing to do, to share your bed with someone. You say, ‘You can have my bed if you want it. Sleep in it. I’ll sleep on the floor. It’s yours.’ I always give the beds to the company.” Jackson emphasized that those who knew him understood that his children were his top priority and that he would never harm any child.
This analysis by The Behavior Panel offers insight into Jackson’s nonverbal cues during a high-profile interview, providing a deeper understanding of his communication and responses.