Everyone knows about the King of Pop’s friendship with Princess Diana, but did you know he and Houston were close, with MJ’s bodyguard even claiming they were lovers?
She also was said to have dated Jackson’s brother Jermaine, who was married at the time, which allegedly inspired the video for her hit Saving All My Love For You
When it comes to the scope of his success and the universal impact of his artistry, few entertainers have been able to reach the world-dominating, superstar status of Michael Jackson.

At the height of his fame and fortune, the late “King of Pop” was hobnobbing with the highest profile celebs and public figures. His unlikely friendship with royalty might be well known, but one friendship (and ultra-secret romance) that may not have received as much scrutiny and spotlight was the one Jackson shared with fellow music superstar, Whitney Houston.
As two of the greatest and most famous pop stars of the twentieth century, it was inevitable that Jackson and Houston would meet. Now, years after their tragic deaths, it has come to light that, even if for a short while, the two may have been more than just friends.

So, what was the exact nature of their relationship? Let’s take a closer look.

The two allegedly had a romantic affair

Brandy shared this photo of Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. Photo: @brandy/Instagram
Soon after Houston’s tragic passing in 2012, Matt Fiddes – Jackson’s former bodyguard – gave an interview to The Sun in which he revealed many of the King of Pop’s never-before-heard secrets. One of the biggest bombshells dropped by the British martial arts master was the fact that Jackson and Houston had enjoyed a clandestine romantic affair at the heights of their respective careers.

According to Fiddes, the two met in 1991 as a natural outcome of their global success and moving in similar social circles. Connecting over their shared experience of fame, the two formed a solid bond.

A photo of Whitney Houston at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. Photo: @WhitHoustonStan/Twitter
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Fiddes claimed that Houston “practically moved in” to Jackson’s famous Neverland Ranch, where the pair had a secret romance. Though the furtive fling allegedly lasted just two weeks, Fiddes (who had spoken to Jackson a mere three days before his passing) maintains that Jackson never really got over his love of Houston.

The nature of their connection was further referenced by hip hop and R&B singer Brandy, who herself shared a close, almost mentor-mentee relationship with Houston. In 2016 Brandy posted a photo on her Instagram presumably from around the time of the affair, with the caption: “She told me that Michael had a crush on her … I was like, whoa!!!!! #NippyJackson” (Nippy was a nickname given to Houston by her father.)

Her romance with another Jackson
Singers Whitney Houston and Jermaine Jackson, who are alleged to have dated. Photo: Getty Images
While Jackson may have had a serious crush on Houston, he wasn’t the only Jackson that the How Will I Know singer had allegedly hooked up with. Before their romantic rendezvous, Houston had apparently been in a year-long secret affair with Michael’s older brother Jermaine, who was married at the time.

It’s even been reported that the illicit affair was the inspiration behind Houston’s video for her hit Saving All My Love For You.

Even though Michael purportedly felt a certain bitterness towards his brother because of this, he never lost his love for Houston and, according to Fiddes even “dreamed of marrying her”.

The iconic duet that almost happened … twice

Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston were both superstars of pop. Photo: @offthedestiny/Instagram
Similar to their apparent romantic relationship, a musical duet between Jackson and Houston never saw the light of day.

While any artistic collaboration between the two performance powerhouses would unquestionably have been a duet of iconic proportions, for music lovers the world over such a glorious pairing sadly never materialised. Although it almost did … twice.

The first time the pair almost came together for a duet was for the love song I Just Can’t Stop Loving You from Jackson’s hit 1987 album “Bad”. Initially hoping Barbra Streisand would join him on the song, Jackson eventually shifted his hopes towards Houston after Streisand turned down the opportunity. Houston’s label at the time however, Arista Records, blocked the duet as there were concerns it might interfere with the concurrent promotion of her album “Whitney”. Ultimately, singer-songwriter Siedah Garrett was included on the track.

Years later, a second opportunity for a duet almost brought Houston and Jackson into the studio together – this time with Houston’s song If I Told You That. Though no clear indication has been revealed why Jackson never agreed to it, the duet was ultimately with another pop icon from the 1980s, George Michael.

Their (final) emotional embrace
Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston at a charity event in New York in 1988. Photo: AFP
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The 2001 concert and TV special Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration was filmed at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Marking Jackson’s phenomenal three decades as a solo superstar, the concert featured an impressive line-up of stars and singers who came together to celebrate the King of Pop’s incredible career.

Alongside such stellar names and entertainment icons as Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minnelli and Destiny’s Child, Houston was also present and performed in honour of her friend.

Fiddes claimed that when the two reunited at the concert it would be the final time the two stars would embrace in person: “They shared what would be their final hugs … The two of them whispered that they loved each other as they hugged. The emotion was written all over their faces.”