Michael Jackson's single glove became as legendary as the moonwalk and the Thriller red jacket, but the reason behind the iconic accessory has long been shrouded in mystery. Various accounts have emerged over the years, ranging from medical necessity to a deliberate media manipulation tactic.
One compelling explanation comes from John Kehe, a design director who witnessed the moment Jackson decided to adopt the glove. Kehe was working on the music video for 'Can You Feel It' when he saw the singer transfixed by a film editor wearing a single white cotton glove. Jackson asked for a spare, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Jackson first wore the glove on his left hand at Motown's 25th anniversary TV special in 1983, where he also debuted the moonwalk. He later switched to a white glove on his right hand during the Bad tour. The glove sold at auction in the USA last year for more than £85,000.
However, other theories persist. Some suggest the glove and white tape on his fingers were used to cover up changing skin tone. His former bodyguard, Matt Fiddes, claimed Jackson used such accessories to manipulate the media and create mystery. Jackson himself once said, 'I felt one glove was cool. Wearing two seemed so ordinary.'
