Lionel Richie has disclosed that Michael Jackson was known by the unsavoury nickname 'Smelly' among friends due to his poor hygiene habits. The revelation comes from Richie's debut memoir, Truly, published on Tuesday.
Richie, 76, wrote that Jackson's day-to-day life was 'eccentric' and that the King of Pop was 'oblivious' to the fact that he hadn't changed or washed his clothes for days. He noted that fellow music icon Quincy Jones would often tease Jackson by calling him 'Smelly', and Jackson would laugh along.
The 'All Night Long' singer attributed Jackson's hygiene issues to his immense fame, which left him little time for mundane tasks like shopping. Jackson often wore the same clothes for extended periods because items sent for dry cleaning were frequently kept as souvenirs by staff.
Richie recalled Jackson visiting him in jeans that were either falling off or too short, and admitted they were 'smelly'. When asked about the trousers, Jackson replied that a store owner had given them to him for free after he walked by.
These claims echo earlier allegations from five former housekeepers, who in a 2014 interview described Jackson as 'the dirtiest, most unsanitary person in Hollywood', alleging he lived in filth and even urinated on the floor.
