The infamous photo of Michael Jackson holding his infant son out of a balcony window was once explained by the King of Pop himself.
One of the definitive musicians of the late 20th century, the MJ was known for hits like 'Thriller' and 'Beat It', but away from his career, he was also known for his unorthodox behaviour.
Some attribute it to being in the spotlight from such a young age, having been the lead singer of the Jackson 5 in the 1960s and 70s alongside his brothers, effectively making him one of the world's biggest stars for well over three decades.
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However, one incident stands above the rest particularly as a moment of madness from Jackson, in 2002.
The 'Man in the Mirror' star was staying at the Adlon Hotel near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, after his motorcade drove up and had to fight off a crowd of around 200 fans gathered at the entrance, which left one injured.
As fans looked up to the upper floors of the hotel hoping to get a glimpse of the pop star, who emerged later as the then 44-year-old opened the window of his room.
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Coming out to the balcony, he then dangled his baby, with a towel over his head, over the railing on his balcony, holding him with an arm under his shoulders, with the baby understandably trying to break free.
Those looking on thought that MJ might actually drop the child, but luckily, he brought him back inside without a scratch, before Jackson came back out while covering his face and throwing a towel into the crowd below.
The baby was later revealed to be then 6-month-old Prince Michael Jackson II, better known now as Blanket or Bigi, Michael Jackson's third child after Prince Michael and Paris Jackson.
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Soon after, the father came out and apologised for making a 'terrible mistake' in dangling his baby over a hotel balcony, adding: "I got caught up in the excitement of the moment. I would never intentionally endanger the lives of my children."
Others close to Jackson also commented on the bizarre incident, as Jackson's close friend, psychic Uri Geller spoke against his actions, but also suggested at the time that he didn't actually dangle a baby off a balcony.
"I just would not put any child over a railing at such a height," Geller stated. "I think it was a silly thing to do. He probably did it because he was overwhelmed emotionally by the fans."
He also suggested that it wasn't a real baby that he held out, as he was 'too protective' of his children to do that on purpose.
Topics: Michael Jackson, Celebrity, Music, Weird
Joshua Nair