Home / Arts and Entertainment / Lionel Richie Clears Up Michael Jackson's "Smelly" Nickname
Lionel Richie Clears Up Michael Jackson's "Smelly" Nickname
6 Oct
Summary
- Lionel Richie debunks rumors that he called Michael Jackson "Smelly"
- The nickname was actually given by Quincy Jones due to Jackson's constantly disappearing clothes
- Jackson would wear ill-fitting clothes to avoid embarrassing people who gifted them to him
In a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, legendary musician Lionel Richie addressed the long-standing rumors of a feud between himself and the late Michael Jackson. Richie set the record straight, explaining that the infamous "Smelly" nickname given to Jackson was not actually coined by Richie, but rather by producer Quincy Jones.
Richie revealed that Jackson's clothing issues were the root cause of the "Smelly" moniker. Due to Jackson's immense fame, his clothes were constantly disappearing, as fans would treat them like collectibles. This led to Jackson often wearing ill-fitting items, such as shoes two sizes too big, that he didn't want to refuse out of politeness. "Imagine sending your clothes out and only getting half of them back -- the other half are souvenirs," Richie explained.
The situation was so extreme that Richie said "every time [Jackson] put on underwear, it was new -- because the old ones never came back." This chaotic wardrobe situation is what prompted Jones to start calling Jackson "Smelly" as an inside joke, not as a direct insult to his hygiene. Richie emphasized that the nickname was not something he had ever used himself.
Overall, Richie's account provides a fascinating glimpse into the unique challenges faced by global superstars like Jackson, whose everyday lives were anything but normal due to the constant attention and intrusion of fans. Richie's clarification lays to rest the long-running rumors of a feud between the two music icons.
