Michael Jackson Told Oprah He Didn't Want A White Actor Playing Him In 1993

Yet a white actor is set to star as the King of Pop in an upcoming film.

When it was announced that white actor Joseph Fiennes would be portraying Michael Jackson in an upcoming film on Monday, Twitter users weren't happy. An old clip of Michael Jackson suggests that he may not have been enthusiastic about the choice either if he was alive today.

In his 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey, posted on Twitter on Monday, the King of Pop was asked to clarify a rumor that he wanted a young white boy to star as him in a Pepsi commercial. Jackson swiftly refuted the rumor.

"That's the most ridiculous, horrifying story I've ever heard," he told Oprah. "Why would I want a white child to play me? I'm a black American. I'm proud to be a black American. I am proud of my race. I am proud of who I am. I have a lot of pride in who I am and dignity."

“I'm a black American. I'm proud to be a black American. I am proud of my race.”

- Michael Jackson on rumors of a white actor playing him in 1993

In the full clip, MJ was so riled up that Oprah had to interrupt him to move on to the next question.

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