Why Michael Jackson Really Died? Pop Star’s Last Bodyguard Looks Back

Bill Whitfield, Michael Jackson’s former bodyguard, has opened up about the circumstances surrounding the pop icon’s death and defended him against longstanding child abuse allegations. Jackson, who passed away on June 25, 2009, from acute propofol intoxication at the age of 50, was ruled a victim of homicide. His personal doctor, Conrad Murray, was later found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

In a recent interview, Whitfield revealed his lingering doubts about Jackson’s death. “Do I think someone made a mistake? Yes,” Whitfield said, admitting that he had questioned whether Jackson’s death could have been intentional. However, he clarified, “But the thought that [he died] at the hands of someone intentionally, that doesn’t weigh with me.”

Whitfield reflected on the toll that preparations for Jackson’s “This Is It” tour took on the singer, describing how Jackson had become “a little more frail than normal” in the days leading up to his death. The tour, which was set to be a highly anticipated sellout, placed immense stress on Jackson. “There were more people in his life, and it became hectic. He was doing a lot of rehearsing. I could tell it was weighing on him,” Whitfield noted.

When asked about the sexual abuse allegations that have clouded Jackson’s legacy, Whitfield vehemently defended the singer. “That’s not who he was,” Whitfield stated, dismissing the accusations as baseless. He emphasized that nothing in his time with Jackson suggested the pop star was capable of such acts. “You had to be around him to know him, and I was there. So no, that wasn’t him,” Whitfield asserted.

Whitfield also spoke about the intense pressure Jackson faced from those around him. “He was definitely stressed out. And stress kills,” he said, adding that Jackson was always surrounded by people who wanted something from him, which could be overwhelming.

Reflecting on the allegations, Whitfield recalled Jackson’s words: “He once said he would slit his wrist before hurting a child. So I know those accusations were hurtful for him. I can tell that changed him.” Despite the controversies, Whitfield remembered Jackson as a devoted father whose “most prized possession” was his children.