Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley tied the knot 30 years ago, creating a media frenzy as two music legends joined forces. The ceremony, held in the Dominican Republic, was so secretive that it took weeks for the world to catch on. Unfortunately, the marriage only lasted 20 months, as it was overshadowed by allegations of sexual abuse made against Jackson by 13-year-old Jordan Chandler and his father. Lisa Marie, who inherited a vast estate from her father Elvis Presley, later admitted that their union had an element of manipulation.
The paths of Lisa Marie and Michael Jackson first crossed in 1975 when she was just seven years old and attended a Jackson Five show. However, they didn’t reconnect until 17 years later in November 1992. Their adult friendship blossomed, and Jackson proposed over the phone. Lisa Marie had previously been married to musician Danny Keough, with whom she had two children. After a quick divorce, she and Jackson exchanged vows.
Lisa Marie’s mother, Pricilla Presley, was initially skeptical of Jackson’s intentions, fearing that he was after her daughter’s fortune and using the wedding as a distraction from the child molestation charges he faced. Despite her concerns, Lisa Marie never doubted her husband’s innocence. She believed he was wrongly accused and wanted to save him. In January 1994, she convinced Jackson to settle the allegations out of court, with his legal team emphasizing that it was not an admission of guilt.
MICHAEL JACKSON’S SECRET WEDDING TO LISA MARIE PRESLEY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
In a whirlwind romance, pop superstar Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley tied the knot in a private ceremony in the Dominican Republic. The couple arrived at La Romana airport on Wednesday, May 25, 1994, amidst a frenzy of representatives and lawyers. Despite the absence of the usual paparazzi, the wedding party was not short of attention.
The wedding took place the following day, Thursday, May 26, 1994, in a sleepy and rural corner of La Vega. Civil judge Hugo Álvarez Pére officiated the ceremony at his house in El Campito. Jackson donned an all-black outfit with a hat and studded belt, while Presley opted for a beautiful beige dress and carried a bouquet of flowers.
The ceremony, which started at 11am, lasted less than 15 minutes. However, it wasn’t the original plan. Pére revealed that Jackson’s lawyers had approached him a year prior, expressing their desire for the wedding to take place in a plane above the Dominican Republic. Unfortunately, this idea went against the country’s regulations.
Pérez had intended to keep the wedding a secret, but his plans were foiled when an American journalist obtained a copy of Jackson and Presley’s marriage certificate. The judge was offered a substantial sum of money to spill the details, but he declined. Instead, he shared some basic information with local newspaper Listín Diario.
According to Pérez, it was Latoya Jackson, Michael’s sister, who leaked the information to the press, prompting an investigation. Pérez described Jackson as having “the behavior of a child” and being incredibly shy during their brief interaction. They discussed Jackson’s marital status and children, with Pérez informing him that he had three children. Jackson then invited Pérez to visit his ranch in Los Angeles with his children.
Before the ceremony, bodyguards thoroughly inspected Pérez’s home. The wedding itself was conducted in Spanish, in accordance with Dominican marriage laws, with a lawyer acting as a translator for the couple. Lisa Marie’s friend Eve Darling and Thomas Keough, the brother of her ex-husband Danny, served as witnesses, as stated in official documents.
This secret wedding between two of the biggest names in music has left fans and the media buzzing with excitement. The union of Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley is surely one for the history books.
Michael Jackson shocked the world when he secretly married Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of the legendary Elvis Presley. It wasn’t until more than two months later that the news became public knowledge. Speculations and rumors had been circulating, but the media remained skeptical. US talk-show host David Letterman even joked about their alleged marriage, questioning if it took place on another planet.
Finally, on August 1, 1994, Presley confirmed the marriage in a statement sent to the media. She revealed that they had tied the knot in a private ceremony outside the United States 11 weeks prior. The delay in announcing their union was due to their desire for privacy, as they both lived under the constant scrutiny of the public eye. Presley expressed her deep love for Jackson and her commitment to being his wife.
The couple made their first public appearance together at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards. Jackson, standing beside his new wife, addressed the audience, acknowledging the doubts about their relationship. He confidently stated that their love would endure, before sealing his words with a passionate kiss.
In June 1995, the couple appeared on television to promote Jackson’s latest album, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. During the interview, Presley emphasized their plans to start a family, further solidifying their commitment to each other.
Their bond seemed unbreakable as they collaborated on the music video for Jackson’s hit song, “You Are Not Alone.” Directed by Wayne Isham, the video featured the newlyweds playfully frolicking together in a temple scene, partially nude. Isham later revealed that their relationship on set was genuine and filled with innocent fun, laughter, and love.
However, less than a year after their fairytale-like marriage, their relationship abruptly ended, leaving fans and the media shocked and disappointed.
Doubts Surround Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley’s Marriage
There have long been doubts about the strength of the union between popstar Michael Jackson and his wife Lisa Marie Presley. Some speculate that the relationship was overwhelmingly advantageous to Jackson as he sought to rebuild his image following the sexual abuse scandal. Journalist Ann Marie Hourihane even questioned if the marriage was a corporate merger, considering the immense wealth each of them possessed.
Presley filed for divorce on January 18, 1996, after just 19 months of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. Interestingly, this action came just two weeks before she turned 28 and was set to receive a staggering £35,000,000 from the Elvis estate. Jackson’s publicist announced the split the next day, stating that they had agreed to part ways but would remain good friends.
The Daily Mirror reported on January 19, 1996, that one member of Lisa Marie’s family would be rejoicing at the news. An anonymous source close to Pricilla Presley revealed, “Nothing will delight her more than to see Jackson take a moonwalk from this sham marriage. There was never a marriage – they had a union manufactured by Hollywood spin doctors.”
Speculations of a Publicity Stunt
Many people questioned whether the marriage was merely a publicity stunt to divert attention from the allegations that Michael Jackson had molested a 13-year-old boy. Journalist Tina Weaver, who had previously exposed Jackson’s relationships with young boys, labeled the marriage as a sham from start to finish. She even won Reporter of the Year for her investigative work.
In her scathing article from 1996, Weaver expressed her disdain, stating, “It [the wedding] was as farcical as the 15-minute ceremony in the judge’s front room in the Dominican Republic, which united them as man and wife in May 1994.” Weaver further claimed that Presley had played a motherly role to Jackson and suggested that he would have preferred to moonwalk backwards out of the bedroom rather than be intimate with a woman.
The Final Split and New Beginnings
The divorce between Jackson and Presley was officially finalized on August 20, 1996. Jackson went on to marry dermatologist Debbie Rowe and had children with her. Meanwhile, Presley found love again with actor Nicolas Cage in 2002, but their marriage ended in divorce in 2004. She later tied the knot with Michael Lockwood and had two more children before their recent divorce in 2021.
Lisa Presley has opened up about her tumultuous marriage to the late Michael Jackson, revealing the truth behind their relationship. In a series of now-deleted blog posts on MySpace, Presley expressed her belief that their union was genuine but also highlighted the manipulation that was present in Jackson’s life. She acknowledged that he had been conditioned to do whatever it took to further his career, including manipulating those around him. Presley admitted that she had initially misunderstood this manipulation, thinking it meant he didn’t love her, but she now understands that it was a survival tactic for him.
Adrian McManus, a former maid who worked at Jackson’s Neverland ranch, has also shed light on the couple’s marriage. McManus claimed that Jackson had an agenda with his marriage to Presley and that he was not being genuine with her. She believed that Jackson wanted to secure Elvis’ legacy and that Presley had been played for a fool. McManus described their relationship as strange and lacking in chemistry, stating that she never witnessed any genuine romantic interaction between them. According to her, they seemed more like friends than lovers.
Despite the doubts and speculation surrounding their relationship, Presley always maintained that their love was real. In an interview with celebrity journalist J. Randy Taraborrelli, she revealed that she believed Jackson was innocent of the accusations against him and that she had fallen in love with him. Presley had a strong desire to save him and believed that she could make a difference in his life.
The tragic deaths of both Jackson and Presley have left many questions unanswered. Their relationship, which was considered one of the strangest love affairs in showbiz history, continues to be a topic of fascination. While some may doubt the authenticity of their love, Presley’s unwavering belief in their relationship serves as a testament to the depth of their connection.
