“Caught on You” singer Lionel Richie is dealing with some buzz after revealing in his new memoir that he as soon as joked with a really well-known buddy a couple of private quirk.
In his newly-released guide, “Really,” Richie hints that the buddy, Michael Jackson, was given an unflattering nickname by Quincy Jones.
A number of retailers reported that Richie described in his guide how his well-known buddy spent a lot of his time on the street and appeared unaware of a private quirk.
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The “American Idol” choose recalled that his well-known buddy typically wore the identical pants repeatedly, cautious of dry cleaners who may preserve them as souvenirs.
Jackson’s fame made it not possible for him to buy at native malls, as he was routinely swarmed by followers at any time when he went out in public.
“He was on tour performing within the elaborate costumes made for him by his stylists, or he was in his pajama bottoms and slippers within the studio or he was in his going-out apparel. Or he was at dwelling in one thing free and comfy so he might follow his dance strikes and play together with his menagerie of pets,” Richie shared in his guide, per Folks.
Richie additionally mentioned the “Billie Jean” artist laughed alongside when the late music songwriter and producer Quincy Jones gave Jackson the nickname “Smelly.”
“Michael would giggle too, realizing that he was oblivious to the truth that he hadn’t modified or washed his garments for a few days or so,” he wrote. “All of us have our quirks.”
“Each time Michael came around me, he was sporting no matter,” famous Richie. “Denims and a T-shirt. And the denims had been both falling off him or too quick to even be denims and, nicely, smelly.”
The “Dancing on the Ceiling” artist additionally wrote that he took Jackson dwelling to bathe on a day when he was significantly ripe, writing that he was “smelling significantly unkempt” on one event. Jackson had apparently not had a bathe in days, and Richie gave the recording artist a clear pair of lingerie and a pair of denims.
Followers reacted on social media after studying the story, and Richie was slammed for saying that Jackson smelled.
“Actually cheesy speaking a couple of man who can’t defend himself,” replied one fan. “I assumed Lionel had extra class than that.”
One other mentioned, “He’s mendacity to promote his guide. This was under no circumstances the rationale, MJ mentioned smelly as a substitute of cursing (as he was a Jehova Witness) Quincy talked about this quite a few occasions.”
That very same social media consumer shared the headline of one other article titled, “Why Quincy Jones calls Michael Jackson “Smelly.’”
The story revealed that Jones would name Jackson “smelly” in the course of the recording of “Thriller” “as a result of that was Jackson’s time period for “funky.”
He’s mendacity to promote his guide.This was under no circumstances the rationale, MJ mentioned smelly as a substitute of cursing (as he was a Jehova Witness) Quincy talked about this quite a few occasions. pic.twitter.com/m2S96fBQFy
— MJ the Musical (@dontstopMJ) October 1, 2025
One other fan referred to as foul on Richie’s declare, noting that Jackson had greater than sufficient cash to deal with any hygiene subject he could have been battling.
“C’mon that is ridiculous! MJ was extraordinarily rich and will afford to maintain himself UNSMELLY! Something to promote a guide Geezus,” wrote one particular person, whereas an X consumer added, “However I assumed he was a germophobe.”
“They ain’t let MJ relaxation a second since he died,” famous one, prompting one other to answer, “Not one minute.”
Richie additionally shared that Jackson was shut together with his mom, Katherine, and his well-known siblings, per Folks, however was impartial when he went solo after reaching fame together with his brothers within the Jackson 5.
“Michael was very shut with his siblings and his mother, however as soon as he went solo, making these monster albums, films and movies, he was in control of his personal ship,” he wrote. “His day-to-day life was what you could possibly name eccentric. Like an absent-minded professor however nonetheless a child.”
Jackson and Richie collaborated on the 1985 mega hit, “We Are the World,” for the USA for Africa challenge.
The music reportedly raised $60 million for humanitarian help and included a number of artists — comparable to Stevie Surprise, Diana Ross, Kenny Loggins, Dionne Warwick, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Tina Turner, Kenny Rogers, Steve Perry, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Bruce Springsteen, Bette Midler and James Ingram.
