Michael Jackson Viewed His Bodyguard as a ‘Surrogate Father’ Before Their Alleged Falling Out Prior to His Death
Michael Jackson‘s long-awaited biopic Michael explores the global pop icon’s life, starting when he was child performing alongside his brothers as the Jackson 5. The movie explores the band’s success and even introduces viewers to their head of security, Bill Bray (KeiLyn Durrel Jones).
In the film, Bray is shown to be a constant presence in Jackson’s (Jaafar Jackson) life, especially as he matures and begins to distance himself from his father Joe’s (Colman Domingo) control—but was he like this in real life too? Here’s what you need to know about Bill Bray.
Who was Michael Jackson’s bodyguard Bill Bray?
According to a Rolling Stone report published in April 1989, Bray was a retired Los Angeles Police Department officer who eventually became Jackson’s “top bodyguard” and “one of his closest confidants.”
Bray spent decades working for the “Billie Jean” singer for decades, witnessing his ascent from a child prodigy to the undisputed King of Pop. Rolling Stone even reported that Bray and Jackson became close, with the security guard taking the singer “to the doctor when ill, advising him on important business deals and overseeing all safety procedures.”
“Those near Jackson say that Bray is his alter ego and surrogate father and that Bray has become involved in every part of the singer’s life,” the outlet wrote at the time.
Jackson briefly discussed Bray in his 1988 autobiography Moonwalk , writing, “Bill is very careful and immensely professional in his job, but he doesn’t worry about things after the fact.”
“He travels with me everywhere and occasionally he’s my only companion on short trips,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer continued. “I can’t imagine life without Bill; he’s warm and funny and absolutely in love with life. He’s a great man.”
In 2019, TMZ published a handwritten letter Jackson wrote to Bray around 1992. In the note, the “Thriller” singer thanked Bray for “being a father” to him.
“Joseph never ever had time for me; he only saw me as a way for him to make money. And as you know, mother was a perfect mother, but I never was with her,” Jackson penned. “My childhood was on stage away from mother. What I’m trying simply trying to say is thank you for being a father. I don’t know what would have happened to me if you were not around. I love you. M.J.”
Bray died in November 2005, per Reuters. He was 80 years old. Jackson’s publicist Raymone Bain confirmed his death, saying, “Michael is very, very, very saddened to learn of the passing of Bill Bray, who was a longtime friend and mentor to him and very trusted adviser to him.”
Reuters also claimed that Bray and Jackson allegedly “had a falling out in the mid–1990s for reasons that were never made public.” It was around this time that Jackson was first accused of sexual abuse and child molestation.
