In the whirlwind of 1990s fame, two of the world’s most recognizable faces—Macaulay Culkin and Michael Jackson—formed a surprising and enduring friendship. On the surface, it might have seemed like an unlikely pairing: the King of Pop and the precocious child actor from Home Alone. But beneath the headlines and tabloid fascination was a connection rooted in shared experiences, mutual understanding, and authentic affection.

Their first official meeting occurred when Jackson reached out to Culkin after watching Home Alone in 1990. “He kind of called me randomly, like out of the blue,” Culkin recalled. Their initial encounter was backstage during Culkin’s performance in The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center, but the real bond formed later. Jackson recognized something in the young actor—a fellow child star thrust into the blinding spotlight at a young age.

“We connected because I didn’t treat him like a god,” Culkin explained. “To me, he was just a guy. I wasn’t one of his fans, and I think he liked that.” While others were starstruck, Culkin was nonchalant, often teasing Jackson and calling him names like “fathead.” Their relationship, Culkin emphasized, was just simple and real.

The two spent vacations together, including time in Bermuda, where they engaged in silly pranks like throwing signed water balloons at fans. “He was hilarious,” Culkin said, reminiscing about Jackson’s love for prank calls and childish mischief. “People don’t realize how funny he was. He was charming and silly.”

Jackson, who often spoke about his lost childhood, seemed to find solace in living vicariously through Culkin and other young friends. “He missed having a childhood,” Culkin said. “That’s why he ran around doing all these crazy things—because now he could.”

They also shared an understanding of the isolating effects of fame. “He was one of the few people who understood what I was going through,” Culkin said. “Nobody at my Catholic school could relate. He could.”

Their friendship, however, became the subject of intense scrutiny when Jackson faced allegations of child molestation in 1993 and again in the 2000s. Culkin, who had spent nights at Neverland Ranch, never wavered in his defense. He admitted to sleeping in Jackson’s room but emphasized there was nothing inappropriate: “Michael’s bedroom was two stories and had three bathrooms. It’s not what people think.”

When asked if his parents encouraged his visits to Neverland, Culkin said they didn’t push or oppose it—it was his choice. “I wanted to hang out with him, and they were fine with it.”

During Jackson’s 2005 trial, Culkin testified in court, stating under oath that Jackson had never touched him inappropriately or acted improperly with anyone. When the prosecutor suggested Jackson might have molested him while he slept, Culkin responded, “As far as I know, I was never molested.”

Culkin also became the godfather to Jackson’s children and remained close to him until his death in 2009. Reflecting on their relationship years later, Culkin described it as “normal” despite public curiosity. “It wasn’t weird. It was a friendship that people question only because he was the most famous person in the world.”

He added, “If I had something to speak up about, I would. But no, I never saw anything. He never did anything.”

In a rare interview, Culkin spoke out not to gain attention or defend himself, but to defend his friend. As one commentator put it, “He’s telling people: take my dead friend’s name out of your mouth.”

In a world obsessed with celebrity, Culkin and Jackson’s friendship was a rare instance of something genuine—a bond forged not by fame, but by shared vulnerability and the need to be seen as human.