Perth singer Holly Denton has opened up about her family's remarkable connection to Michael Jackson, detailing the year-long friendship that began after the King of Pop's chance encounter with her mother and brother in 1996.
A Chance Meeting at Video Ezy
In a TikTok video that has amassed over 230,000 views, Ms Denton revealed that the relationship started when her mother, Val, and eight-year-old brother, Ash, discovered Jackson hiding out at a Video Ezy store before his concert at Burswood Dome. A security guard spotted them outside and invited them inside to meet the pop icon. Jackson, who was on a phone call and buying DVDs, simply waved to the stunned family.
Determined to show Ash how famous Jackson was, Ms Denton's mother took him to a signing event outside the Rendezvous hotel in Scarborough later that night. Amid a crowd of 2,000 fans, Jackson immediately recognised Ash from the earlier encounter and asked about his mother. Jackson then parted the crowd to invite them to join him in his hotel room.
An Unforgettable Evening
Ms Denton, who was just four at the time and at home with her father, revealed that her mother tried on Jackson's clothes, exchanged phone numbers, and spent time with him until midnight. Jackson generously offered the family free VIP tickets to his concert the next day and invited them to join his entourage.
On the way to the venue, Ms Denton said WA Police closed the freeway for their bus, a privilege typically reserved for royalty. At the concert, Jackson brought Ash on stage during 'Heal the World' and gave him his iconic black hat. The hat, which still smells like Jackson, is displayed in a transparent box alongside VIP tickets and a family photo.
A Year of Friendship
The connection did not end with the concert. Ms Denton revealed that Jackson called her mother regularly for about a year after performances worldwide, with calls lasting 30 to 45 minutes. She defended Jackson against child sex abuse allegations, stating, 'He was a very quirky, unique, socially awkward person... that malice, that evil was non-existent.'
Ms Denton noted that Jackson sought permission from her father to spend time with the family, assuring him the allegations against him were lies. Her father accepted, never believing the accusations.
The family had kept the friendship private due to the controversy surrounding Jackson, who died on June 25, 2009. Three years before the Perth visit, Jackson had faced allegations of molesting a 13-year-old boy, which resulted in a civil settlement but no criminal charges.
Now, Ms Denton feels it is time to share the story, emphasising the kindness and generosity Jackson showed her family.
