After discovering the reason behind Michael’s overprotectiveness, social media users reacted, with one person noting that he was very peculiar. “Surprisingly,” said one Facebook user. Another noted, “He was a very strange man.” Someone else sympathized, “This is just too too sad.”

Michael sadly passed away on June 25, 2009, in Los Angeles, California. He left behind three young children, and after his passing, a custody battle ensued between his mother, Katherine Jackson, and his ex-wife, Debbie Rowe.

Following several weeks of negotiations, the two reached an out-of-court agreement. Reports at the time revealed that Katherine would be granted full, permanent custody of the children, while Debbie would receive “meaningful visitation rights.”

A source with direct knowledge of the agreement confirmed that Katherine retained sole custody of Prince Michael I, then 12, Paris-Michael Katherine, then 11, and Prince Michael II, then seven (Blanket), with Debbie maintaining her legal parental rights.