April 4th 2024.
The estate of the legendary Michael Jackson is speaking out against an auction house that is claiming to sell a "Thriller" jacket worn by the late King of Pop. According to TMZ, a letter was sent out on Tuesday, April 2, questioning the authenticity of the jacket being sold by Gotta Have Rock and Roll auction house. The estate has pointed out that Jackson never actually wore this particular jacket during the production of his iconic 1983 music video.
It's worth noting that there are only two genuine "Thriller" jackets worn by the King of Pop himself. One was already sold for a whopping $2 million over a decade ago. The other jacket, being promoted by GHRR as "Michael Jackson 1983 Owned & Worn Thriller Style Jacket," was previously sold at Sotheby's in 1993 and is now up for auction again until Friday, April 12.
GHRR had high hopes for this sale, with an estimated final bid ranging between $300,000 to $500,000. However, as of Wednesday, April 3, not a single bid has been placed, most likely due to the recent letter from Jackson's estate raising doubts about the jacket's legitimacy.
It's worth noting that the "Thriller" jacket in question originally came from the collection of Frank DiLeo, who served as Jackson's manager from 1983 to 1989. It was then sold by a friend of DiLeo's to Sotheby's in 1993. While GHRR has advertised the jacket as "owned and worn" by Jackson, they have also acknowledged in the description that he did not actually wear it himself.
According to the auction page, "This jacket was used by Jackson, but was not worn during the 'Thriller' music video. However, we still believe it to be an incredible item." Despite GHRR's enthusiasm for the jacket, it seems that MJ fans are not convinced, as there have been no bids placed on the item so close to the end of the auction.
In June 2011, the "Thriller" jacket that Jackson actually wore during the filming of the iconic music video was sold for an astonishing $1.8 million at Julien's auction in Beverly Hills, California. This final bid far exceeded the estimated amount of $200,000 to $400,000 that auctioneers had predicted. Part of the proceeds from the sale went towards the Shambala Preserve, where Jackson's two Bengal tigers, Thriller and Sabu, were living.
This recent controversy is just one of many in the ongoing family feud within Michael Jackson's estate. The youngest son of the late singer has opposed his grandmother's use of funds in a legal battle, causing tensions to rise amongst family members. Despite the disagreements, it's clear that the legacy of the King of Pop will continue to live on through his iconic music and memorable fashion choices.
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