Michael Talks To Oprah(February 10,1993)-(12)

Michael: And why would I want some bones?
Oprah: I don't know. So where did that come from?
Michael: Someone makes it up and everybody believes it. If you hear a lie often enough, you believe it.
Oprah: Yes and people make money selling tabloids.
Michael: Yes
Oprah: All right. Just recently, there was a story and I know one of your attorneys held a news conference, there was a story about you wanting a little white child to play you in a Pepsi commercial.
Michael: That is so stupid. That is the most ridiculous, horrifying story I've ever heard. It's crazy. Why, number one, it's my face as a child in the commercial, me when I was little, why would I want a white child to play me? I'm a black American, I am proud to be a black American, I am proud of my race. I am proud of who I am. I have a lot of pride and dignity. That's like you wanting an oriental person to play you as a child. Does that make sense?
Oprah: No.
Michael: So, please people, stop believing these horrifying stories.
Oprah: Okay, then let's go to the thing that is most discussed about you. The color of your skin is most obviously different than when you were younger, and so I think it has caused a great deal of speculation and controversy as to what you have done or are doing. Are you bleaching your skin and is your skin lighter because you don't like being black?
Michael: Number one, as I know of, there is no such thing as skin bleaching, I have never seen it, I don't know what it is.
Oprah: Well they used to have those products, I remember growing up always hearing always use bleach and glow, but you have to have about 300,000 gallons.
Michael: Okay, but number one, this is the situation. I have a skin disorder that destroys the pigmentation of the skin. It is something that I cannot help. Okay. But when people make up stories that I don't want to be who I am it hurts me.