Unsealed court records show Michael Jackson met Jeffrey Epstein briefly in 2003 while he searched for properties in Palm Beach. Sworn witness testimony explicitly clears the singer of any wrongdoing.
The US Department of Justice released thousands of pages between 19 and 23 December 2025, which brought Jackson’s name into discussions about Epstein’s network.
Table of Contents
2003 Property Viewing Photos
Several images show Jackson at a Palm Beach property with Epstein. Matt Fiddes, who worked as Jackson’s bodyguard, explained the context in a TikTok video he posted after the release.
Jackson viewed properties to live near Barry Gibb from the Bee Gees, a close friend and musical collaborator. “We never even knew who [Epstein] was. He was not famous then,” Fiddes said.
Epstein wanted a photograph with the singer during one of these viewings. “Michael would always be polite to everyone he meets,” Fiddes explained.
Key Witness Testimony
Johanna Sjoberg’s May 2016 deposition offers firsthand testimony. Maxwell recruited Sjoberg while she attended college in Florida. She later gave sworn testimony about her experiences at Epstein’s properties.
Lawyers asked Sjoberg directly whether she had given Michael Jackson a massage. “I did not,” she replied. Sjoberg made no allegations against Jackson in her 2016 deposition.
“Massages” were often code for sexual acts in Epstein’s operation. NBC News confirmed Sjoberg met Jackson at one of Epstein’s Palm Beach residences but made no allegations against him.
Her deposition, part of Virginia Giuffre’s defamation lawsuit against Maxwell, mentioned Jackson only briefly. Sjoberg also testified about meeting magician David Copperfield at the same location. Neither man faced accusations.
The Redacted Fundraiser Photo
A separate image sparked confusion online. It shows Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross with several faces blacked out. Social media users assumed these were victims or minors connected to Epstein’s crimes.
Diana Ross’s son, Evan Ross, corrected this on Instagram. “That’s me not [unidentified] women,” he wrote, identifying himself and Jackson’s children as the redacted faces.
Getty Images carries this photo in their archives. It came from a Democratic fundraiser with no connection to Epstein’s criminal activities. The DOJ redacted minors’ faces following standard protocol in released documents.
Other Names in the Files
Reuters reported the DOJ released nearly 30,000 additional pages on 23 December, the largest batch to date. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche acknowledged the department missed its 19 December deadline. Publications will continue over coming weeks while victims’ identities remain protected through redactions.
Former President Bill Clinton appears extensively in these materials. He has denied any wrongdoing and said he ended his friendship with Epstein once the financier’s crimes became public, according to The Guardian. BBC News provided live coverage as documents emerged over several days.
Jackson in the Unsealed Documents
Jackson died in June 2009. Federal authorities arrested Epstein on sex trafficking charges in July 2019, ten years later. Jackson had faced allegations during his lifetime but was acquitted in a 2005 criminal trial and consistently denied all accusations.
The unsealed files contain witness testimony that clears Jackson under oath. His bodyguard confirmed the images show a property viewing. No allegations appear in any documents released by the Justice Department, and investigators made no accusations against the singer.
Complete access is available at the Department of Justice website under the Epstein Files Transparency Act section.
Updated: 23 December 2025
