Michael Jackson had heartbreaking reaction to ‘wacko jacko’ nickname

Michael Jackson's life has been catapulted back into the spotlight following the release of his biopic, Michael.

The movie follows the legendary musician, who died in June 2009 following an overdose of propofol and other prescription drugs, in his early life, shooting to fame in the Jackson 5, to the Bad tour of the 1980s.

Starring the late singer's real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson stepping into the shoes of his famous uncle, it hit cinema screens on 22 April.

The film, which has divided opinions, has resulted in a number of interview clips and details about the King of Pop's life to resurface, such as a video of him speaking about the 'wacko jacko' nickname.

Jackson was cruelly branded with the name by the press due to his eccentric behaviour, prompting criticism for a number of things - wearing masks, experimenting with plastic surgery, and owning a monkey, to name just a few.

A video has resurfaced of Michael Jackson talking about his 'wacko jacko' nickname (Dave Hogan/Getty Images)

Speaking to Barbara Walters in September 1997, the musician spoke of how the press had hounded him with the brutal nickname.

When outlining what the media shouldn't do, he said: "You should not say [I'm] an animal. You should not say he's a Jacko - I'm not a Jacko! I'm Jackson."

He was later quizzed on how he feels when people call him 'wacko jacko' and said it came from some 'English tabloid'.

"I have a heart, and I have feelings," Jackson said, "I feel that when you do that to me. It's not nice, don't do it. It's not nice, I'm not a wacko."

This prompted host Walters to say, "There are those who would say that you add to the attention. The masks, the mysterious behaviour.."

The star died at the age of 50 on in June 2009 (Phil Dent/Getty Images)

The singer responded: "I don't. There's no mysterious behaviour. There's a time when I give a concert, I like to have as many people wanna come, can come and enjoy the show. And there's a time when you like to be in private, when you put on your pyjamas and go to sleep, cut off the light and lay down. That's your private space."

He added, "You go in the park. I can't go in the park. So I create my own park at Neverland, my own water space, my movie theatre, my theme park, that's all for me to enjoy."

Responding to the clip in the comments, fans wrote on X, "I remember that, those who own the media started calling him that, and it was disgusting" and "This hurts me so much!"

A third penned: "They called him Wacko Jacko and it really hurt him badddd. You could see the emotional trauma on him."