Priscilla Presley Reveals She Believed Michael Jackson Married Lisa Marie for Elvis's Legacy
Priscilla Presley harbored strong opinions regarding her late daughter Lisa Marie Presley’s short-lived union with Michael Jackson — and these sentiments were decidedly negative.
“The marriage utterly dismayed me. I had an innate sense that Michael’s true intention wasn't to wed Lisa Marie herself; rather, he sought to unite with the Presley legacy,” Priscilla, currently 80, penned in her recently published memoir, Softly, As I Leave You: Life After Elvis, which debuted on Tuesday, September 23. “The iconic King of Pop was forging an alliance with the legendary King of Rock and Roll. I harbored doubts about his affection for her.”
Priscilla posited that Jackson’s motivation for marrying Lisa Marie stemmed from his “dire need for positive public perception.”
“Contesting the child molestation allegations against him in court was a distinct matter. There was no scenario in which he could emerge from that situation favorably,” Priscilla noted. “However, images of him alongside Elvis’s daughter, adorned with the substantial diamond engagement ring he commissioned for her? That visual was absolutely invaluable.”
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Lisa Marie first encountered Jackson during her youth, prior to their renewed connection in 1993. Their romance blossomed the subsequent year, leading to their marriage by May 1994. Their separation was legally concluded in 1996.
“Michael initiated contact with her when the child abuse accusations became public. I believe that’s how he captivated her initially,” Priscilla recounted. “She sympathized with him, and understandably, she trusted in his lack of culpability. No one desires to accept such accusations against an acquaintance.”
Jackson faced initial accusations of child sexual abuse in 1993, allegations he fiercely repudiated until his passing at 50 years old in 2009. (Jackson was apprehended and formally charged with child molestation in 2003, yet was acquitted two years subsequently.)
Upon the initial public disclosure of the allegations, Priscilla asserted that Lisa Marie was “progressively captivated” by Jackson.
“Michael possessed a manipulative nature, and I believe he had targeted her well before she became aware,” she stated, observing that Lisa Marie perceived Jackson’s “childlike demeanor” not as a “red flag.”
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Priscilla, conversely, maintained an “unusual” dynamic with her former son-in-law. She recounted attending a dinner at Lisa Marie’s residence where Jackson was present.
“My intention was to be cordial, but he showed no interest in engaging with me. He maintained the greatest possible distance. Indeed, he kept a wide berth from all the adults,” she remembered. “He persistently made significant efforts to steer clear of me.”
Their sole “genuine interaction” occurred at an Elvis Presley commemorative concert in Memphis. Jackson's attendance was "unforeseen," an act Priscilla interpreted as “yet another attempt at public attention.” Priscilla joined Lisa Marie at a hotel prior to the event —however, Jackson “did not emerge” to acknowledge her.
“Moments after my arrival, the hallway door opened, and Michael briefly appeared,” she penned. “He retrieved his hat from the table where it rested, offered a faint smile, and then swiftly retreated into the room, closing the door. He uttered no words to me en route to the performance.”
As per Priscilla, there was “no chance” to converse with him at the concert. “He departed early the following morning,” she concluded, emphasizing that this represented the “entirety” of her interactions with Jackson throughout his marriage to Lisa Marie.
