The world was introduced to Tatiana Thumbtzen as the unforgettable woman in Michael Jackson’s iconic 1987 chart-topping masterpiece, The Way You Make Me Feel. She wasn’t just chosen by a casting director, the artist himself personally selected her, reportedly driven by an immediate and powerful attraction to the young model’s unique look. Her on-screen persona was a mesmerizing blend of slinky sensual movement framed by a cascade of tightly curled hair, immaculate porcelain skin, and features so defined they appeared to
be sculpted. In the eyes of many, Tatiana was more than a love interest. She was perceived as the female embodiment of Jackson’s own mystique and aesthetic. It was her inherent mix of potent sex appeal with an undercurrent of childhood innocence that deeply resonated with the artist, and a close relationship began to form between them over the subsequent months. However, following a series of private meetings and electrifying stage performances, which included that now infamous and widely publicized on-stage kiss, their
connection came to a screeching halt. Abruptly and without any explanation, Tatiana was completely cut off from Jackson’s exclusive inner circle, a sudden banishment that left the burgeoning star utterly heartbroken and confused. What invisible boundary had she accidentally crossed? Had she unknowingly committed some form of betrayal in his eyes? Or was she cast out for being a manipulator or perhaps an overzealous and obsessive admirer of the King of Pop? The full complicated story begins with
her origins. Tatiana Thumbtzen’s journey began in Clearwater, Florida. From her earliest days, she nurtured a profound love for dance, a passion that led her family to relocate to New York when she was just 13 so she could attend the prestigious American Ballet School. Yet, at the age of 17, Tatiana made the pivotal decision to step away from the world of ballet, setting her sights on a new ambition, a professional modeling career. Shortly after making this change, she landed a contract with the
world-renowned Ford Modeling Agency, only to have that dream shattered when they dropped her just 1 week later. Her rich and diverse heritage, a blend of African-American, Cherokee, Cuban, and Irish ancestry, was something the agency struggled to market. In her own words, “They just didn’t know what to do with me.” The feedback they gave her was blunt and crushing. “You’re not black enough and you’re not white enough.” “I was stunned and saddened by this,” she
recalled, “especially because she had ignored a warning from the already established supermodel Janice Dickinson, who had advised her against working with that agency. Unfazed, Tatiana Thumbtzen then signed with the Zoli Agency, a move that would dramatically alter the course of her career by securing her a major modeling contract in Japan. Overseas, her unique look was celebrated, and she quickly rose to prominence, becoming one of Japan’s most successful and recognizable models for the next 5 years. Thumbtzen’s
first experience in a music video came when she appeared in Herbie Hancock’s 1985 single Hard Rock, a visually stunning and surrealist short film shot within the gritty confines of the New York City subway system. Even before she had the chance to work with Michael Jackson, Thumbtzen was an enormous and devoted fan of his work. Her fandom was so intense that she reportedly burst into tears after being unable to get tickets to see him and his brothers perform during their phenomenal 1984 Victory Tour. In a remarkable twist of
fate later that same year, while rushing between casting calls on the busy streets of New York, she had a chance encounter. She recounted her absolute disbelief when she spotted her idol walking entirely by himself, navigating the crowded pavements of the city. He was dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt with a cap pulled down low to partially obscure his famous face. Tatiana desperately wanted to approach him, but she was so starstruck that she couldn’t think of a single coherent thing to say. Overwhelmed, Thumbtzen
ended up trailing behind Jackson for about five blocks lost in the moment before the reality of her own schedule kicked in, and she realized she had to sprint to her next audition. Their first formal meeting occurred in 1987 under mysterious circumstances. Tatiana Thumbtzen, by then a 27-year-old model, was sent to audition for a music video, but the identity of the artist was kept a closely guarded secret. Her only instruction was to walk with a commanding presence and plenty of attitude. The audition scenario was set
on a street in a tough-looking neighborhood where she had to react to a group of men hassling her character with taunts like, “Hey baby, what’s up?” After making a powerful impression on Jackson’s creative team, her journey continued. Tatiana was subsequently invited to what was described as a low-key dress rehearsal, the next crucial step in the casting process. It was at this rehearsal that she finally discovered the project was for Michael Jackson’s new song, The Way You Make Me
Feel. She later said, “Michael was there, but I was too shy to even look at him at first. The choreographer directed me to go through some moves.” She remembered, “which I followed perfectly. Finally, I glanced up at Michael. He was sitting there in a red shirt bopping to the music with this big happy grin on his face. I saw him turn to the person next to him and say something.” It was later revealed that after observing the young model, Michael Jackson had turned to the video director
and declared, “She’s the one.” He then emphatically added, “The rest are extras.” Jackson had personally chosen her from a pool of over 200 aspiring women. One of the primary reasons he selected her was his desire for the on-screen chemistry to be authentic. He wanted to cast a woman to whom he felt a genuine and undeniable sexual attraction. Upon receiving the life-changing news, Tatiana recounted that she let out a scream so powerful and joyous that she felt all of Hollywood must have heard it.
For her, this was a career-defining achievement, a sign that she had finally broken through, and she was convinced her professional life was about to launch into a whole new orbit. “I got a phone call from his secretary telling me the good news, and I remember jumping up and down on my couch screaming,” as she shared. “I’m sure I woke up the neighbors, but when I found out, it just it just knocked me off my feet.” When the day of the shoot finally arrived, the atmosphere was electric. Thumbtzen
was brought into wardrobe, where the team agreed she should wear the exact same short black dress from her initial audition, wanting to recapture the magic of that first impression. Enhancing the authenticity of her look, the boots she wore were her own, as were the bracelets on her wrist, adding a personal touch to the now famous ensemble. Although she was still painfully shy and deeply intimidated by the musical icon, Tatiana made a courageous attempt to break the ice by asking Jackson what costume he
would be wearing. He was dressed in his signature style, simple black pants, a white t-shirt, and a vibrant long-sleeved royal blue shirt over it, complete with a white sash tied at the front. In that moment, Tatiana felt her own glamorous outfit might be a little overdressed in comparison. But Jackson, sensing her unease, calmly reassured her in his characteristically soft voice, saying simply, “This is what I’m wearing.” Tatiana Thumbtzen vividly recalled the electric atmosphere on set
that day, describing her awe as she witnessed Michael Jackson dance, remarking, “It was even more amazing to see him in person. You can tell he has so much passion for what he does.” During the many intervals across the intensive five-day video production, their connection began to deepen. Thumbtzen gathered her courage and confessed to Jackson that she had spotted him years prior in New York and had followed him starstruck for a few blocks. He reacted with a warm laugh and playfully questioned her, “Oh really,
why didn’t you say something?” The situation was filled with a beautiful irony. Just a few years earlier, Tatiana Thumbtzen had been the one trailing him through the streets of New York, and now he was the one scripted to chase her. Although both were reserved and a bit awkward with each other initially, an undeniable chemistry started to intensify between them as the shooting schedule progressed. To fully embrace the provocative nature of the video, Thumbtzen remembers a moment when Jackson stepped in very close to her and
brazenly examined her posterior. He then asked if she was a trained ballerina and expressed genuine admiration upon learning that she could, in fact, dance on her toes. Tatiana later disclosed that throughout the entire filming process for The Way You Make Me Feel, Jackson engaged in a great deal of playful flirtation with her. This playful dynamic was on full display when, during one specific take, the heel of Tatiana’s boot got snagged in the car’s worn upholstery, and Michael instinctively put his hand on her leg to
help free it. When she pulled her leg away, she lost her balance and tumbled out of the car, landing directly on her rear. As she hit the ground, the director, Joe Pitka, could be heard shouting, “Get up! Keep it going and don’t stop!” As she scrambled to her feet, Michael emerged from the car and, to her surprise, began gently wiping the dust off her backside. She later explained, “The fall caused a run in my stockings, and the stylists wanted me to change.” As she started to walk off the
set, Michael called after her, asking, “Where are you going?” After she explained the wardrobe issue, he voiced his disapproval, insisting, “No, I like it. I think the run is neat. It’s sexy.” This incident occurred just before they filmed a pivotal scene where she was meant to run through the car while Michael chased after her. She recounted how, during that take, her boot heel became lodged in the upholstery of the rather beat-up old vehicle they were using for the shoot. We broke the ice
was a scene in which where I had to run through the car, and Michael follows behind chasing me. Well, during that scene, the heel of my boot got stuck in the car upholstery cuz it was a rather beat-up old car, and um it got stuck, and and the next thing I knew, Michael had his hand on my thigh trying to help me pull my my leg out. I freaked out. I couldn’t believe that, you know, he was touching me. And I pulled away and ended up falling outside of the car on my butt.
This guy that that I had admired for so many years was actually wiping my butt. Michael, being too shy to ask directly, had one of his own security guards discreetly approach Tatiana to find out if she was currently in a relationship. Shortly thereafter, Michael’s sister La Toya and their mother Katherine arrived on set and Thumszen was formally introduced to the Jackson family matriarchs. Upon completing the video’s main choreographed dance sequence, Michael Jackson made a special request
for a close set to film the final intimate scene between the two of them. Absolutely no one was permitted on the set except for the personnel who were absolutely essential to capturing the shot. This strict order meant that all dancers, visitors, and extras were cleared from the area. It was widely rumored that the script called for them to kiss at the conclusion of the video, but the director quietly approached Tatiana and whispered in her ear, “Don’t kiss him. He’s too shy for that.”
Out of respect, she complied with his instruction. During a break between scenes, Michael turned to Tatiana and said, “I heard you really wanted to dance in this video.” She responded with a laugh and acknowledged it was absolutely true, to which Michael warmly replied, “Don’t worry, we’ll work together again.” He would often say small things that were sweet, deeply romantic, and at times even alluring. Katherine Jackson later confirmed Michael’s feelings, telling Tatiana that
he had spoken to her one morning and confessed his profound affection for her. Katherine stated unequivocally, “Well, I know for a fact that Michael loved you. He was in love with you because when he was shooting the video with you one morning, I came to his room and he sat on the edge of the bed looking very, perhaps depressed or deep in thought, I wasn’t sure. I asked him, ‘What’s wrong, Michael? What’s wrong?’ And he confessed, ‘Well, this girl Tatiana, I really like her. I really
have feelings for her, but what do I do, Mother?’ And I told him, ‘You know, Michael, just tell her. Talk to her. Just tell her.’ It was clear their love was blossoming. Immediately after the production wrapped, Michael Jackson boarded a plane to Japan to kick off the first leg of his incredible Bad World Tour. The finished music video was released to the public in November of 1987. And as a direct result, Tatiana Thumszen became an overnight sensation recognized by fans everywhere she went.
A few months later in January of 1988, during a break from touring, Jackson reconnected with Tatiana extending an invitation for her to visit him on the Culver City set for his new video single Leave Me Alone. Thumszen arrived on the lot while Michael was between takes and he appeared genuinely overjoyed to see her. He immediately rushed to tell her that their video The Way You Make Me Feel was currently number one on the charts that very week. For the entirety of her visit, he was radiating happiness
with his personal photographer orchestrating photos of the two of them together using an entire roll of film to capture their reunion. Allegedly, Michael Jackson’s romantic intentions continued as he also wanted to feature his new love interest in the music video for the much edgier single Dirty Diana. Thumszen recalls that she received a message from Michael’s office to come in for an audition. However, when she discussed the opportunity with friend Galio, Michael’s manager, he advised
against it. He expressed his professional opinion that it was unwise to feature the same woman in two consecutive videos adding, “You don’t want to be known for doing too many videos and the role is a negative character. It’s best to just leave it be.” In his book published in 2004, Joe Jackson corroborated the significance of their relationship recalling Michael’s feelings for Tatiana. He wrote, “He invited the girl to our home so that my wife and I could get to know her. She
possessed an enchanting combination of youth and beauty paired with a spirit that was wonderfully childlike and innocent.” Tatiana Thumszen herself has stated that she was warmly embraced by the entire Jackson family, so much so that Michael’s own nephews and nieces had affectionately started calling her Tatiana Jackson. Furthermore, Tatiana recalls a deeply personal moment when Michael’s mother Katherine confided in her revealing that her famous son was genuinely in love with the young dancer.
This sentiment was echoed by Joe Jackson, who remembered Michael admitting to his mother that he was indeed falling for the wonderfully talented dancer. There was an undeniable and potent physical attraction simmering between them, but Michael expressed a desire to get to know her on a much deeper level before taking things further. Consequently, an invitation was extended for Tatiana to join Michael Jackson as a performer for a series of dates on the American leg of his monumental Bad Tour. Michael viewed his
tours as a grand opportunity to recreate the magic of his groundbreaking music videos, which were the cornerstone of his immense popularity. Integrating Tatiana into the now iconic stage routine for The Way You Make Me Feel was not just artistically important to him. It was also a strategic way for him to spend time with her and cultivate a connection while navigating the demands of a global tour that had him performing for millions. The feeling was one of utter exhilaration. She was beyond excited, but beneath the surface a
complicated tension began to brew. By late February of 1988, while working as a dancer on the biggest tour in the world, the situation grew more complex. According to Tatiana, Michael Jackson issued a strict directive to his crew members. They were never to speak with her outside of professional duties. She interpreted this command as a very clear unspoken message, “Don’t even begin to think about making a move on her.” Yet, paradoxically, she found herself completely cut off from him, never
getting a single moment alone, and desperately yearning for some private time with the man she had so quickly and unexpectedly fallen for. Her only glimpses of Michael were from the stage during performances or on a television screen. She felt completely isolated from everyone else, often spending her time alone in her hotel room watching movies and endlessly wondering what Michael was up to. In her own words, “I felt as though I was some sort of Barbie doll that they took out of the box when
they needed to show it off, but all the while I kept getting all these reports from different people that Michael was completely in love with me. Uh the entire situation was so confusing and profoundly lonely. I mean, if he’s so crazy about me and he’s this guy’s in love with me, why doesn’t he call me? Why doesn’t he tell me or express, you know, his feelings to me? Why is everyone else telling me but him? 1st of March, a feature story in People
magazine hit the newsstands centered around an interview with Tatiana. The interview had been arranged by Michael’s public relations team, but in a strange twist, Michael himself was apparently unaware of it until after the fact. To her own surprise though, certainly not to her disappointment, the article was written as if Michael had discovered his ultimate soulmate in her. This single magazine piece ignited a firestorm of tabloid speculation focused squarely on the pair with Thumszen becoming their
primary target. She was relentlessly pursued receiving constant phone calls from reporters directly to her hotel room. They bombarded her with an endless stream of personal questions about Michael. She recalled, quote, “I would try to put them off by saying, ‘I’ve got to go.’ They’d ask, ‘What’s it like working with Michael?’ Eventually, I finally gave in and just replied, ‘I love it. It’s great.’ But what ended up being printed was the distorted quote,
‘I love him.’ On the very next day, March 2nd, Tatiana shared the stage with Jackson for a performance at the 1988 Grammy Awards held at the legendary Radio City Music Hall. She reflected, quote, ‘Only 4 years earlier, I had cried my eyes out because I couldn’t get a ticket to a Michael Jackson concert. Now here I was, being presented as a special feature in one of his biggest performances.’ After Thumszen had played her part on stage, she moved to the wings to watch the remainder of
Jackson’s electrifying set. She described the moment saying, ‘I was deeply lost in a trance captivated just like everyone else in the audience. Someone walked in front of me and as I shifted my position to see better, the woman turned to me and said, ‘Oh, excuse me.’ To my astonishment, it was the one and only Miss Diana Ross. She was the iconic woman Michael had looked up to his entire life and as it happened, so had Tatiana. A few short days later, Thumszen was performing at New York’s iconic Madison
Square Garden as the tour continued. As she was strutting confidently back and forth across the massive stage, she made a spontaneous decision to deviate from the choreographed routine. Frustrated by the lack of any meaningful private time with Jackson, Tatiana was overcome with the temptation to physically manifest her feelings for him right there in front of thousands by impulsively grabbing his collar and landing a huge deliberate kiss on his cheek. The arena erupted. The fans went absolutely
berserk. As she exited the stage, she could hear a joyful laugh woven into every single note Michael sang from that moment on. The other dancers immediately swarmed her confirming that he was thrilled and excited about the kiss telling her, “Oh boy, you just completely made Michael’s day.” He was genuinely happy. The following evening was slated to be Thumszen’s final scheduled performance and she felt bold enough to call Michael directly to ask if she could take her spontaneous
gesture even one step further. “Oh sure, that’ll be great.” he enthusiastically answered over the phone. It didn’t seem so far-fetched. After all, a regular part of his show involved him pulling an unknown girl from the audience for an embrace. Why would a planned kiss from someone he knew intimately be considered a major issue? For the last show that we performed together, I specifically requested to speak with Michael because I really hadn’t been given the opportunity to do so before. So I
primarily wanted to express my gratitude for him incorporating me into the tour in such a significant way. And we spoke that evening and I made sure to say I was sorry if I threw him off his game in any way during the previous night’s show because I had changed the act. I kissed him on the cheek. The crowd went absolutely berserk. They completely loved it. So I asked him, “Would you mind if I did that again tonight and perhaps even take it a step further?” He was like, “Oh no, that’d be great.
That’d be great. Sure.” The next night, the moment Thumszen stepped onto the stage, that same incredible roar erupted from the audience. They were completely fired up anticipating what might happen next. Model. She recalled thinking, “For just a few fleeting moments, I seriously debated whether I should actually go through with kissing him. As I moved closer to him, I draped my arms over his shoulders, and he stared intently into my eyes, almost as if he were daring me to make a move.” He then made this
incredibly alluring gesture, subtly biting his lower lip. In that instant, I wrapped my arm firmly around his waist and pressed my lips directly against his. Then I gazed back into Michael’s eyes, and it truly felt like a direct challenge, as if he was silently saying, “Go on, let’s see what you’re really made of.” Before I knew what was happening, we were completely absorbed in a passionate kiss, and I could feel his hands resting firmly on my hips. I decided to take the chance. Suddenly,
his hands were on my hips, and we found ourselves locked in an intense and unforgettable kiss. The crowd erupted into an absolute frenzy, but when Thomsen went backstage after the performance, she was met with a palpable wave of hostility from Jackson’s entire team. This cold reception was in stark contrast to the moment Michael’s own mother, Katherine, approached her, offering a deeply warm and comforting hug. Later, back at the hotel, Tatiana was aggressively confronted by Michael Brando, who was not only Marlon Brando’s
son, but also a close friend of Michael Jackson. He screamed at the absolute top of his lungs, “How could you possibly dare to take advantage of him in that way? Who in the hell do you think you are? I am in utter disbelief that you would exploit him like that in front of a massive audience of all those people.” It was in that shocking moment that Tatiana Thomsen began to understand that she might have just made a catastrophic error in judgment. She remembered, “Backstage, I bumped into his mother,
Katherine. She embraced me with the most genuine and affectionate hug. But the very next person I encountered is a source of pain I will carry forever. His manager, a man named Frank DiLeo, shot me a look so venomous it could have curdled milk. To cut a long and painful story short, there were certain influential people within his tour, his inner circle, who were far from thrilled by that public display. They absolutely despised it. I received that incredibly evil stare from his manager. Another
second-hand man, whose name I will not mention, completely lost his composure and berated me furiously in the lobby of our hotel right in front of everybody. Then came the devastating breakup. While anxiously awaiting a call from Jackson’s team regarding the upcoming tour dates, Tatiana had returned to Los Angeles. Already aware that some key members of Michael’s entourage were deeply displeased with her, Thomsen then heard a damaging rumor initiated by Karen Faye. Michael’s personal makeup artist
had started spreading a story that the video girl was complaining about the hotel service and had audaciously demanded a presidential suite. On April 11th, Thomsen made a guest appearance on The Tonight Show, where she was interviewed by the host, Ross Shafer. She quoted the conversation. He directly asked me, “So, are you and Mike actually dating?” To which I replied, “No, we are not. Our relationship is entirely and strictly professional.” But he was insistent, pressing on with, “No,
seriously, come on.” I reiterated my initial answer, and yet again, he pushed the narrative that we were romantically involved. I figured I might inject a bit of light-hearted humor and a touch of mystery into the situation. So, my response was, “No, we’re not together. Not yet, anyway.” Unfortunately, word got back to Michael that he was deeply unhappy with my playful comment. She vividly recalls, “My scheduled tour dates came and went in silence. A friend of mine had to call
and deliver the shattering news, ‘You’ve been replaced. Sheryl Crow is now performing your part.’ And in that instant, my entire world completely fell apart.” Joe Jackson later confirmed that the spontaneous on-stage kiss was certainly the first strike against her, but he specified, {quote} “The moment she went on a talk show and spoke about her relationship with Michael, his manager decided that was the final straw. The decision was made instantly. She was immediately terminated from the
tour. We were all aware that he harbored romantic feelings for her, but we absolutely did not speak a single word about it, as it was uncertain how serious this connection truly was. And just like that, it was over. I was unceremoniously dropped from the tour. It’s incredibly difficult because I was never given a reason as to what happened or what I had done that was so wrong. Even his own mother, Katherine, wanted to know why I had been fired. The Jackson family actually reached out to me. Majestic picked me up one afternoon
and drove me to their home, where Katherine and I spent time together. We were just hanging out and talking in the kitchen, and she confided in me, saying, “Well, I know for an absolute fact that Michael truly loved you. He was deeply in love with you. But as I’ve said, you know, when someone reaches that level of fame and immense power, there will invariably be people within their camp who won’t necessarily welcome a new person entering the circle, perhaps due to threats against their money,
position, or even his affection. And so, you know, a relationship between us unfortunately never had the chance to blossom. But I can say with certainty that for a time there were mutual feelings, and I I genuinely believe there was even love. In the dazzling and often deceptive world of the rich and famous, the lines between public image and private reality are frequently blurred, leading to the most shocking of revelations. Tatiana Thomsen, who had never been in the orbit of a a major celebrity before, found it almost
impossible to believe that a person so globally famous and desired could show any interest in her. For a man who was fiercely protective of his personal life, Tatiana had in his eyes already demonstrated herself to be untrustworthy. She had been thrust into the blinding spotlight and had spoken publicly about sacred private matters before Michael Jackson even had a chance to spend meaningful time with her and truly understand her character. It was widely said that Michael Jackson was drawn to women who possessed a certain
class, individuals who carried themselves with elegance, and most critically, those he perceived would be fiercely loyal to him. He reportedly disliked women whom he considered overly pushy or aggressive, and was particularly turned off by those who leveraged their sexuality to charm men. He was wary of those who used sensuality to advance their own careers, or in a broader sense, to simply get whatever they wanted. One must remember, he was brought up as a devout Jehovah’s Witness, and from his unique and guarded
perspective, Thomsen had unequivocally proven herself to be quite similar to the very same kind of dangerous predatory women he so often sang about in his music. And then came the aftermath. Many years down the line, Michael Jackson would open up about the women who appeared in his iconic videos, remarking, {quote} “I specifically casted them because I was genuinely attracted to them, but this created a complication later on because they would develop real feelings for me. When they would notice me pulling away,
a number of them pursued me all across the globe, which became an incredibly difficult situation because I knew it would ultimately cause them a great deal of pain.” Having lost not just a monumental career opportunity, but also the man she had developed feelings for, Tatiana was left completely shattered and inconsolable. In a series of subsequent interviews, the music video star alleged that she suffered from stress-induced hair loss, plummeted into a severe depression, and even considered
ending her own life. She stated, “I fought a tremendous battle with depression. The crying was constant and incredibly intense. Then to make matters even worse, she was relentlessly hounded with questions about her replacement, with people asking, ‘Why is someone else performing your part? Why aren’t you up there with him?'” I was tape-recorded while sitting. A torrent of all kinds of remarks came my way, and the emotional toll was immense. It reached a point where I dreaded even
stepping outside my own house. I felt as if I no longer wanted to be alive, and my time on that tour was exceedingly challenging for me. When I was actually with Michael, everything felt magical. The moments we shared were incredible, but there were individuals in his entourage who treated me abysmally during that tour. All in all, it was a truly terrible experience for me. I developed alopecia, which involves losing patches of hair, and I was profoundly affected by this condition for quite a significant period of my
life. I believe that sometimes, even now, if I permit myself to delve too deeply into those memories, the pain of it all still haunts me. Thomsen kept in touch with Michael’s mother, Katherine, who was also reportedly confused by the whole situation and what had transpired. Tatiana received invitations to the Jackson family’s renowned Encino compound, where she and Katherine engaged in several long conversations, with Tatiana desperately racking her brain for any possible explanation for
Michael’s sudden and icy behavior. Could it be that Michael’s handlers viewed her as a potential disruption to the tour, or did they simply write her off as an overzealous fan? Or perhaps was she just incredibly naive and had read far too much into his kindness and his on-stage actions? Whatever the reason, being unceremoniously dismissed from the tour had devastating repercussions for her, impacting her both psychologically and in her professional life. Unfortunately, her signature role backfired
spectacularly. Being famously recognized as the girl from the MJ video turned into a significant career obstacle, as casting agents struggled to see her as anyone else, resulting in her losing out on a great deal of potential work. To add a layer of financial insult to her emotional injury, Thomsen also believed she was taken advantage of regarding the payment she received for her high-profile appearances with Michael Jackson. She revealed, “The only compensation I received was $5,000 for the entire tour, and a sum slightly less
than that for the music video.” After discovering her photograph on the 45-in single of The Way You Make Me Feel, she was also informed that Michael Jackson’s official 1988 calendar featured her picture for the month of May. She was utterly bewildered by the fact that she was never compensated for these additional commercial uses of her image. For a brief and peculiar period, Tatiana consented to have Michael’s controversial father, Joe Jackson, take over the management of her career. He
would paint grand pictures of her future saying, “He discussed all the things I should be doing to capitalize on my current success, such as launching my own clothing line, a personal calendar, or even a doll.” He repeatedly told me how my features were perfect for a doll and promised the incredible success I could achieve. He assured her it would all come to fruition if she simply remained loyal to him. However, Joe Jackson reportedly suspected that her decision to hire him was just another
one of her desperate and futile attempts to recapture his famous son’s attention. He claimed, “She made a vain attempt to pull him back into her orbit, but Michael completely distanced himself from her once he learned that she had been dating his rival Prince.” Afterwards, she supposedly moved on to a member of Milli Vanilli, and when that failed, she even attempted to pursue my other son. But none of these relationships ever worked out because in his view, she was still completely
infatuated with Michael. When the superstar was first confronted with allegations of child molestation back in 1993, the famous video star from The Way You Make Me Feel made a series of appearances on various radio and television talk shows, including programs hosted by Howard Stern and Maury Povich. During this media tour, she made the shocking claim that she and Jackson had engaged in a romantic relationship that lasted for over 18 months. The Jackson family patriarch later commented on this saying, quote,
“When the allegations against Michael surfaced, her funds had apparently dried up again, and that’s the real reason she went on television to talk about Michael. But everything she said was absolute nonsense.” Shortly after this, her former flame, Prince, reportedly confronted Tatiana in a nightclub and began questioning her about her statements. Prince was well aware of her entire history with Jackson, mainly because during their time together, she had talked about Michael almost incessantly. The music icon
voiced his disapproval of what he considered her deeply hypocritical actions. She attempted to backtrack trying to explain that her statements had been manipulated and taken out of context by the media, but Prince was not convinced by her excuses. He allegedly accused her of fabricating lies about Michael for money, especially when she was one of the few people who could have spoken the actual truth about their interactions. Over the ensuing years, Tatiana Thumbtzen would go on to
publish two books and participate in countless interviews, all of which revolved around her brief, yet impactful relationship with the King of Pop. After the pop icon’s death in 2009, Tatiana Thumbtzen was a notable guest at Michael Jackson’s private funeral service held at Forest Lawn Park. At that time, she hadn’t laid eyes on Michael in more than 20 years. Nevertheless, she had managed to stay on amicable terms with the Jackson family, and it was Katherine Jackson who had personally invited her
to attend. But no matter what is said or debated about Tatiana Thumbtzen and her complex relationship with Michael, she will forever be remembered as the very first woman with whom he shared such a physical and intimate interaction in front of a global audience, and she undeniably sparked the idea of raw desire in Jackson’s public persona as she recreated their electrifying sexual cat and mouse game on stage at Madison Square Garden, culminating in his first ever public kiss. Their momentary, but
powerful attraction gifted Jackson a completely new sensual and sexual dimension in the perception of the entire world. A cinematic spectacle, a drama of epic proportions immortalized on film destined to be analyzed and debated by audiences for decades.
