Michael Jackson

=== ''Dangerous'' and public social work (1991–1993) ===
In March 1991, Jackson renewed his contract with Sony for $65{{nbsp}}million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|65000000|1991|r=-6}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}), a [[List of largest music deals|record-breaking deal]],<ref>{{cite news |first=James |last=Montgomery |title=Michael Jackson's Life & Legacy: The Eccentric King Of Pop (1986–1999) |publisher=MTV |date=July 6, 2009 |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1615214/michael-jacksons-life-amp-legacy-1986-1999.jhtml |access-date=February 24, 2022 |archive-date=October 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024095208/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1615214/michael-jacksons-life-amp-legacy-1986-1999.jhtml |url-status=live }}</ref> beating [[Neil Diamond]]'s renewal contract with [[Columbia Records]].<ref>{{cite news |first1=Chris |last1=Gray |first2=Saeed |last2=Shah |title=Robbie swings historic record deal with EMI |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=October 3, 2002 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/robbie-swings--historic-record-deal-with-emi-138739.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/robbie-swings--historic-record-deal-with-emi-138739.html |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1991, he released his eighth album, ''[[Dangerous (Michael Jackson album)|Dangerous]]'', co-produced with [[Teddy Riley]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Willman |title=Michael Jackson's 'Dangerous' |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=November 24, 1991 |access-date=June 11, 2015 |url=https://www.latimes.com/la-archive-dangerous-review-nov24-story.html |archive-date=November 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116024630/https://www.latimes.com/la-archive-dangerous-review-nov24-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It was certified eight times platinum in the US, and by 2018 had sold 32{{nbsp}}million copies worldwide.<ref name="Certifications">{{cite web |title=Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – Jackson, Michael |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |access-date=May 31, 2015 |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=michael+jackson#search_section |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304075507/http://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=Michael+Jackson#search_section |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Michael Jackson's best selling studio albums |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=June 26, 2009 |access-date= September 20, 2021 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5648176/Michael-Jacksons-best-selling-studio-albums.html |url-status= live |archive-date= October 17, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191017165055/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5648176/Michael-Jacksons-best-selling-studio-albums.html}}</ref> In the US, the first single, "[[Black or White]]", was the album's highest-charting song; it was number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 for seven weeks and achieved similar chart performances worldwide.<ref name="Achievements">{{cite web |title=The return of the King of Pop |work=[[Today (American TV program)|Today]] |date=November 2, 2006 |access-date=May 31, 2015 |url=https://www.today.com/id/15529981 |archive-date=September 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927195945/http://www.today.com/id/15529981 |url-status=live }}</ref> The second single, "[[Remember the Time]]" peaked at number three on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 singles chart.<ref name="billboard mj" /> At the end of 1992, ''Dangerous'' was the bestselling album of the year worldwide and "Black or White" the bestselling single of the year worldwide at the [[Billboard Music Award|''Billboard'' Music Awards]].<ref name="Brooks" /> In 1993, he performed "Remember the Time" at the [[Soul Train Music Awards]] in a chair, saying he twisted his ankle during dance rehearsals.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jackson Shows Up to Gather Awards, Despite Ankle Injury |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=March 11, 1993 |access-date=July 16, 2019 |issn=0458-3035 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-03-11-ca-1327-story.html |archive-date=July 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716024429/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-03-11-ca-1327-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the UK, "[[Heal the World]]" made No. 2 on the charts in 1992.<ref name="OC" />

[[File:Michael Jackson Dangerous World Tour 1993.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Jackson during the [[Dangerous World Tour]] in 1993. ''[[Dangerous (Michael Jackson album)|Dangerous]]'' has been recognized by writers as an influence on contemporary pop and R&B artists.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jeff |last=Weiss |title=Michael Jackson: Dangerous |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=August 7, 2016 |access-date=March 27, 2020 |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22044-dangerous/ |archive-date=May 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527061951/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22044-dangerous/ |url-status=live }}</ref>]]
[[File:David Paich. Michael Jackson, Marty Paich.jpg|thumb|Michael Jackson with David and Marty Paich in 1991]]
Jackson founded the [[Heal the World Foundation]] in 1992. The charity brought underprivileged children to Jackson's ranch to use the theme park rides, and sent millions of dollars around the globe to help children threatened by war, poverty, and disease. That July, Jackson published his second book, ''[[Dancing the Dream]],'' a collection of poetry. The [[Dangerous World Tour]] ran between June 1992 and November 1993 and grossed {{Nowrap|$100 million}} (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|100000000|1993|r=-7}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}); Jackson performed for 3.5{{nbsp}}million people in 70 concerts, all of which were outside the US.<ref>{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Harrington |title=Jackson to Tour Overseas |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 5, 1992 |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-989047.html |archive-date= September 24, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150924202213/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-989047.html}}</ref> Part of the proceeds went to Heal the World Foundation.<ref>{{cite news |first=Martie |last=Zad |title=Michael Jackson Concert from Bucharest on HBO Saturday |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 4, 1992 |access-date=July 21, 2019 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1992/10/04/michael-jackson-concert-from-bucharest-on-hbo-saturday/24de977e-f8be-4ea1-a7a1-07e766653202/ |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122083245/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1992/10/04/michael-jackson-concert-from-bucharest-on-hbo-saturday/24de977e-f8be-4ea1-a7a1-07e766653202/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Jackson sold the broadcast rights of the tour to [[HBO]] for $20{{nbsp}}million, a record-breaking deal that still stands.{{sfn|Taraborrelli|2009|pp=452–454}}

Following the death of [[HIV/AIDS]] spokesperson and friend [[Ryan White]], Jackson pleaded with the Clinton administration at [[First inauguration of Bill Clinton|Bill Clinton's inaugural gala]] to give more money to HIV/AIDS charities and research<ref>{{cite news |title=Stars line up for Clinton celebration |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Daily News]] |date=January 19, 1993}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Patricia |last=Smith |author-link= Patricia Smith (poet) |title=Facing the music and the masses at the presidential gala |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=January 20, 1992}}</ref> and performed "[[Gone Too Soon]]", a song dedicated to White, and "Heal the World" at the gala.<ref>{{cite magazine |first1=Tessa |last1=Stuart |first2=Brittany |last2=Spanos |author2-link=Brittany Spanos |first3=Kory |last3=Grow |title=From Dylan to Beyonce: Most Legendary Inauguration Performances |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=January 19, 2017 |access-date=July 21, 2019 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/from-dylan-to-beyonce-most-legendary-inauguration-performances-123294/ |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120130122/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/from-dylan-to-beyonce-most-legendary-inauguration-performances-123294/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Jackson visited Africa in early 1992; on his first stop in Gabon he was greeted by more than 100,000 people, some of them carrying signs that read "Welcome Home Michael",<ref name="Ebony">{{cite magazine |title=Michael Jackson: Crowned in Africa, Pop Music King Tells Real Story Of Controversial Trip |magazine=Ebony |date=May 1992 |volume=47 |issue=5 |pages=34–43 |issn=0012-9011 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tMwDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34}}</ref> and was awarded an Officer of the [[National Order of Merit (Gabon)|National Order of Merit]] from President [[Omar Bongo]].<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Vincent |last=Hugeux |title=Michael Jackson l'Africain |magazine=[[L'Express]] |date=September 3, 2009 |access-date= October 19, 2021 |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/culture/musique/michael-jackson-l-africain_783922.html |language=fr |archive-date= October 19, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211019005121/https://www.lexpress.fr/culture/musique/michael-jackson-l-africain_783922.html |url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Hommage à Michael Jackson: deux ans déjà |publisher=[[China Internet Information Center]] |date=June 25, 2011 |access-date=October 19, 2021 |url=https://french.china.org.cn/culture/txt/2011-06/25/content_22858621_26.htm |language=fr |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019005126/http://french.china.org.cn/culture/txt/2011-06/25/content_22858621_26.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> During his trip to Ivory Coast, Jackson drew larger crowds than [[Pope John Paul II]] on his previous visits.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00zfxhf |title=Michael Jackson: The Thrill Of Thriller |access-date=January 1, 2024 |archive-date=February 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218070931/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00zfxhf|publisher=[[BBC World Service]] |url-status=live}}</ref> He was crowned "King Sani" by a tribal chief in the Ivorian village of [[Krindjabo]], where he thanked the dignitaries in French and English, signed documents formalizing his kingship, and sat on a golden throne while presiding over ceremonial dances.<ref name="Ebony" />

In January 1993, Jackson performed at the [[Super Bowl XXVII halftime show]] in Pasadena, California. The [[National Football League|NFL]] sought a big-name artist to keep ratings high during halftime following dwindling audience figures.<ref>{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Sandomir |title=How Jackson Redefined the Super Bowl |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 29, 2009 |access-date=June 8, 2013 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/sports/football/30sandomir.html |archive-date=December 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121229091203/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/sports/football/30sandomir.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Phil |last=Rosenthal |title=Goal of spectacle colors NFL's thinking about Super Bowl halftime show |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=February 6, 2011 |access-date=January 20, 2017 |url=https://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-02-06/business/ct-biz-0206-rosenthal--20110206_1_super-halftime-party-doritos-zaptime-halftime-show |archive-date=March 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312153733/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-02-06/business/ct-biz-0206-rosenthal--20110206_1_super-halftime-party-doritos-zaptime-halftime-show |url-status=live }}</ref> It was the first Super Bowl whose half-time performance drew greater audience figures than the game. Jackson played "[[Jam (Michael Jackson song)|Jam]]", "Billie Jean", "Black or White", and "Heal the World". ''Dangerous'' rose 90 places in the US albums chart after the performance.{{sfn|Campbell|1995|pp=14–16}}

Jackson gave [[Michael Jackson Talks ... to Oprah|a 90-minute interview]] with [[Oprah Winfrey]] on February 10, 1993. He spoke of his childhood abuse at the hands of his father; he believed he had missed out on much of his childhood, and said that he often cried from loneliness. He denied tabloid rumors that he had bought the bones of the Elephant Man, slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, or bleached his skin, and stated for the first time that he had vitiligo. After the interview, ''Dangerous'' re-entered the US albums chart in the top 10, more than a year after its release.{{sfn|Lewis Jones|2005|pp=165–168}}{{sfn|Campbell|1995|pp=14–16}} The interview itself became [[List of most-watched television broadcasts#Most-watched television interviews|the most-watched television interview in United States history]] to date.

In January 1993, Jackson won three [[American Music Awards]]: Favorite Pop/Rock Album (''Dangerous''), Favorite Soul/R&B Single ("Remember the Time"), and was the first to win the International Artist Award of Excellence.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cyrus, Bolton please the fans |newspaper=[[The Blade (Toledo, Ohio)|Toledo Blade]] |agency=Associated Press |date=January 27, 1993 |access-date=March 3, 2023 |url=https://news.google.co.uk/newspapers?id=mBIVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TQMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6811,6756235 |archive-date=March 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303210646/https://news.google.co.uk/newspapers?id=mBIVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TQMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6811,6756235 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first=Craig |last=Rosen |title=Michael Jackson Cops 3 Top Prizes |magazine=Billboard |date=February 6, 1993 |volume=105 |issue=6 |page=12 |issn=0006-2510 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jw8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA12}}</ref> In February, he won the "Living Legend Award" at the [[35th Annual Grammy Awards]] in Los Angeles.<ref name="grammy mj" /> He attended the award ceremony with [[Brooke Shields]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Larry |last=McShane |title=Grammy moments – memorable and forgettable |newspaper=Deseret News |page=C3 |date=February 25, 1983 |access-date=April 14, 2019 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z04pAAAAIBAJ&pg=3702,4129430 |archive-date=June 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613061151/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z04pAAAAIBAJ&pg=3702,4129430 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Dangerous'' was nominated for Best Vocal Performance (for "Black or White"), Best R&B Vocal Performance ("Jam") and Best R&B Song ("Jam"), and Bruce Swedien and Teddy Riley won the Grammy for Best Engineered – Non Classical.<ref name="Bruce" />