Jackée Says Michael Jackson Was “Pure” — and Recounts an Awkward Diana Ross Moment on Nick Cannon’s Podcast

During a lively, unfiltered appearance on Nick Cannon’s Backyard Boogie podcast, comedy legend Jackée Harry shared candid, firsthand memories involving Michael Jackson—and a separate, uncomfortable run-in with Diana Ross that had the table buzzing.

What made the moment stand out wasn’t polish or PR—it was Jackée’s raw, conversational storytelling, delivered amid jokes, spades banter, and classic shade.

 

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“He Was Pure”: Jackée on Michael Jackson

When the conversation turned to Michael Jackson, Jackée’s tone shifted.

Harry went on to say that she had known Jackson “a long time,” claiming she had met him in the 1990s through their mutual friend, Marva Hicks. “She sang background for him… God rest her soul,” Harry said. “She was my best friend… She introduced me to him.”

Harry then made a comment that left some of the players scratching their heads. “Everything was true down there,” she said with a suggestive tone.

“What do you mean?” Bee asked. “What they saying about Mike down there? Tell us the tea about Mike’s ‘down there.'”

Harry hesitated to expand, saying she didn’t “want to be sued.” After a few moments of encouragement, the Emmy-winning actor insinuated she had seen Jackson’s penis.

Jackée  referenced Michael’s vitiligo matter-of-factly, brushing past jokes at the table to underscore that there was nothing scandalous about it—just something the public often twisted.

The Diana Ross Story: “She Made Me Feel Bad”

Jackée then pivoted to a very different memory—an encounter with Diana Ross at Oprah’s Legends Ball. According to Jackée, she was mid-conversation when Ross tapped her on the shoulder and instructed her to move, criticizing her dress and positioning herself forward.

Jackée said she complied immediately—“I scurried”—but admitted the exchange stung and left her feeling embarrassed in the moment. She framed it as something that happened years ago, not an ongoing feud, but didn’t soften how it felt at the time.

The story drew audible reactions from the table, not because of drama, but because of how bluntly Jackée told it—without embellishment or apology.

Humor, Honesty, and Lived Experience

True to form, Jackée wrapped both stories in humor, bouncing between jokes and sincerity. The contrast between her warmth when speaking about Michael Jackson and her blunt honesty about Diana Ross made the segment resonate online.

Rather than tearing anyone down, Jackée positioned herself as someone who was there—close enough to speak from experience, not speculation.

Why the Clip Is Going Viral

The moment is circulating because it cuts through decades of mythmaking. Jackée didn’t analyze legacies or rewrite history—she simply shared what she saw and felt.

In a media landscape full of hot takes, that grounded, human perspective is exactly why the clip is landing with audiences now.

Sometimes the most revealing stories aren’t told in documentaries—but at a card table, with laughter, memory, and no filter.