Chris Tucker Says He Made Michael Jackson Laugh

Chris Tucker, Jackie Chan’s co-star in Rush Hour, recently appeared on the Ricky Smiley radio show and, as usual, made everyone laugh. He sang a portion of Michael Jackson’s “Another Part of Me” and talked about his friendship with the King of Pop:

- I’ve never seen Michael Jackson. What was it like to be friends with him?

Chris: Unbelievable, man. It was like... he was the king of the modern era, he was the best man of the era, and he was my friend. Of course I was a fan—I've been a fan since I was a kid. The best moment was when I made him laugh, and I didn’t even realize what was happening. When I started talking, he would laugh—he would laugh at the way I spoke. I guess maybe he thought I was some kind of country bumpkin. And he would tell me, “C’ru... C’ru.” - Were you complaining too?

Chris: Wow, no, no, no—I was scared he’d throw me out of Neverland. I wanted to stay in Neverland.

- Nobody wants to get thrown out of Neverland!

Chris: Later he changed my name and called me “Christmas.” I didn’t know what he was talking about. He’d say, “Hello, Christmas,” and I’d say, “Who are you talking to? What are you saying? What? Like—Michael, what happened to you? What’s going on?” He’d say, “I’m talking to you. Your name is like Christmas. It’s nice—you should keep that name for yourself.”

- Michael was a genius!

- When you went out, was it just the two of you, or did you have other people with you?

Chris: Most of the time it was just me and Michael. I’d take myself to him. Me, Michael, and his bodyguards.

- Did Michael smoke?

Chris: No, no, no.

Chris: One time we were in Vegas and Michael went shopping. We all went to the Venetian, and that’s when I fully felt like I was standing next to Michael Jackson. People were rushing toward him like, for example, he was Jesus Christ. I couldn’t believe it. They were pushing me into a corner, thinking I was his bodyguard. They’d say, “Oh my God, this bodyguard of Michael Jackson looks so much like Chris Tucker.” And I’d say, “Damn it! Get off me—Michael needs to go to his blood!”

- How did he call your name that day?

Chris: He’d say, “Christmas has to stay right here, don’t go anywhere... You’re an amazing bodyguard. You’re awesome, Chris—you saved me from that passage. You should be a bodyguard. You’re doing a great job, and you’re funny too.”... I’m really happy that I made him laugh. That’s the whole story.

To hear this story from Chris Tucker, download the audio file here. Chris tells the story with his own special humor and by imitating Michael’s voice.

Source: eMJey.com / rickey smiley morning show