Long before Michael Jackson became the King of Pop, his sister La Toya knew him as the brother who loved getting a reaction out of her. La Toya later remembered Michael constantly playing practical jokes because he knew she was especially frightened of bugs. That made her an irresistible target whenever he wanted to cause a little chaos at home.
One of his favorite tricks involved her bedroom telephone. Michael would reportedly place a fake spider or tarantula on the phone, leave the room and then call the house. All he had to do was wait for La Toya to reach for the receiver and discover what appeared to be a huge spider sitting beside her hand.
See Michael Jackson and La Toya Together at Home in 1983
La Toya later said Michael knew exactly why the prank worked so well. She described herself as picky and easily frightened by bugs, remembering that he would put fake creatures on her phone or even in her bed and then watch her scream. According to La Toya, Michael got enormous enjoyment from seeing her reaction.
The surviving 1983 interview gives a much better sense of that sibling relationship than a general Michael Jackson performance could. Filmed at the Jackson family’s Encino home, it captures Michael and La Toya together away from the stage during the period when Thriller had already turned Michael into an international superstar.
Years later, La Toya still chose those practical jokes when asked for happy memories of Michael. She remembered his smile, his laughter and the joy he took from tormenting the sibling he knew would give him exactly the dramatic reaction he wanted.
Michael Jackson would become famous for Thriller, “Billie Jean,” the Moonwalk and performances that changed pop music. But at home he could still be the brother hiding fake spiders and waiting for La Toya to scream. Watch the rare interview to see the playful relationship behind one of Michael’s funniest family stories.