In April 1992 a brand new video premiered on television screens everywhere. Millions of fans watched the exciting release on MTV. Michael Jackson created something completely different this time. He worked with famous photographer Herb Ritts. They filmed a stunning story in the hot California desert. Click here to watch it.
He invited British supermodel Naomi Campbell to join him on the sand. They performed an incredibly close and intense dance together. They did not use a huge stage or flashy colorful costumes. Michael wore a simple white shirt and black pants. The film focused entirely on their raw physical chemistry.
Michael Jackson – In the Closet (Official Video – Upscaled)
The beautiful sepia colored film felt deeply intimate and extremely sensual. The dramatic shadow dancing pushed heavy creative boundaries for a pop star. Some countries thought the beautiful video was way too shocking for regular people. South Africa completely banned the film from public television. They called the dancing inappropriate.
Local leaders decided the intense eye contact was far too sexually suggestive. They wanted to protect their conservative cultural standards at the time. Michael simply wanted to express a hidden and passionate romantic affair. He bravely stepped away from his signature heavy jackets. He showed a very different masculine energy.
Michael Jackson | In The Closet Outtakes | Shooting Scenes with Michael and Naomi Campbell
The massive project marked a huge shift for his amazing career. He originally talked to Madonna about working on the song together. They disagreed on the words so he moved forward completely alone. He called these new projects short films instead of just music videos. He always wanted to innovate.
He took a massive risk to show a mature side of his art. He successfully proved he was much more than a child star. The controversial short film eventually became a beloved artistic classic. You must always be brave enough to grow and completely change your art for the world.