Mark Ronson says Michael Jackson allegations made him “re-examine” meeting him when he was 13

Mark Ronson has reflected on meeting Michael Jackson when he was a teenager, something he said the allegations against the late musician forced him to “re-examine” in later life.

The multi-award-winning producer is set to release his new memoir, Night People, later this month, giving fans insight into the music, characters and escapades that shaped his formative days as a DJ.

In the book, Ronson looked back to an interaction he’d had with Jackson at the age of 13, something he looked at differently after allegations of sexual abuse emerged. In 1993, Evan Chandler, a dentist and screenwriter based in Los Angeles, accused Jackson of sexually abusing his 13-year-old son Jordan. The case was concluded when the two parties reached a financial settlement in 1994.

In 2013, four years after Jackson’s death, the choreographer Wade Robson filed a lawsuit against his estate, saying Jackson had sexually abused him between the ages of seven and 14. Another man, the former child actor James Safechuck, also came forward with allegations. Jackson’s estate has continuously denied all allegations of sexual abuse made against him.

Finished up recording the audio book.. Night People is out next month https://t.co/SaExr8VVuv pic.twitter.com/MZDrI3hNjr

— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) August 1, 2025

In Night People, Ronson shared that he was “obsessed” with breaking into the music industry as a child, and was introduced to Jackson himself by John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s son, Sean Lennon.

He went on to write of his nerves after attending a concert on Jackson’s ‘Bad’ tour, and going on to the subsequent afterparty with 50 guests at a hotel.

“[Michael] was just obsessed with throwing these soggies out the window, like taking big mounds of toilet paper and making them damp and then throwing them at parked cars,” he wrote, via The Sun.

He say while it was “crazy” to admit, he had aimed to get a “hook from Michael Jackson to take back” for a potential track, and although he didn’t manage, said: “I wouldn’t say it’s a highlight of my childhood, but it was certainly one of the most memorable experiences.”

“Obviously,” he added, “with allegations that came later, of course, it made me re-examine that event too many times. I was like, for whatever reason, there was nothing weird or untoward on that night.”

Jackson made headlines once again this month after his daughter, Paris Jackson, made it clear that she has “zero per cent involvement” in the upcoming biopic that charts his life.

The forthcoming biopic, titled simply Michael, is currently scheduled to release in April next year. It is directed by Antoine Fuqua, with Michael’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson playing the King of Pop. Oscar nominee and Euphoria star Colman Domingo will play Michael’s father Joe Jackson.

In January, it was reported that the film’s production had hit a major speed bump, and was being forced to reshoot its entire third act, which is said to depict sexual abuse allegations that the singer’s estate has banned from being dramatised.

The film has already attracted some criticism, including from Dan Reed – the director of the documentary Leaving Neverland – which documented allegations of sexual abuse against Michael. He recently criticised the making of the new biopic, saying it “will glorify a man who raped children”.

Alongside Jaafar Jackson and Colman Domingo, the film will also star Miles Teller as manager John Branca. The Vampire Diaries star Kat Graham will play the iconic Diana Ross. Portraying industry titan Quincy Jones – who died in November – will be Insecure‘s Kendrick Sampson.

In May, it was reported that the film could potentially be split into two parts for length, though as of the time of writing, this has not been confirmed for the April 2026 release. A trailer for the film has yet to be released.

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