Finding out that Michael Jackson had a crush on Alicia Keys might have made things uncomfortable, but Swizz Beatz apparently had no issue with the King of Pop’s admiration for his future wife. Instead, the producer helped arrange a meeting between the two musicians, giving Keys a chance to connect with one of music’s greatest legends before his death in 2009.
During an appearance on The Real Report With Tony Yayo and Uncle Murda, Swizz recalled discovering Jackson’s interest in Keys through an unexpected source. According to the producer, Janet Jackson had apparently revealed her brother’s feelings to Keys, whom Swizz married in 2010.
“I found out that Michael had a crush on my wife. In a cool way, but Michael’s a Virgo, so I don’t know. I’m a Virgo,” he joked. Swizz added that he believed Janet had told Keys, “You know, my brother always had a crush on you.”
Rather than let the revelation create an awkward situation, Swizz saw it as a chance to bring the two artists together. “So I thought it was cool to set up for her to meet him. Just for both of them to just have that moment as fans of each other,” he explained.
The meeting eventually happened at Jackson’s home, where Swizz and Keys were welcomed into a surprisingly laid-back setting. According to Billboard, the producer recalled bringing gifts for Jackson’s children and watching the singer excitedly talk about his upcoming concerts. At the time, Jackson was preparing for his This Is It residency in London, which was scheduled to kick off in July 2009.
“Michael was so cool, bro. Just seeing him in his real element,” Swizz recalled. He explained that Jackson was especially enthusiastic about returning to the stage and even showed off some of the dance moves he planned to perform, giving Keys a glimpse of what fans could expect from the shows. Unfortunately, Jackson never got the chance to perform. He died on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50, just weeks before the residency was set to begin.
Swizz also revealed a funny detail about Jackson’s attitude toward his achievements. During the visit, he noticed framed Thriller plaques resting on the floor against a wall. Jackson offered to let him take some home, but Swizz turned down the offer because he didn’t want to seem overly eager. Even after Jackson brushed off the awards as “just things,” the producer resisted the temptation to accept them. Given that Thriller remains one of the best-selling albums of all time, passing up memorabilia offered directly by Michael Jackson was certainly an impressive display of restraint.
