Michael Jackson Had Some Questionable Hygiene Habits

When pop superstars dish, they dish in a big way. Take singer Lionel Ritchie, for instance. In his 2025 autobiography, he talked at length about legendary performer Michael Jackson. Though he remembered the late icon fondly (Jackson died in 2009), he also relayed some questionable hygiene practices that he says Jackson had.

Among the most surprising was that Jackson would wear the same clothing for days, including undies, leading him to smell bad due to inconsistent grooming and bathing. These shocking allegations raise a serious question: Would such questionable hygiene habits pose legitimate health problems?

In the first scenario, the biggest issue would probably revolve around re-wearing garments that touch the skin. For example, keeping the same underwear unchanged for days probably isn't the best way to stay germ-free. However, an older Tommy John survey revealed that 45% of individuals living in the United States wait at least two days to change their underwear. But how long is too long?

It turns out that skipping fresh underwear occasionally isn't the worst decision you can make in the world. Nonetheless, it could put a dent in your social life.

In an interview with Today, professor of microbiology and pathology Dr. Philip Tierno discussed the ins and outs of wearing unlaundered skivvies most days. "Generally speaking, it's not going to hurt you as much as your hygiene may hurt your reputation." That said, he added a caveat you'll want to keep in mind, "If you talk about a week or two, now we're getting into robust growth of organisms and clearly there will be odor."

Yet not everyone agrees that reusing your underwear for days is a plan for life. Speaking with The Healthy, OB-GYN physician Dr. Sherry Ross recommended daily underwear changes — a far cry from the laid-back response of Dr. Tierno. "Dirty or used underwear provide a breeding ground for bacteria, yeast and fungi, and are often contaminated with fecal matter," noted Dr. Ross.

In the same article from The Healthy, dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick discussed the unintended skin-related side effects that could come from wearing the same pair of underwear for too long. She mentioned that "when sweat or oil sits on the skin for too long, it can lead to bad odor or clogged pores, leading to breakouts." In other words, you could end up with acne on your buttocks.

There's no evidence that Jackson experienced those particular skin problems, although he did battle with vitiligo. People like Jackson who develop vitiligo lose pigmentation in areas of their skin. According to his son, Prince Jackson, the king of pop was embarrassed about his vitiligo but was upfront about his diagnosis (CNN). Yet vitiligo doesn't cause the skin to smell and isn't a health risk.

In any case, if Ritchie is being honest in his memoir, Jackson might have had an unpleasant body odor even if he had opted for fresh underwear every day. Why? Ritchie asserted that Jackson never put on deodorant when he was around him. And that brings up a whole new can of worms: What would happen if you never wore any deodorant?

In a CNN piece, professor of dermatology Dr. Joshua Zeichner explained the truth behind whether or not it would be gross to skip the U.S. custom of slathering on deodorant. "Sweat itself is odorless," he said, which means you wouldn't stink right away. "However, bacteria on the skin break down the sweat, creating a foul smell," he added.

It probably makes more sense to wash regularly, especially if you're not planning on using deodorant and you prefer to stop body odor without deodorant. If you decide not to shower for a while, which is what Ritchie said Jackson did, your body will end up producing a lot of bacteria that will likely make you smell pretty, well, nasty.