Music producer Mark Ronson has opened up about one of the most unusual nights of his childhood — an evening spent in Michael Jackson’s hotel room during the pop icon’s Bad Tour. The 48-year-old revealed the memory in his new book Night People, describing it as “unforgettable, complicated, and surreal.”
How Mark Ronson Met Michael Jackson
Ronson, who was 13 at the time, explained that he was introduced to the King of Pop through his close friend Sean Lennon, the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. After a concert, Jackson invited the two teenagers to his hotel suite, where he hosted what turned out to be a very unconventional party.
Michael Jackson’s Unusual Party Game
Recalling the night, Ronson wrote that Jackson entertained himself by throwing wet toilet paper balls out of the hotel window at parked cars.
“He was just obsessed with throwing these soggies out the window – like taking big mounds of toilet paper, making them damp, and then throwing them at parked cars. It’s so crazy to say it out loud,” Ronson admitted.
While most kids might have joined in, Ronson, already passionate about music, hoped to take advantage of the rare encounter.
“You guys go play and run around like kids — I’m going to use this Michael Jackson meeting to get something, get a song out of it,” he remembered thinking.
Complicated Reflections After Allegations
Though the night seemed harmless at the time, Ronson later reevaluated the experience after child abuse allegations were made against Jackson in the years leading up to his death in 2009.
“Obviously with allegations that came later, of course it made me re-examine that event too many times. I wouldn’t say it’s a highlight of my childhood, but it was certainly one of the most memorable experiences,” he reflected.
Jackson always denied the allegations and was acquitted in a 2005 trial.
Ronson’s Friendship with Sean Lennon
In addition to his recollections of Jackson, Ronson also touched on his close bond with Sean Lennon. He described their friendship as “wild,” shaped by Sean’s charisma and the influence of his father’s musical legacy.
A Night That Left Its Mark
For Ronson, the bizarre evening remains etched in his memory — not as a glamorous moment, but as a strange and complex encounter with one of music’s most legendary figures.
