The Unique Relationship Between Brett Barnes and Michael Jackson

Brett Barnes, hailing from Melbourne, Australia, became a prominent figure in discussions surrounding the late pop icon Michael Jackson due to their unique and long-standing friendship that began in his childhood.

Brett's connection with Michael Jackson took root at the tender age of five. Barnes first caught the attention of the superstar when he dictated a heartfelt letter, which was penned by his sister, Karlee, while Jackson was visiting Australia. This letter, which found its way into the hands of Jackson's security staff, eventually reached the musician himself. It was reported that Jackson pulled the letter from a stack of fan mail, leading to a phone call that marked the beginning of an extraordinary relationship.

In 1991, when Brett was just nine years old, Jackson extended an invitation to the Barnes family for an all-expenses-paid vacation in the United States. This trip lasted three weeks and provided the Barnes family with unforgettable experiences, including visits to Jackson's iconic home, Neverland, and the famous Disneyland. 

The relationship between Jackson and the Barnes family deepened over the ensuing years, as Jackson continued to fly Brett to the U.S. at least once a year. These visits often involved extended stays where they shared a bed for up to a month at a time. Throughout these trips, they traveled across the United States, frequently staying in hotels and creating countless memories together.

Brett’s interactions with Jackson were extensive, with estimates indicating that he spent over 465 nights sharing a bed with the iconic entertainer. 

As their friendship flourished, the Barnes family accompanied Michael Jackson on various tours around the globe. Their travels took them to diverse locations, encompassing South America, Africa, Europe, and even back to Australia.

Despite the attention and speculation surrounding their relationship, Brett has consistently maintained that the time spent together was innocent and fun. He describes their experiences as reflective of two preteens enjoying each other’s company, emphasizing that there was nothing untoward going on.

Brett's Defense of Michael in 2005

In 2005, Michael Jackson faced serious allegations during a highly publicized trial, with accusations levelled against him by Gavin Arvizo. 

As the proceedings garnered worldwide attention, several high-profile characters from Jackson’s life came forward to testify on his behalf, including Brett Barnes, Macauley Culkin, and Wade Robson.

At the time of his testimony, Brett Barnes was 23 years old. 

Brett's testimony was significant, as it aimed to counter the charges against Jackson by providing a firsthand account of their relationship. Alongside him, Brett's mother and sister also took the stand to offer their insights, although his father was absent from the proceedings.

Michael was later acquitted of all charges.

Twitter Profile

A Twitter account emerged in 2009, claiming to represent Brett Barnes (@IAmBrettBarnes) from Melbourne, Australia. However, from the outset, there were doubts about its authenticity. Observers speculated that the account was created by an enthusiastic fan rather than Brett himself, as it lacked personal photographs and concrete, verifiable information about his life and experiences with Michael Jackson.

In December 2021, over a decade after the account's creation, Brett made a noteworthy post that changed the narrative surrounding the account's legitimacy. He shared an image of the famous navy suit he wore to Jackson's 2005 trial, effectively ending the speculation that the account was not genuine.

Despite confirming the account's authenticity, the content on the profile has remained relatively limited. The account primarily focuses on expressing good wishes for Michael Jackson's birthday and commemorating his death. 

In 2013, the account commented on Wade Robson’s allegations of sexual abuse against Michael Jackson, inferring that Robson was motivated by financial gain. 

The account saw increased activity following the release of the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland. Brett expressed his disapproval of the allegations presented in the documentary, reiterating his belief in Jackson's innocence. He controversially likened the documentary’s credibility to that of a fictional space film, specifically referencing Independence Day, which starred Jeff Goldblum and Will Smith.

On his Twitter account, Brett proudly features "Applehead Club Doodoohead" in his description box, referencing the whimsical club that Michael Jackson created for his young friends. This playful title encapsulates the idea of embracing childlike innocence and silliness, advocating for a spirit that resists growing up, even in adulthood.

 Facebook Profile

As confirmed on his Twitter account, Brett has two Facebook profiles—one dedicated to Michael Jackson fans and another for his family life.

Unfortunately, the fan engagement account lacks substantial information, mirroring the sparsity of his Twitter presence. It features only the same profile picture he uses on Twitter, depicting himself at Euro Disneyland alongside Michael Jackson. There are also a few photos of a dog, presumably his pet.

Brett's other Facebook account is locked and only accessible to accepted friends. The profile page showcases a picture of him with two friends, likely taken in the early 2000s. His header image features him at the Botanical Gardens in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, standing next to two statues.

While his two Facebook accounts provide little insight for Michael Jackson fans, his wife (Kathy Malapanis) account is public and contains several images of the couple together. Remarkably, Brett still resembles his appearance from 2005 when he defended Michael.

Brett Barnes' mother, Liz Barnes, is also on Facebook; however, her profile is locked, preventing Michael Jackson fans from engaging with her. It is unclear whether Brett's sister, Karlee Barnes, has a Facebook account. There is an account under the name Kerryn Barnes, which seems to be closely connected to both Brett's mother's and wife's profiles. Unfortunately, this account is also private, leaving no opportunity for interaction.

Brett's life in Australia

Brett was born on January 30, 1982, in Melbourne, Australia, a remarkable 8,000 miles from Santa Maria, where Michael Jackson spent most of his adult life.

As a child, Brett attended Boronia West Primary School in the early 1990s. Nostalgic photos of the school, featuring a young Brett and his former classmates, are frequently shared on Facebook.

Brett currently resides with his wife, Kathy, in the suburb of Hawthorn East in Victoria, Melbourne.

Details about Brett Barnes's professional life remain unclear. However, in 2005, he left his position as a roulette dealer at a casino to defend Michael Jackson. Additionally, there are indications that Brett may have had involvement in the hip-hop/rap music industry, which I will elaborate below.

Brett's Famous Friends

Without a doubt, Michael Jackson was the most famous friend Brett ever had, and that title remains unchallenged. However, it seems that Brett also has friendships with several musicians in Australia.

Two of his friends include Henry Mukhwana, also known as Henry Skillz, who has a background in music production, and Dominic Neeq Drouin a Canadian/Australian rapper.

You can catch a glimpse of Brett and Henry together in the below video (1:49).

Dominic Neeq Drouin, also known as NEEQ, appears in a Facebook video alongside Brett, where they perform two hip-hop songs titled "Done Nothin'" and "Champion." These performances, recorded in 2006, highlight their impressive rapping skills.

You can watch the Facebook video here.

While Dominic Neeq Drouin may not be a household name in the mainstream music industry, he maintains a significant presence in the niche music scene. He has a YouTube channel and social media profiles dedicated to showcasing his music, along with experience working as an extra on the well-known Australian soap opera Neighbours.

Both Henry and Dominic are passionate Michael Jackson fans and have paid tribute to the icon over the years on their social media profiles.

Future Defense of Michael

Brett hasn't just dedicated over a decade of his life to praising Michael Jackson on Twitter; he is also officially collaborating with Taj Jackson, Michael's nephew, to produce a documentary series titled "Righting HIStory," which was announced following the release of Leaving Neverland.

Unfortunately, Taj has faced challenges in releasing his documentary on schedule, with an initial timeline of 8 to 12 months long since passed. He has also encountered difficulties in securing the estimated budget of over $700,000. Nevertheless, he has raised over $250,000 toward the project through GoFundMe donations.

Like Brett, Taj Jackson has been a strong advocate for Michael Jackson's innocence since the first allegations arose in 1993.

Taj has launched a website that outlines his intentions and presents facts aimed at exposing lies against his uncle. Perhaps the most thrilling news came on June 25, 2024, when he announced on his website that Brett Barnes is "closely involved in Righting HIStory."

This announcement has sent waves of excitement through the Michael Jackson community. Having someone like Brett Barnes, who has years of firsthand experience by Michael Jackson’s side, promises to bring valuable insights and reveal the truth once and for all.