Weird fears are fairly common. In previous generations, these bizarre phobias were fodder for reality television shows like Maury — who could forget that one video of the woman who was afraid of pickles? In the modern day, however, these people with unusual terrors have found a new audience — 14-year-olds on TikTok.


TikTokers share every aspect of their lives, ranging from the times they drove drunk, to documenting the many, many people who have freaked out on airplanes. It’s not surprising, then, that people have taken to the platform to catalog their — or their friends’ — strange phobias.


One such phobia is a classic of internet lore: the woman who is afraid of Michael Jackson.



In a video showing what this fear looks like in the real world, a user on TikTok reveals how her friend reacts when she encounters a Michael Jackson impersonator.


Needless to say, they respond with pure terror — and even more terror than the average person who saw late-stage Michael Jackson. As an MJ impersonator goes off in the background, one can see tears welling up in the eyes of the TikToker’s friend. In short, she really, really doesn’t like Michael Jackson.



This woman later gave multiple interviews elaborating on her fear. “I have a genuine fear of Michael Jackson," she explained. "It all started when I was younger at about five years old. My sister and my cousin used to show me creepy edited videos of him that people made and conspiracy theories that he’s alive."


She goes on to say that she’s had nightmares about the man for years — something of which her friends and family are well aware. While she is able to appreciate the humor of the situation, she says that the viral video “hasn’t changed how I see Michael Jackson.”


Still, I hope she can appreciate how good “Billie Jean” is — as freaky as MJ was, that song is a bop.