I don’t want to cancel Michael Jackson, but I have a firm position on the film they call Michael: it must not be released. Not canceling and making a quasi-authentic movie about a fictional character is the difference between Level 5 inspiration and Level 10 worship. By erecting a storytelling statue, it’s not just his music that’s being celebrated. His whole narrative is being repeated. A narrative that allowed him to get away with too much.
Would you rather believe a comfortable lie or the messy truth?
The Millennial and the King is a sharp, self-aware, and darkly funny reckoning with the power of narratives – how they protect the powerful, pacify the public, and shape our personal lives in ways we rarely admit.
Told through the eyes of a fan-turned-legacy detective, this book unravels the most successful public relations campaign in pop culture history: the mythmaking of Michael Jackson. From the highs of Thriller to the lows of courtroom scandal, from teenage adoration to adult criticism, the author takes one last ride through the King of Pop’s carefully curated kingdom in search of the truth.
Part media autopsy, part midlife reckoning, part PR masterclass, this genre-blurring literary collage explores our hunger for stories – even when they serve someone else’s agenda.
The Millennial and the King zigzags between personal essay, cultural analysis, and anecdotal memoir, parodying ‘90s movies, YouTube shows, and the absurdity of fandom. Using AI while it’s still cute, the two protagonists even meet for an interview that transcends time, reality, and probably ethics.
For anyone who’s ever gone to battle for their hero only to find themselves on the wrong side of history, The Millennial and the King is a reminder that some stories are designed to entertain – and others are designed to control.
What People Are Saying
“The Millennial and the King is a must-read for 80s kids (and 70s and 90s, or really any age), readers interested in the workings of the music industry, and anyone who has ever been a fan – no matter how casual or passionate – of any celebrity. Highly recommended.”
“I've never quite read anything that struck me in the same way as The Millennial and the King, but now I want to devour a whole subgenre of books just like it.”
“The Millennial and the King completely caught me off guard—in the best way. It’s part memoir, part media investigation, part hilarious cultural essay, and somehow still deeply emotional. What starts off as a nostalgic fan’s tribute to Michael Jackson quickly becomes a smart, often darkly funny reckoning with the uncomfortable truth behind the legend.”
“These unexpected observations are always funny, always between a spontaneous smile, a chuckle, or a brief laugh.”