Was That Michael Jackson?
They'd come to see a beating, of sorts, at a martial arts competition in southern England Sunday evening, reports CBS News Correspondent Kimberly Dozier. Instead, they got Beat It when a surprise guest showed up and belted out Michael Jackson songs, complete with dancers and backup musicians.
It was a small theatre in Barnstaple in southwest England, and the audience was entertained with four songs and a dance routine that included Jackson's gliding "moonwalk" shuffle.
"I saw him up close - I was only one foot away and saw his facial features - it was remarkable," said Darren Regan, manager of the Queen's Theatre in Barnstaple, who set aside the backstage left wing for Jackson, his bodyguards and entourage.
"He went into the dress circle, much to the surprise of the audience and met a few of the audience and four of the children," added Regan, saying Jackson delighted the crowd with renditions of Billie Jean, You're Not Alone, Smooth Criminal and a medley of other hits.
 CBS |
| CBS News Correspondent Kimberly Dozier |
The show organizers won't say if it really was the One-Gloved wonder, but Jackson is a karate fan.
"Michael is keen on karate, and it could be because world martial arts champion Matt Fiddes, who organized the exhibition, is friends with [magician] Uri Geller, and Geller is friends with Michael," theorized Regan.
Audience members say, if it was a hoax, it was a very, very good one.
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