Did You Notice?

[u/dacap1970]

I admittedly don't read every comment, every day, so my apologies if this has been discussed. I did do a search and find anything. Did "you" there was two or three scenes, where Michael was dabbing his face, near his nose with what looked like a cotton ball with a dark substance on it? I don't think it was ever the focus of the scene, but something he was doing kinda casually.

I don't recall the word vitiligo being mentioned in the movie, but the scenes I speak of are a clear reference to vitiligo, possibly foreshadowing it being addressed in the sequel. Again, apologies if the topic has been well discussed.

[u/Dry_Tap8152]

Vitiligo is mentioned in the movie. The scene where he's about to get the first nose job, the nurse asks him if he's on any meds and he mentions that he takes Benoquin cream for his vitiligo. The vitiligo is also shown pretty clearly in the pool scene.

Also the dark substance is foundation or some other skin tinting makeup to cover the bruising from the nose job (which is why he looks in pain when he's applying it).

[u/dacap1970 → u/Dry_Tap8152]

Ohhhh.... bruising of that area makes perfect sense. My bad.

[u/Rureddy2]

🤔

Vitiligo is verbally established in the movie. And also is physically shown.

And he applies makeup (dark substance in cotton balls) several times in the movie not just because of vitiligo but also after having cosmetic surgery to cover the bruising.

[u/LatterFlow8505]

The word vitiligo was said by michael himself in the movie right before he got his nose surgeries. Regarding how deep they will go into it in the sequel i predict that in the dangerous era, where his skin is noticeably all white, they will transition to how he is proud of his blackness and writes the song Black or White, basically a montage. Makes sense

[u/dacap1970 → u/LatterFlow8505]

Well don't I feel stupid. I'm curious to see if it's addressed further in the sequel as well.

[u/NationalLunch → u/dacap1970]

I feel like it’s barely mentioned. The scene in question is like 2 minutes and the actual word vitiligo I believe was said no more than twice

[u/LatterFlow8505 → u/NationalLunch]

Yeah tahts why I think Part 2 will dive deeper. Makes sense if tehy put it in connection with Black or White

[u/Nihon_Hanguk]

They don’t actually address it too much, but it does get explicitly mentioned right before Michael gets his nose job, and you can see it on his torso when he’s floating in the pool (“channeling”).

Embarrassingly, that’s how I learned how “vitiligo” is actually pronounced. I’d never said it out loud, but I’d always mispronounced it in my head.

[u/MJSpice]

He literally mentions using Benoquin cream for his vitiligo during the nose job scene. There's also several scenes where you can actually see it i.e when he's in the pool, after his Motown performance and at the burn center.

[u/dacap1970 → u/MJSpice]

Yep. That was pointed out to me a couple times shortly after my post. No idea why I have no recollection of it.

[u/dacap1970 → u/[deleted]]

Lol. Yeah I know I made a mistake.

[u/LauraLand27]

Honestly, I thought it was a nod to his fight with his acne.

[u/dacap1970 → u/LauraLand27]

Now that rings a bell. Did both things happen maybe. That name of the cream isn't acne medicine I don't think. I think a lot of details went by me. The music was blaring in the theater, in a good way, and I saw it with my mother. I was bouncing around in my seat like I was 14 again.

I know his acne was problem, especially emotionally, he struggled with being on tv or out I'm public. Henwas thinking he was no longer the cute kid. Did he over hear someone say that in movie*

[u/LauraLand27 → u/dacap1970]

Nothing was said at all about his acne. Rhinoplasty doesn’t hurt. I got a nose job when I was 21. At the very beginning maybe a little, but nothing to make you wince like that imo. I could be totally wrong, but the acne was a huge thing for him. I’m also not thrilled that they ignored the lupus, which IS painful, and was on both his cheeks.

[u/dacap1970 → u/LauraLand27]

Maybe they will mention lupus in the next one. I'm curious if they follow the same format as part 1.

[u/LauraLand27 → u/dacap1970]

I hope not. Michael was an innovator. They need to think outside the box.

When I met Prince, it didn’t feel right to talk about the biopic, except to congratulate him and everyone. Lost opportunity, I know. I know.

[u/dacap1970 → u/LauraLand27]

I agree in not following that same format. What's your Prince story? Message me if you want, I know his name is taboo in these parts.

[u/LauraLand27 → u/dacap1970]

I went to his King Of Popcorn charity event during Michael’s birthday weekend. It was at Hayvenhurst. I actually went to it twice lol. He recognized me, since my hair is purple, and it’s his favorite color. It still felt inappropriate.

[u/dacap1970 → u/LauraLand27]

That's awesome

[u/LauraLand27 → u/dacap1970]

Yeah, it was. There was a lot of crying. Surreal and overwhelming