R&B musician Akon cited Michael Jackson's dedication and love for his work and craft as the reason behind why he was taking pills in the first place, leading to his death due to an overdose in 2009.
Akon revealed to The U.S. Sun that the King of Pop's drive was a "gift and curse," adding that Jackson wanted to give his all as he prepared for This Is It, his concert residency in 2009.
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'Greatest Show On Earth'
The exclusive interview with the publication was the first time Akon talked about Jackson towards the end of his life.
"He was so happy and excited that he was about to go to London and lock these 50 dates in and remind the world who he was and what his value was to pop music," he said.
Jackson's excitement to return to the stage was the reason behind his pills intake, the "Smack That" singer said. He added that the "Thriller" singer was so excited that he could not sleep, "He would be up for weeks at a time thinking about how he wanted everybody to have the most amazing experience, he wanted to create something that was going to be talked about for centuries."
Akon also commented on Jackson's unwavering worth ethic and perseverance, "He always pushed himself to the limit. He never compromised the best."
Jackson's physical body could not keep up with how strong his mind was. Despite being 50 at the time, he was working overtime. Akon noted that Jackson was pushing himself to work out "25 hours a day."
The Documentary
Despite his death over 13 years ago, the mystery surrounding Jackson's tragic and sudden death is still the center of much speculation.
Fox TV released "TMZ Investigates: Who Really Killed Michael Jackson," which scrutinized the culprit behind the painkiller prescriptions Jackson had been taking prior to his death.
In June of 2009, Jackson was found dead in Los Angeles, California due to cardiac arrest caused by a Propofol and Benzodiazepine overdose. His physician Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2011, as he had prescribed the Propofol dose that ultimately killed the singer.
According to Orlando Martinez, the detective interviewed for the documentary, it was hard to pinpoint exactly who was responsible, because it was "more complicated" than Murray's prescription.
Jackson's wife from 1996 to 1999, Debbie Rowe claimed that she felt regret for the singer's death, citing that she "participated in it."
"I was basically as bad as [Klein]," Rowe said in the documentary. "I regret that. I will regret it. And I am so sorry that I participated in it."
Jackson's family was blindsided by this confession. "Debbie's decision to speak to this show about what she knew about Dr. Klein has dumbfounded some of the older Jackson family members," shared a source to The New York Post.
"Debbie has not been this open with some of the brothers for sure, so for her to speak on a TV show is bewildering."
The Doctor Klein they are referring to is Arnold Klein, a Hollywood dermatologist, who prescribed Jackson Demerol, an opioid analgesic similar to morphine.
Rowe reportedly worked as an assistant to Klein, and that was also how she met Jackson, who was getting treatment for vitiligo.
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