Michael Jackson Once Told Oprah a White Actor Playing Him Would Be 'Horrifying'

So Liz Taylor, Michael Jackson and Marlon Brando go on a road trip. While that sounds like a genius joke set-up (and more recently, a media storm-sparking television one-off), MJ fans don’t seem to be laughing.

Yesterday, it was announced that Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon will indeed be a British TV comedy revolving around the rumored trip Taylor, Jackson, and Brando made across America when they could not catch a plane to California following the 9/11 attacks. White actor Joseph Fiennes of Shakespeare in Love has been cast as the King of Pop, and the Twittersphere is less than thrilled. What would MJ think?   

Joseph Fiennes to Play Michael Jackson in British TV Comedy

Conveniently, a 23-year-old interview between Jackson and queen of everything Oprah Winfrey has surfaced. During the interview (at 23:48, to be exact), Winfrey asked Jackson about a rumor that he wanted a white child to play him in a Pepsi commercial.

Jackson responded pretty adamantly: "That's the most ridiculous, horrifying story I've ever heard. It's crazy. Why would I want a white child to play me? I'm a black American. I am proud to be a black American. I am proud of my race. I am proud of who I am.”

Watch the full interview below.