Macaulay Culkin might have been the youngest friend that Michael Jackson might have had! As per Variety, Culkin starred in Jackson’s Black or White video and then became close friends with him.

This was a bond that lasted a lifetime and Culkin is still close to Jackson’s family. When Home Alone was released in 1990, and Culkin was adjusting to stardom, he received a call from Jackson. The singer said he understood the pressure he was under as a child star and would like to be his friend and help him through that time in his life. Jackson was 32 at the time. Reflecting on the initial days of their friendship, Culkin said they became inseparable in the days following the phone call. He reminisced, “Seriously, he was like my best friend for a good long stretch. It was a legitimate friendship.”

While others found their friendship weird due to their age gap, the two connected on similar childhood experiences. With the passing of time, their friendship grew deeper. When Jackson welcomed his children into the world, there was one person he knew he wanted to act as their godparent. Jackson’s first child with ex-wife Debbie Rowe, Michael Jackson Jr., also known as Prince Michael, was born in 1997. His sister, Paris, arrived in 1998.

When Prince was born, Jackson elected Culkin and Elizabeth Taylor as his son’s godparents. Culkin was 17 at the time. When Paris was born, Culkin was 18, and he once again became the child’s godparent, along with Elizabeth Taylor, reported PEOPLE. While Debbie said she knew Michael would make an incredible father, she had not wanted to have children. Therefore, when she and Michael divorced in 1999, she relinquished full custody of her children to Michael.

Michael then took responsibility for his children on his Neverland ranch until his death. When he tragically passed away in 2009, the children went to live with their grandmother, Katherine Jackson, until they were old enough to move out, reported PEOPLE. Sources close to Jackson said he was always devoted to his children and adored them. They added, in the way he looked at them, one could see the love and that the legend was a normal parent to his children, who were his first priority, reported PEOPLE.

After Jackson passed away, a public memorial was held, in which his family and friends remembered him. His daughter, who was eleven at the time, decided to make an impromptu speech in which she said, “Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just want to say that I love him so much”, reported PEOPLE. In 2018, Culkin discussed his relationship with Jackson’s children on Marc Maron’s podcast, particularly with Paris. He mentioned that even after her father’s death, he remained close to the young woman and has looked after her over the years.

When he was asked about his relationship with Paris, Culkin had warned the interviewer that asking questions about her would lead to a dead-end because he is fiercely protective of her. He described her as “tall, beautiful, and smart” and a “beloved” person to him. He said that he loved her very much and would do anything he could for her. He then said that while he is an open book with most things, he wouldn’t be when it came to Paris.