A former bodyguard and close friend of Michael Jackson has alleged that the King of Pop was romantically obsessed with Beyoncé Knowles and even expressed a desire to marry her, struggling to understand how she ended up with Jay-Z.
Matt Fiddes, a British martial arts expert and businessman who has described himself as Jackson’s longtime bodyguard, made the claims in interviews that have resurfaced and circulated widely on social media platforms in 2026. According to Fiddes, Jackson’s admiration for Beyoncé went beyond professional respect.
“Yeah, so Michael was obsessed and wanted to marry Beyonce,” Fiddes said. “He said Beyonce was completely in love with her, right? So when Jay-Z was around there’s a bit of a friction there… Jay-Z got to marry [her]. Michael couldn’t understand it. He couldn’t understand it.”
Fiddes recounted one particular incident where Jackson, known for avoiding parties, made an exception to attend an event hosted by Sean “Diddy” Combs.
“We went to a party… Michael wanted to go there. And we felt that strange because he doesn’t want to do any of that. He’s completely anti parties and stuff, right? But he went because he heard Beyonce was there,” Fiddes explained. Upon arrival, Jackson reportedly asked Diddy about Beyoncé’s whereabouts. “He goes, ‘Oh, are you joking?’ And then we went back to the hotel.”
When asked why Jackson did not simply call Beyoncé to ask her out, Fiddes replied: “Well, he’s Michael Jackson. He’s a bit shy I think but he’s always giggling around there.”
This party anecdote receives some independent corroboration from Diddy himself. In a 2009 appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, Combs described Jackson showing up uninvited to one of his parties around 2003 — before Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s relationship was widely public. Diddy said Jackson specifically asked, “Where’s Beyoncé?” found her, danced with her, and had come “to holler at Beyoncé.”
Beyoncé and Michael Jackson shared a warm professional relationship marked by mutual admiration. The pair collaborated on the 2001 charity single “What More Can I Give” following the 9/11 attacks. Beyoncé presented Jackson with awards on several occasions and has frequently cited him as a major influence. Resurfaced footage shows her appearing starstruck in his presence, and Jackson reportedly described her as one of the nicest people he had met.
However, Fiddes’ broader claims about Jackson’s obsession and desire for marriage have drawn skepticism. Critics, including some Jackson family members and fans, question the extent of Fiddes’ closeness to the singer. While he has described serving as Jackson’s bodyguard for around 10 years starting in the late 1990s or early 2000s, others contend his role was far more limited — mainly occasional security help during UK visits around 2002, facilitated by illusionist Uri Geller. Katherine Jackson and other associates have stated that Michael barely remembered him.
Fiddes has a history of making headline-grabbing claims after Jackson’s death, including a widely disputed allegation that he was the biological father of Jackson’s son Blanket (Prince Michael Jackson II) through a sperm donation arrangement. He has also faced legal issues, such as a 2013 fine related to delivering a fake court summons.
No major biographies or long-term Jackson insiders have corroborated the stronger romantic obsession narrative. The story has nevertheless gained traction online, fueled by social media clips and ongoing public fascination with both artists.
Fiddes has often linked Jackson’s admiration to Beyoncé frequently presenting him awards in his later years, claiming it was at Michael’s request.
While the claims remain unverified and largely rest on Fiddes’ account, they add another colorful chapter to the lore surrounding Michael Jackson’s personal life and his documented appreciation for Beyoncé’s talent during her rise to global superstardom.
