Suzanne de Passe is a legend in the music industry. She was one of the driving forces behind Motown’s groundbreaking success, and is being inducted into the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in recognition of her lasting impact. She was the person who convinced Berry Gordy to take a chance on The Jackson 5. To that end, she and Michael Jackson had a special connection and remained friends throughout his career. However, sometimes it doesn’t matter how much you love a friend, there are house rules you can’t let them break. Michael found this out the hard way when he showed up to de Passe’s home with an uninvited guest.
During a Q&A moderated by Page Six’s Carlos Greer, the Motown legend recalled the time when the superstar came to her house to watch clips of performances from his younger days and was accompanied by his pet snake.
“He turns the corner and there, around his neck, was a boa constrictor named Muscles,” she said.
Biggest star in the world or not, Ms. Suzanne was not having a snake slithering around her home, telling the singer, “Michael Jackson, are you out of your mind? You’re not bringing that thing in my house.”
In the ‘80s, Michael was known for being surrounded by an eclectic mix of animals, but how do you show up at someone’s home with a snake!?
He tried to say it was “OK,” but de Passe replied, “No, he’s not OK!” She even suggested they “reschedule.” Eventually they agreed that Muscles would hang out in one of her designer pillowcases.
“I probably gave [Jackson] a Pratesi pillowcase…and he takes Muscles and he’s stuffing him down in my pillowcase…then he ties off the top,” she said.
As they watched the videos of Jackson’s old performances, de Passe couldn’t take her focus away from Muscles. Once their visit was over, Michael wondered if she wanted her expensive pillowcase back. Nope, it was his now. Not only did she give him the case, she jokingly told him, “In fact, take the fitting sheet and the top sheet. You can have it all! Just go!”
The discussion was a look back at de Passe’s fascinating career ahead of her 2024 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She’s set to receive the Ahmet Ertegun Award for non-performers.
The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony airs live Saturday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on Disney+. It will feature performances from inductees Mary J. Blige, Kool & The Gang, and Dionne Warwick.