will.i.am on introducing Prince to Michael Jackson - The Graham Norton Show - BBC

Subscribe and 🔔 to the BBC 👉 bit.ly/BBCYouT...
Watch the BBC first on iPlayer 👉 bbc.in/iPlayer... Programme website: bbc.in/1O3bE9p will.i.am talks about introducing Prince to Michael Jackson.
#bbc
All our TV channels and S4C are available to watch live through BBC iPlayer, although some programmes may not be available to stream online due to rights. If you would like to read more on what types of programmes are available to watch live, check the 'Are all programmes that are broadcast available on BBC iPlayer?' FAQ 👉 bbc.in/2m8ks6v.

[@butterflyreflections]

"Why was Prince playing the bass in my face" needs to be a song, or a poem, or a short story, or a rap, or a national anthem, or something.

[@ThickestSkull03]

x3

[@broadcast83]

Should be titled; Bass in the face.

[@heidilawrence1545]

@@broadcast83 Face of bass! 😀

[@debbieflaherty1975]

Possibly….a Limerick?

[@AC-mp7cx]

because prince has issues

[@laurahorvath-pledger1148]

Prince he's always been a meanie😂😂😂

[@beautythalita3426]

MJ só funny hahahaha 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@ericortega1745]

He tried to run me over with his car,- Michael Jackson

[@aminaakhtar3613]

"No, Prince has always been a meanie" hahahaha something Mike would say, him being his adorable self lmao, both were icons, may God be with them, and their souls rest easy. 💗

[@AC-mp7cx]

nope. Prince has issues, and is narcisstic, he bullied people, was arrogant and hypercompetitive. Made fun of MJ's nose in a song, etc

[@leticiasulejmani767]

I adore the fact that johnny apploused when will.i.am said that he wouldn't release the tracks with Mike. Johnny always had respected and loved Michael. My two favourite celebrities ever, love them so much

[@u.a1952]

Absolutely agree ❤️

[@JoeCnNd]

Johnny Depp only did actor so that he could pursue his music career.

[@ann-dv8wj]

oh my god same!!!! I am a big fan of both🥺

[@danielcowan8673]

That was just Prince showing out in public. When news came through that MJ had died, Prince stopped his band rehearsals and didn't come out of his room for a week, according to Tavis Smiley. Smiley also said that Prince once talked to him for hours straight all through the night about what MJ meant to him.

[@genie121]

This had me crying and laughing at the same time!!! Michael Jackson and Prince should have had a reality show lol. Would have been comical.

[@robmausser]

The Very Odd Couple

[@alluringstar5910]

That would have been hilarious! I wouldn't miss not one episode! 😂

[@carltonflange9390]

"Why was Prince playing the bass in my face?" LOLOLOL... Brilliant!

[@Suwaniperera77]

Michael Jackson is Brilliance!!! He is Rhythm, He is Music, He is Dance, He is Art!! None can reach his gifted brilliance!!! ONE and ONLY Legendary King of Pop, Michael Jackson!! But above all he is an extremely kindhearted, generous, compassionate and loving soul!! He truly did his bit by giving back to not only to his society or country but to the entire world!! And the world today Misses Him and will continue to Miss this extraordinary Human Being!! ❤️ Thank you for everything Michael!! Thank you for your being!! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and light!! Thank you for the Music!! Thank you for sharing your Love!! Utmost Love and Respect for Eternity!!! ❤️ May you rest in Heavenly Peace!!! 🕊🤍🕊

[@ShreyaChoudhuryMusic]

That was the best story I have ever heard. It really had me in tears of laughter. Will.i.am was such a great friend to Michael and I'm sure Prince was too! Rest in peace to both Michael and Prince.

[@AC-mp7cx]

Prince was a psycho and bully to Michael, about his nose, trials, everything He said this: "What are my contemporaries doing now?" he said in an Associated Press interview, while Jackson was on trial accused of child molestation. "I'm not entangled in a bunch of lawsuits and a web that I can't get out of. I can hold my head up ... a happily married man who has his head in order. There isn't a bunch of scandal in my life." He was jealous of Michaels success that he never came close to

[@diegopachon8051]

Great Michael Jackson impersonation XD

[@zadi1o136]

HAVE YOU SEEN CHRIS TUCKERS?

[@katieharrison8405]

This is one of my favourite groups of people on the couch ever. Add Benedict and Miriam and it would be perfection.

[@ErnestSewell]

The title of this is a flat out lie. Prince and MJ had met as far back as 1982 or 1983, in that video at the James Brown concert, if not before.

[@devo229]

Ernest Sewell they knew each other way before the James incident

[@marywilson6354]

Ernest Sewell right they knew each other way before that

[@Jamie-Dodger]

Ernest Sewell Yeah, I think it's just a badly worded title.

[@GeneFOX70]

Michael Jackson and Prince met in the late 70s

[@mergingbutterfly]

Gosh why are people so retarded it's not saying he brought them back together for the first time apparently he's much younger than both of them he was wasn't even born it's it's seeing for the first time you brought them together and all these years. Stupid fucks

[@clevawoman]

prince and mj knew each before will.i.am became an artist. smh

[@antoineporche-rideaux4827]

clevawoman big time they both preformed with james brown at a after grammy show in i think it was 83-85 , u can find it on here

[@rose222ization]

Right!!

[@NellieGCabo]

I love Will,especially when he's impersonating Michael Jackson,he's really sweet and funny.he has a sense of humor.A lovable person.

[@diva1675]

I heard Chris Tucker tell this story but he didn't mention Will i am was there

[@rinse-esnir4010]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWqYmp-Xq7xjgpo Will does mention Chris

[@-justcallmecourtz-7287]

No Chris Tucker has not mentioned this part his story is diffrent from wills. Chris said prince asked mj what was he doing there never mentioned playing a bass in mj face

[@donluchitti]

He didn't introduce them for the first time, certainly.

[@pebbles1340]

+Don L RIGHT!!!!!

[@tommijeansummers1996]

will iam is full of shit...........can't stand him

[@lionelt7882]

Michael Jackson and Prince were on the same stage with James Brown back in the early 80s. He def. didnt introduce them to each other. Chris Tucker told this same story though in one of his standups, but he didnt say WillIAm was there tho

[@mahogany_chanel]

Mehaa Chakrabarti he didn't say introduce he said had them together

[@sharmarke187]

Quincy Jones said that they invited Prince to the studio to listen to the Bad album and the song Bad for a potential collab but Prince did not like that song. I also heard that Prince and MJ hung out and played basketball together once so they definately met each other well before this.

[@pebbles1340]

Awwwww....First of all when Michael and Prince were younger they resembled each other so much, they looked like family and they were both so competitive as artist. I really like them both, but I will give the edge to Prince only because I love the way he plays his instruments, and not to mention he was a sexual beast :))))

[@angelsoul1974]

+Pebbles Isinglish I like both but Michael played on an unique instrument as nobody else, on the strings of his soul, 'cause he was an angel. MJ's art was a higher level, different dimension.

[@pebbles1340]

angelsoul I can respect that...Thanks for your opinion. Have a great day!!!

[@Fireinherveinzz]

Pebbles Isinglish i so agree!

[@inspectorbudget]

They never looked alike.

[@misstunes1765]

@@angelsoul1974 Can't agree with Michael's art being at a higher level, different yeah, higher, naaah.

[@IanLeoMusic]

Prince was always so competitive damn hahaha

[@vincentp1772]

I love Michael

[@annamarie2849]

It is so nice that Will I am respects Michael.....other artist have respected Michael and not released the music they made with him.... those are true friends....

[@Emcfree2084]

This should have been made into a Charlie Murphy’s true Hollywood stories episode

[@alluringstar5910]

Yes!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@radjuju]

Great story of two icons. Micheal Jackson was a talented artist but at most he was a song and dance man. By contrast, Prince was a true renaissance man in terms of his artistry by being both multi-dimensional and brilliant in everything he did. I always thought M.J. gave up too much for crossover appeal by becoming a rated-G family friendly artist that posed no threat--a la Peter Pan. Comparing Prince to M.J. is a bit like apples to oranges. I'll always wonder what M.J. would've achieved if he had met Prince's challenge musically by competing directly with him.

[@mete1099]

very nice thought. what kind of music would've he made if it wasn't for the record labels pushing him do to what they wanted

[@vamosama]

Why on earth there is no footage of this epic moment? And yes the did met in the 80's at MJ's house ..Quincy Jones told the story.

[@chillbill4447]

Oh shit so that Chris Tucker one stand show that I just watched that was about him seeing Prince with Michael really happened 😂

[@JohnVelazquez-jo3pd]

I wish someone would make an animated version of this clip, and also depicting the senarios as they unfolded in the story being narrated

[@octoman511]

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, IF ANYONE HAS A PHOTO OR VIDEO OF THAT PLEASE UPLOAD IT!!!!!

[@pauloxley7943]

Misleading title is misleading

[@Shubham_Sharma_Official]

Michael was very cute ❤

[@akiratokyodesu6266]

Can we see the footage of prince playing the bass in Mike's face? XD

[@lewiscranston881]

James almost couldn't hold it in at 'I gotta put the kids to sleep'.

[@voicenoteswithbrookewilliams]

HAHAHA MICHAELS SO CUTE

[@Sanaya50]

Hahaha 😂, Prince and Michael.. Epic rivalry.. Why was i born so HELL late.. I missed all the fun.. GOD "why was prince playing the base on my face" 😂 lol .. Prince and michael jackson.. Where are you two. We miss u both. Personality i miss Michael the most. He makes me want to be a better person every day. I love him :)

[@dhanashriadrekar2629]

Exactly. Even I think I was born in wrong generation I miss both of them badly. The kind of music which these both created is unbelievable. Though I am more a prince fan I just feel pity that their kind of music never gonna come back.💜💜

[@robertquinonez8281]

Michael Jackson seeing Prince performing is like The Beatles watching The Rolling Stones

[@nolls14]

Prince would have been the Beatles in that analogy. He was a creative tour de force like the Fabs.

[@robertquinonez8281]

@@nolls14 Prince was big but he was never big as MJ in terms of popularity

[@rafaelalves9216]

@@nolls14 I'm Brazilian and the popularity of Michael Jackson in the world, no artist has or will have.

[@apocbible]

Prince resented Michael's unparalleled success and fame. Hence the "bass in the face".

[@danielsather3561]

I think it's more of Prince being a well known prankster and his mysterious allure.

[@Fireinherveinzz]

apocbible they had a history of shading each other like two five year old boys

[@alinelson00786]

You need to understand that all this started at the James Brown concert in the 80s when Michael Jackson invited Prince up on stage Michael Jackson new Prince was intoxicated that's why he invited him up on stage and I believe wholeheartedly that he wanted Prince to embarrass himself so that he would look better in front of James Brown because obviously both of them looked up to him that was a blow to Prince I think I after that he was like yeah it's on little one gloved man.

[@mindfield9]

Will I. Am seems to be a great guy!

[@fgang781]

Hes always been a meanie 😂😂😂😂 RIP to the King Michael Jackson

[@katherinejackson1409]

Michael ❤️❤️❤️

[@simonbarre-brisebois4684]

It is nice to see Johnny Depp in this clip listening to this very funny story between Michael Jackson and Prince. As I remember seeing in many clips, Johnny Depp loves Micheal, played Jackson 5 music on stage, and expressed support and sympathy for MJ and his family. And as he was friends with Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor (two close friends of MJ), he must have had some nice discussions with them about MJ and Neverland. As for Prince and Michael, any gossip or diss about them being so-called enemies or hating each other is pure Rita Skeeter rubbish. Everyone who worked around Prince and MJ stated many times how Prince and Michael Jackson were great friends and had a private non-mediatized friendship; where they pranked each other and had fun. Lenny Kravitz stated it as well in a dialogue with Naomi Campbell. And so did Cat from Prince's group. People who knew Prince said that whenever he herd people demonizing or dissing Michael, he always got angry and reprimanded them harshly. He even threw out fans out of his forums if they insulted Michael. Watch the videos "Prince had Jokes and Respect for Michael Jackson - Told by Cat" and "Lenny Kravitz hanging out with Prince and Michael Jackson". They show how much Prince and MJ were fond of each other. And as for those who have hostile ideas about Michael Jackson, watch the podcasts called "Michael Jackson Case for Innocence", "Red Jackson Dance", "The Mjcast", and the documentaries "Square One MJ", "The Lies of Leaving Neverland”, “Michael Jackson Private Home Movies”, “Michael Jackson Take Two The Footage You Were Never Meant to See”, “Michael Jackson The Humanitarian” and “Loving Neverland”. These sources of information are precious and rich in information that the media refuses to adequately represent.

[@anoth3rgrl]

he’s a meanni lol that’s so cute

[@MJ-sj5dv]

Till this year this is one of the funniest things I've heard 😂

[@westyraviz]

But Michael used to mock Prince as well. Prince knew that Michael was constantly looking for ways to humiliate him. Read L.A. Reid’s account of his encounter with MJ and how MJ was mocking Prince.

[@albertjordan2808]

This is the funniest thing in the world to me right now 😂😂

[@DLBlckwl]

"Why was Prince playing the bass in my face?" Haha that's perfect. Way to go Prince. It was a metaphor of his musical superiority over Mike that's all. Bless 'em both though.

[@dQFDs]

I love this so much

[@stylecollective-qt9um]

He didn't introduce them, they actually knew each other since Prince's LOVESEXY days in the 80s when Michael used to come to Prince's shows, and Prince, backstage, would commence to prank & tease Michael. So at least , the part about Micheal saying Prince was a meanie rings true. They were, however, in contact as friends as they grew much older.

[@victimvan974]

Johnny Depp just seems like a super cool guy here. As a musician himself, im sure he loved Michael.

[@neverknowsbest.]

*chris tucker told this story before will. Happy to hear in detail what happened lmao*

[@eCelia08]

LOL... Will is so funny. Nice story.

[@tina8796]

that's an awesome story.

[@iluvcamaros1912]

I feel like for the rest of my life I'm going to hear "why was prince playing the bass in my face" everytime I think of Prince or MJ.

[@aqaqaqaq9472]

It´s even sadder if you realize that Prince died a few months after this episode was released.... :´(

[@BillySheckler2481]

Why was prince playing the base in my face?

[@dradra2day]

Rivalry

[@iamfivelights]

He tells this story much better on the ellen show. Go check that one out.

[@dnice8675]

Prince probably played the bass in Michael's face because he know Michael can't play instruments.

[@RastaSaiyaman]

Oh no? Micheal played Keyboards on "off the wall" and during the "this is it" special he's actually showing Ready Freddie Washington how to play a certain riff on his bass. Don't dismiss MJ's prowess on instruments.

[@phoenixdown5181]

Michael could play piano

[@loristnorton3723]

He composes music and choreographs the instrumentalization of his concerts :v he plays most instruments dude.

[@toptaemin1278]

Michael could play drums, piano & guitar.

[@zaarjaf6140]

He was playing Piano, very professionally, and also Guitar!

[@sploshgod62]

I never had at it on my mind in them days sometimes i thought of that never asked.

[@nordineouldrabah7473]

Tu ne peux pas comparer la confiture de fraise à de la compote.....2 styles différents 2 histoires différentes,2 grands talents chacun à sa place, si prince est un grand musicien,Mike faisait beaucoup de chansons pour un album800 pour triller,100 pour Bad,sans compter les projets non aboutis qui s'avère être des trésors, stockés quelque part

[@ragantate3995]

Wow, Johnny D sitting there listening to an m.j. story and NOT reenacting it in a movie later.

[@albertinaNZ]

Awesome

[@KofoOlanrewaju]

It's Johnny Depp with his wine glass malfunction for me 😅. Why is he doing that?? There's centre piece right in front of you 😂

[@franciscob1978]

What a great story😂😂

[@h0lly_blue]

they'd better mention Miriam

[@c.antoinehill100]

I hope they find a way to put this in the movie. 😆

[@Joy-tq2de]

That episode is this? The lineup is great

[@MrLalalooney]

soooooo HIGH;-)

[@bloodberrybellamy]

They weren't introduced by him they went from wayyyyyyy back.

[@Noway00141]

JOHNNY DEPP ❤️❤️❤️💯💯

[@masdatae6439]

if will was really a friend of Michael, he wouldn't sell him out for cheap laughs, especially to the likes of Graham Norton

[@samuelhawthorne8137]

its funny. they both are gone. its part of history now. it wasn't like he's talking about when Michael and Prince crapped themselves or something.

[@ComptonCool]

Oh my God! He's just doing a voice impression. Grow the hell up. Chris Tucker does it all the time, especially when Michael was still alive and he didn't seem to have a problem with it. Will is just simply telling a story about his late buddy and if he hadn't done the voice the story wouldn't have been as funny.

[@luijo633]

Imagine a Michael Jackson X Prince co-op something like " Rivality "

[@ad240p]

'Bad' was supposed to actually be a collaboration with Prince, but he declined upon seeing 'Your butt is mine' lmao

[@ilsevanderbij7179]

​@@ad240p Not only that, but he didn't like the original song AT ALL, so he re-arranged, re-wrote and recorded the song in his Paisley Park studio, and sent it to MJ out of spite! Shame we never got to hear that recording, lol.

[@jadefox58]

That couch is super crowded

[@irafbf3488]

johnny depp was like... wow must be a priveledge.. being a guitarist himself

[@JoeTheViewer]

Eddie Griffin said he was there when that happened too.

[@JoeMama-tl4tr]

I wonder if Johnny Depp ever met prince or Michael Jackson. Especially prince since both are musicians

[@nolls14]

Lol As If Depp is a musician. Prince would throw him out before the soundcheck.

[@ilsevanderbij7179]

@@nolls14 GET OFF THE STAGE!

[@MarisasDiary]

#hilarious 😂😂🤣🤣

[@maxbordeaux4104]

MJ can thank Quincy Jones for his best songs !! In parallel, Prince is the only composer behind his music. Huge difference of musical talent. Prince was superior to MJ, no question.

[@MissG1717]

Absolutely agree. I say this all the time.

[@mariovh]

Spot on ! Prince even if He is My Hero is The Most Talented Musician Ever and I’m sure everyone will agree with me ! The Most Complete , Ultimate, Dressed , Beautiful Man I have ever laid eyes on ! I Miss Him so much 💜👏🙌😢

[@ronj9448]

What year was this interview? Thanks

[@yo-gn5xj]

Alguien me puede traducir lo que ha dicho?

[@blakstageMASgrafico]

Will. I. Am estaba en un show en vegas y Michael Jackson le llamo por teléfono porque quería ir a verlo en su show pero el show de William era muy temprano así que William invito a Michael a ver el show de Prince. Cuando estaban en el show de Prince-el bajo del escenario tocando el bajo y se puso en frente de Michael en su cara. Al terminar Michael invito a William a almorzar y al llegar William a su casa Michael le pregunto porque Prince avia tocado el bajo en su cara, a lo cal William le contesto que Michael solo estaba siendo amable pero Michael le dijo que Prince siempre era un malvado.

[@LameGeneration91]

"I got to put the kids to sleep" McAvoy's Face XD

[@DJDUBLTV]

Me and Will I Am just put out a wicked interview on my channel! If you're a fan of his it's 100% worth checking out!!! 👀

[@Ronan_Black]

Prince tried to run Mike and his momma over with a car

[@Tes73792]

What year were they at Prince's concert?!?????

[@RAHBARZ17]

Jennifer fuckin Lawrence got dam

[@BlackKnight_217]

he told the story better on Ellen.

[@cleftheart]

I agree! His story on Ellen is more detailed and he did impersonations of both Michael and Prince.

[@ZandeKongo]

"I gotta put the kids to sleep", yeah. 😂😂😂😂

[@belfibe1]

😅😅😅 ma va a caga pirla

[@VenemiesTech]

Nothing funny about that, he had 3 children and was a single parent. If you thinking about some pedo jokes, you're sick.

[@LaughterCigar]

Look at the face of James McCavoy when he says that...!

[@phoenixdown5181]

Piss off

[@spac4st]

prince was more a musician.. ... michael was more a showman.. prince was more talented than michael because prince played more instruments.. but michael was michael.. the king... michael is unbeateable ..you cant compare

[@astroganx2347]

Lol you can't say that Prince was more talented than Michael because he played more instruments wtf? do you even know what talent is? they were both amazing talented artists but let's stay true and honest. There's a reason Michael Jackson is called the King of Pop.

[@bapper78ross28]

astroganx23 prince the musicians musician, let's be clear

[@HazelAmarie]

Dani Díaz He was a better instrumentalist but aside from that MJ equals him out when it concerns songwriting, composing, producing, choreographing, directing and writing pieces of his short films, overall showmanship, singing, dancing and being an incredible sketch artist and an astute businessman.

[@bapper78ross28]

Hazel Amarie wow everything you just said Prince did too. Not comparable.

[@HazelAmarie]

Bapper78 Ross Prince didn't choreograph his dance moves nor was he a sketch artist....And singing and dancing goes to MJ...Prince was the better instrumentalist other than that they equal each other out...MJ was credited for playing piano, drums, percussion and guitar on his album credits as well he just wasn't as prolific in comparison to Prince.

[@sploshgod62]

That's for those that accuse michael jackson of the m word.

[@EXPKTNO]

Isnt it kinda selfish *NOT* to release the tracks of all these amazing artist and keep them to yourself? Think about it, If he released a track from MJ and donated all the money it gets to some charity......MJ would be VERY proud. Instead of keeping the music in the dark. IDK thats just my 2 cents.

[@leakypussy9813]

no its really not its selfish of you to think youre that entitled to them

[@toptaemin1278]

Will i am looks so much like Chris Tucker. Why?

[@oliviawooldridge7174]

🤣🤣

[@orishaphotos481]

Why is Will I am sweating and talking like that? That's my question

[@redconsciousness2090]

This just shows that Prince was kind of jelous..ever since the 80´s

[@bapper78ross28]

Mitch MC why and how?

[@alinelson00786]

Sorry but as a very big Prince fan i know you are wrong in so many f****** ways that's not the kind of person that Prince was. It all stems from the James Brown concert in the 80s where Michael Jackson completely embarrassed Prince by inviting them on stage and because Prince was so drunk he couldn't play and made himself look like a fool in front of his Idol and if you look you'll see a smirk on Michael Jackson's face as Prince exits and knocks over a pole it all stems from that night and then I think it offended Michael Jackson when Prince didn't want to do the bad duet with them because Michael Jackson wanted him to sing your butt is mine okay and I think Prince did not like that even rewrote the bad song because he thought it was too inappropriate

[@PunofHarts]

The title is WILDLY misleading. Prince co-wrote BAD, how you gonna say Will.i.am introduced them to each other?

[@jaimeeclair8999]

+The Pun of Harts Prince didn't co-write "bad". It was MJ and Quincy Jones who wrote the song. Prince was offered the Wesley Snipes role in the video, which he turned down due to the first verse of the song.

[@PunofHarts]

+edibe e Good to know

[@reach2prasanna]

+The Pun of Harts Quoting Wikipedia here ""Bad" was originally intended to be a duet between Jackson and musician Prince; although the plans were not fruitful." - You are wrong brother

[@theDavidChannel1]

+edibe e It wasn't just the Wesley Snipes character, it was supposed to be a duet of sorts with them in a way going at each other on the song. The whole idea was MJ and Quincy Jones. Prince was willing to meet with them to discuss the idea but he turned it down because he thought it was lame. Friction between the two had already been established when Prince turned down being involved in We Are The World two years earlier for the same reason - he thought it was lame lol. So this just added to their differences along the years

[@jaimeeclair8999]

David Duarte Oh! I didn't know it was supposed to be a duet. Well, Prince said he didn't have a problem with MJ, but it seems he was afraid of being upstaged by him. They're probably having a dance/sing battle in heaven right now, lol.

[@thebeastkilla6969]

1st really!

[@mrjohneeviedean]

0:54 M: oh, I gotta put the kids to sleep W: But Michael, your kids are away on a trip? M: Hee-hee

[@dalexisf.6052]

hahahah mj was a virgo, always worried

[@jsmall10671]

Clickbait title.

[@Jdnexx]

I have never seen him just talk it’s weird

[@AbdiPianoChannel]

Prince was too jealous of Michael Jackson. Michael saw prince as another black artist

[@heckinbasedandinkpilledoct7459]

Lol jealous of what?

[@AbdiPianoChannel]

@@heckinbasedandinkpilledoct7459 Michael's talent and his popularity

[@freakboy40]

Too funny....Prince was a bit strange.

[@GabeGettinRich]

Expect silliness when BBC is reporting on American topics. Will never introduced anyone, nor is he old enough to . Also, Will isn’t very popular here.

[@musicalman1995]

...fake? I dunno.