Ome MJ signs posters for fans at his appearance event. Photo / Anna Heath
It’s not just his online presence that has his supporters captivated.
Hundreds of fans, many not even born when Jackson was alive, filled Christchurch’s streets for his tribute event on Saturday to honour 17 years since the King of Pop’s death.
As he walked the streets of the city centre to the event on a cold Christchurch night, the eyes of passersby were locked on his gold and black outfit.
OmeMJ, a Michael Jackson impersonator based in Christchurch, has become hugely popular online. Photo / Anna Heath
Young fans screamed his name from blocks away, sprinting towards OmeMJ just to grab a moment with him.
As he turned the corner, and just metres from the meet and greet, supporters erupted in cheers, pushing to get to the front of the group.
An OmeMJ-signed Michael Jackson jacket replica was thrown to fans from a bar balcony, with a scuffle unfolding below over who would take home the prized piece.
A signed replica of Michael Jackson jacket is thrown to fans from the balcony at Fat Eddie’s. Photo / Anna Heath
The fans weren’t really here to hear him sing – OmeMJ let the band take the vocals for Blame It On the Boogie – and he announced he wasn’t breaking out the moonwalk or any other dance moves, unlike his enthusiastic fans.
Nobody seemed to mind. For them, the perfect look and a carefully cultivated Michael Jackson persona were enough.
Behind the dark, tinted glasses, OmeMJ told us – in a very MJ fashion – that when he’s not impersonating Jackson, he tends to be more reserved.
“I’m just a quiet person; when I’m surrounded by people, it is very overwhelming because I never would have expected this in 100 years,” he said in a good imitation of Jackson’s voice and mannerisms.
“People cry, they chase me, smile, laugh, every emotion.”
Young Michael Jackson fans fight over an OmeMJ signed jacket thrown by the impersonator. Photo / Anna Heath
OmeMJ said Jackson had been his hero for years.
”I just find him very unique,” he said.
“I think that’s what attracted me to him and you know, his dance style of singing.
“The way he looked, just everything about him, I absolutely adore.”
Sir Howard Morrison greets Michael Jackson with a traditional hongi on his visit to NZ in 1996. Photo / Mark Mitchell
His popularity has grown so quickly that even members of his family only discovered his online fame in recent months.
“My dad’s very proud,” he said.
“He was completely shocked and my sister, she only found out about a month or two ago because I was very quiet and she couldn’t believe me.
“She said, ‘Oh my God, it’s my brother’,” he said.
Young fans rushed to Christchurch city to catch a glimpse of the impersonator. Photo / Anna Heath
Asked about the sexual abuse allegations Jackson faced during his lifetime, including a 2005 child molestation trial that ended with his acquittal, OmeMJ said his opinion had never changed.
“I don’t listen to it because I believe that he was innocent, and no one can change my mind,” he said.
“He was the most loving person ever, and I think people should really, really look into him a bit more and not judge him.”
Jackson denied the allegations during his lifetime. They have continued to be debated following his death.
OmeMJ has gained more than 40,000 followers since his first video last year. Photo / Anna Heath
When asked what he wishes more people knew, OmeMJ said the gig is “not as easy as it looks”.
“It takes like two or three hours to get into makeup and everything,” he said.
“It can be very hard just to, you know, make a few videos, but it takes hours behind the scenes.”
But there’s no sign of him slowing down anytime soon.
“I want to do it for as long as I can,” he said.
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