The Elephant Man:

Story – It was reported in more than one tabloid that Michael Jackson was trying to buy the bones of the original Elephant Man. The rumor came to life in 1986 when Michael was approximately 27 or 28 years old. He reportedly called the Royal Hospital of London for John Merrick’s remains. It was said that the story originated from Michael’s own publicity people.

Truth – Michael Jackson was interested in the STORY of John Merrick, not his remains. The tragic story of the treatment John Merrick received because of his deformity touched Michael and he said the story made him cry, but he never wanted to purchase his bones. Michael’s own words on the subject: Elephant Man Bones

Or ... if you don't want to watch the whole interview, read the transcript for that section here: Transcript Oprah

The Hyperbaric Sleeping Chamber:

Story - Michael reportedly spent his nights inside of a hyperbaric oxygen chamber were later revealed to have originated with Michael's own employees and publicity people.

Truth – Michael used the approximately 1.2 million he received from Pepsi after the accident where he hair and scalp was burned, to fund a burn unit. One of the machines purchased was a hyperbaric therapy machine which would speed the healing for burn victims. It was suggested that Michael climb inside and test it out, which he did. Pictures were taken . . . and the rest is HIStory . . .
Michael’s own words: Hyperbaric Chamber answer

Michael Was a Pedophile:

Story - it certainly seems strange that of all the kids Michael spent time with over the years (thousands at his Neverland Ranch), only two - both who happened to have financially motivated parents - ever came forward to accuse him publicly. Also strange: That the 1993 strip-search performed on Jackson - which failed to produce a "matching description" of his genitals - is to this day largely ignored by the media and the press in the debate regarding his innocence.

Fact - The court of law exonerated Michael both times he was accused, both in 1993 and 2005. In 1993, Evan Chandler, father of the boy Michael was accused of molesting, was recorded in a telephone conversation on his plan to extort money from Michael. It was later learned that Evan Chandler was upset that Michael had distanced himself from Evan after feeling he was being pressured into funding Chandler’s screenplay. Michael instead opted to visit the boy at the home where Jordan’s mother lived.

You can learn more about that here: The 1993 Case

Michael’s words here: Michael's broadcast defense

Michael was Gay:

Rumor – Started actually back in the late seventies, but this story seemed to be revisited shortly after his death by claims from a wanna-be journalist and writer Ian Halperin. Ian claims to know two of Michael’s gay lovers, one of which was a construction worker who was until his death, made head of his security team. (Ian claims he was Michael’s lover, not employee).

Truth – Ian, like millions of girls across the globe, has some unrealized fantasies. As much as I hate to give this parasite ANY recognition, I did want to mention that his book should be left on the shelves unpurchased. Do not feed the rumors. Michael was not gay, he was not asexual. There has been speculation that emotionally he was in his early teens. He was also very faithful and he believed his sexual conduct mattered. He was easily embarrassed by anything openly sexual. He didn’t believe in discussing such things in public or in the open. Telling was his interview with Oprah when she asked him if he was still a virgin. Source: Michael and Oprah

Michael’s faith would have forbidden a gay lifestyle. This source showing a clip of a deposition in 2006, shows Michael discussing his reasons for firing Mark Schappel when he learned he was a producer of gay porn. When Michael learned this, he did not want mothers of children who might view the video Schappel was hired to produce, to associate Michael’s values with Mark Shappel’s. Mark sued. This deposition was part of that legal proceeding: Mark Schappel Deposition

Clips like this it's evident that Michael definitely was not gay. Most of the people he invited up on stage, or into his limo after shows . . . girls. Michael acted like a shy boy on his first date when around women he met for the first time, like this clip here Michael hugging fans

Michael Jackson wanted to be White:

Rumor – Michael Jackson bleached his skin because he was ashamed to be black . . . or Because he thought he would be more popular if he were white . . . or He thought white artists had more success (and many other reasons).

Truth – Michael had a hereditary skin condition called Vitiligo, in which the pigment of his skin would disappear. There are pictures of him everywhere on line where you can see his makeup had worn off during concerts or video shoots, yet some still persist in spreading this rumor. Learn more about Vitiligo here: Michael Vitiligo

You can hear his makeup artist, Karen Faye, talk about that here: Jacksons makeup artist .

What most people also seem to forget that despite the fact that Michael Jackson was the most famous performer in the world, he was still entitled to his medical privacy, which was made impossible both by the allegations during the 1993 trial (which you can read more about here) and the persistent rumor that he was trying to be white. To the contrary, for a shy performer, it was probably one of the most psychologically debilitating conditions he had to endure.