A 'Bad' Moment
The day of the Wembley Stadium concert. During the final rehearsal just before the show, Michael Jackson exuded a raw, commanding charisma that was a far cry from his gentle, everyday self.
"Phew..."
Standing on stage, his usual introverted demeanor vanished entirely, replaced by the sheer majesty of the King of Pop. Sweating and lifting his head, dozens of staff members watched him intently, waiting for his signal.
The massive stage, the state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, the staff, the dancers, the band, and the camera crews—everything had been orchestrated with an immense flow of capital, all for the performance of this single man. And soon, the countless fans flocking to the venue would join this grand spectacle.
He was, in every sense, the King of Popular Music. Everything this man had built over a lifetime would be laid bare once more in tonight's performance.
With the final checks complete, the venue was now fully prepared to welcome the audience. Catching his breath, Michael signaled the end of the rehearsal and stepped down from the stage. His manager rushed to his side, shouting excitedly.
"That was incredible, Michael! Tonight's show is going to be absolutely killer!"
"..."
"Michael?"
Usually, Michael displayed intense focus on the day of a show, but now he seemed preoccupied with something else. Naturally curious, the manager asked him what was on his mind. Michael turned, his pure, unfathomably deep eyes shining like galaxies, and spoke.
"Is there a children's hospital nearby?"
"Huh? I mean, I'm sure there is..."
"Can we make some time after the show?"
"What? No, Michael, we have to fly straight to Hungary right after..."
"Is even an hour too much to ask?"
The manager's face instantly paled at Michael's words. Michael Jackson. Thirty-four years old. Yet, this superstar, possessing a purity that defied his age, cherished children above all else. He believed they had to be protected at all costs and given the freedom to dream. Because of this, he never hesitated to perform these bold acts of kindness.
But from a management perspective, it was a nightmare. Every minute, every second of a star of Michael Jackson's caliber was worth a fortune. The entire tour revolved around him. While it wasn't strictly impossible to squeeze in an hour, the manager wanted to avoid any extra scheduling to prepare for unexpected variables.
"I know, I know, Michael... I understand how you feel. But think of the fans who bought those expensive tour tickets just to see you. An hour? Sure, it's not impossible. But what if there's a traffic delay? That one hour we squeezed out vanishes, and the entire schedule after that gets completely derailed. So..."
"So it is possible? To bring hope to sick children."
"..."
"Pfft, hahaha!"
Michael's stylist, who had been listening nearby, burst into laughter.
"Why even try to stop him? Michael is Peter Pan. He has to take the children to Neverland."
"That is a beautiful way to put it...! Neverland!"
Seeing Michael smile so brightly, the manager knew there was no stopping him. Michael was always like this. A relentless perfectionist when it came to music, dance, and performance, yet possessing a childlike innocence deep within. Once he set his mind on something like this, stopping him was an exercise in futility.
"...Sigh. Fine, fine. Let's go. To the children's hospital."
With a defeated expression, the manager turned around and immediately muttered to an assistant standing right behind him.
"Find out who Michael has been spending time with at the hotel lately."
Friday, July 2, 1993.
Michael Jackson's Dangerous Tour: London had officially begun.
In truth, the city had been buzzing with excitement for a week. Posters of Michael Jackson were plastered everywhere, and the city seemed to come alive with graffiti, music, flash mobs, and buskers. The British public had desperately anticipated his return, and they expressed their excitement in their own unique ways.
When the day finally arrived, the area surrounding Wembley Stadium was packed. Typically, concerts for pop stars attracted a predominantly young crowd. However, Michael Jackson defied all conventional demographics. With an enthusiasm that rivaled a massive British rock band's concert, people of all ages and genders streamed toward Wembley Stadium.
The crowd inside and outside the venue was estimated to be around one hundred thousand. Although the gates opened three hours before the show, the sight of so many people moving in unison resembled an army marching under the command of an emperor.
On one of those crowded streets, a young man was walking.
He wore a black leather jacket, a white T-shirt, faded jeans, and sunglasses. He slipped through the crowd, slowly joining the march.
From somewhere, Michael Jackson's "Will You Be There" began to play. The sacred, gentle track had been re-released as a single on June 28 and served as the theme song for the movie Free Willy.
Among the crowd gathering at Wembley Stadium with dreams and hopes, this blonde youth possessed an exceptionally striking presence.
"Huh?"
"Whoa, wait..."
"I think I've seen him somewhere before."
"Who is that guy? He's insanely handsome."
"Even those sunglasses can't hide his face. Who on earth is he?"
"Damn! That's Sion Lee...?! What is he doing here?!"
Sion walked against the flow of the crowd, heading toward his destination. Some recognized him, while others didn't, but his face ensured he commanded attention wherever he went. As he walked, he rhythmically nodded his head to the music. Suddenly, he ducked into a quiet alley, grabbed a lamppost, and let out a playful "Hoo!"
It was a clumsy imitation.
The boy was making his way toward Michael Jackson.
Alan, the MTV director following him with a handcam, couldn't help but marvel.
Man, if I was born with a face like that, I wouldn't have a single fear in this world.
Of course, it wasn't just his face. His entire presence was different—he possessed a distinct aura. His tall stature, broad shoulders, and small face made him stand out even in a massive crowd. On top of that, his relaxed, confident smile made him incredibly photogenic.
The concept was simple: "An ordinary young man going to a Michael Jackson concert." Yet, the reason an overwhelmingly handsome actor like Sion Lee had been cast was because the public sought fantasy in media. With his looks and presence, he was someone the audience could easily project themselves onto, acting out the perfect balance between the ordinary and the extraordinary.
He slowly blended in with the crowd heading to Michael's concert.
"Cut!" the director called out softly, and the crew scrambled to prepare for the next shot.
Amidst the crowd moving toward Wembley Stadium, Sion took a brief break and reviewed his storyboard. The next scene involved him walking toward the stadium to the beat of "Black or White," which would be layered over the footage.
After reading it, Sion spoke up.
"Should I show a little skin?"
"..."
"..."
"Excuse me?"
After a brief silence, Jenny, the stylist, was the only one who managed to respond.
While "Will You Be There" was a song with a sacred, gentle atmosphere, "Black or White" was a pop-rock anthem delivering a powerful message against racism. Watching Michael Jackson sing it with his shirt torn open in the music video evoked a powerful sense of liberation.
Sion casually pointed to the collar of his T-shirt.
"I'll just rip it down from the top. Make it a V-neck. Free-spirited, like a young guy."
"Hmm."
Alan, the director, walked over, thought about it for a moment, and gave a thumbs-up.
"I like it. That could work."
"Alright. Let me get the scissors..."
"No need, that's dangerous. I'll just rip it myself."
Sion took off his leather jacket and ripped the collar of his T-shirt. *Riiiiip.*
"Oh, I ripped it too much."
He blinked. The shirt was torn almost down to his solar plexus. The surrounding staff, initially stunned, burst into laughter. Although the look suited his face and tall frame perfectly, Sion himself looked slightly embarrassed.
Perhaps because of the pre-concert excitement in the air, the atmosphere on set was fantastic.
"Alright! Let's go again!"
With the director's shout, the cameras rolled. Sion continued toward Wembley Stadium, listening to Michael Jackson's music. He navigated through quiet side streets before merging back into the main crowd.
With his leather jacket off, sleeves rolled up, and his collar torn open, he blended seamlessly into the crowd with an air of effortless freedom. To capture the best shots, the director and camera operators filmed from various angles using handcams and pre-installed street cameras. MTV wanted to capture the raw energy of the concert venue alongside the music.
This isn't bad at all.
Sion felt a strange sense of liberation amidst the massive crowd. Unlike in America, he wasn't recognized as frequently by the British public. While it reminded him that he still had a long way to go, it also brought Michael's words back to his mind.
"Being a star is a lonely thing. I've never even gone grocery shopping alone. Since I became a singer in the Jackson 5 as a child, it was an inevitable destiny. Of course, some might think I'm complaining from a place of privilege. So, I try to accept it as it is, along with the blessings I enjoy. But sometimes, when I realize I haven't experienced the things everyone else takes for granted... I wonder if it's right for me to be delivering messages to people."
What must it feel like to be such an overwhelming star? Even Sion, whose name was constantly dragged through the American tabloids as a teen heartthrob, couldn't fully comprehend it yet.
But when two young women holding beers approached him, Sion got a small taste of that feeling.
"Excuse me... Sion? You're Sion Lee, right?"
"We're huge fans! We absolutely loved Fragments of You!"
Sion smiled warmly at the girls and danced with them without saying a word. Despite his slightly awkward movements, the girls giggled with delight. To the director, who was eager to capture raw, authentic energy, it was a beautifully dramatic moment.
Nodding his head to the rhythm of "Black or White," Sion finally stood in front of Wembley Stadium, looking up at the massive poster of Michael Jackson's Dangerous Tour with a smirk.
"Cut!" the director yelled.
Now, all that was left was the filming inside the venue.
July 11, 1993.
Exactly one week after they began filming in the UK, MTV aired a special program titled Dangerous: The World Tour Experience with Sion Lee.
"Whoa... Sion is with MJ? This is insane!"
"Oh my god, I can't wait to watch this!"
The program was designed to deliver the electric atmosphere of the Michael Jackson tour in a hybrid "documentary and music video" format. Sitting in front of their televisions during prime time, teenagers were already buzzing with excitement.
Michael Jackson and Sion Lee! It was an entirely unexpected pairing, and the kids couldn't contain their thrill, looking as flushed and excited as if they had snuck a few drinks.
But in her Stanford dorm room, Elena Asimov simply smiled with calm amusement.
So like you, Sion.
He was an actor, but also a star who wanted to influence and inspire others. Elena, perhaps understanding Sion Lee better than anyone else, watched the screen with a soft smile, eager to see what kind of "performance" he would deliver, sitting alongside her roommates.
"Wow, it was absolutely insane! The energy on the day of the concert was off the charts!"
The broadcast began with an interview with the host, Sion Lee. It then transitioned to footage of Michael Jackson's tour prep, highlighting the immense effort he poured into his music and choreography, interspersed with scenes of Sion exploring London.
Sion's fashion, his natural interactions with the locals, and his dry humor kept the show incredibly engaging and grounded.
"Whoa, that's so cool."
"I didn't know the British loved MJ that much."
"There's always someone calling Sion handsome."
"Well, look at him! How could they not?"
The girls couldn't help but comment.
"Sion! I'm a fan!"
"Oh, I have fans here too? ...I guess that's natural?"
Watching Sion banter on screen, Elena recalled the fierce passion that lay beneath his playful exterior. Standing before a global legend who had dominated the music industry for over a decade, this talented but slightly cocky young actor held his own. The broadcast struck a perfect balance between lighthearted fun and artistic weight, and the American teenagers found it fascinating to see people across the ocean reacting to him in the exact same way they did.
Then came the footage of the concert day. The music videos that had been teased earlier began to play in full.
Sion, clad in his leather jacket, walking against the crowd toward his destination.
"Ahhhhhh!"
The girls in the dorm lounge screamed, jumping up and down on the sofa. Elena, who had been dozing off, was caught in the chaos like a startled white cat. She watched the screen with a dazed expression, unsure whether to be happy that her friends loved Sion or to nurse her ringing ears.
Sion walking through the streets of London to "Will You Be There," surrounded by crowds heading to the stadium. Then, a seamless transition to "Black or White."
Unable to resist the upbeat tempo, one of the girls stood up and started dancing. Anne, the cookie fairy, was dragged into the dance, her hands held as she was swung around like a marionette. Elena craned her neck like a curious cat, keeping her eyes glued to the screen.
As the second music video ended, the tone suddenly shifted. A tense, dramatic background track began to play.
"Huh?"
"Wait, what's happening?"
The girls stopped dancing and focused on the screen. The broadcast cut back to the studio, where Sion sat with a grave expression.
"I had no idea at the time that such a thing would happen."
"What? What is it? Sion, are you okay?"
"What on earth happened?!"
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the screen, and even Elena, looking slightly worried, curled her fingers into her palms. Then, the shocking footage played.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggghhhhhhhh!"
"Uooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhh!"
"Because I'm Bad! I'm Bad! Shamone!"
It was the encore finale of Michael Jackson's Wembley concert. And there, standing on that roaring, electric stage, was Sion Lee.
"...?"
"...What?!"
Before anyone could process the shock, the closing logo flashed on the screen.
TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT EPISODE...
"No way! Why are they stopping there?!"
"Hey!!"
The Stanford girls went absolutely wild, screaming at the television. Amidst the chaos, Elena let out a soft laugh, a warm smile spreading across her face.
That really was a 'Bad' moment, Sion.