Michael Jackson’s Friend Blames the Star’s Dermatologist for ‘Enabling Him’ Before Death: ‘Couldn’t Say No’

A friend of Michael Jackson is opening up about the pop star‘s tragic death, revealing 17 years later that he feels it could have been prevented if it weren’t for “selfish” doctors, including the late dermatologist to the stars, Dr. Arnold Klein.

In a Page Six article published on Thursday, June 25 — the day the “Thriller” icon died in 2009 — Geoffrey Mark, an award-winning producer, said he met Jackson through Klein years ago.

In hindsight, Mark alleged that Klein was another doctor close to Jackson who only cared about getting close to Hollywood’s biggest stars, even if it meant their health declined.

“Arnie thought that Michael was addicted, but that didn’t stop him from writing the prescriptions,” Mark said of Klein.

According to the report, Klein administered Jackson with Demerol and Botox at his Beverly Hills, California, office, months before Jackson’s passing.

Mark also claimed Klein “didn’t try hard enough” to wean Jackson off substances he was addicted to.

“Arnie was very much about the jet-set Hollywood life, knowing, being on the inside of all this stuff. I think that was Arnie’s drug,” Mark told the outlet.

“To that end, Arnie couldn’t say ‘no’ to Michael,” he continued, “because saying ‘no’ to Michael would have ended that kind of entrée.”

Mark also accused Klein, who died in 2015, of enabling his high-profile clients to get close to the rich and famous lifestyle.

“His nature was having financial, social power and getting himself the spotlight, getting the men he wanted to be with, getting famous people to want him and need him, so that he was on the inside of things,” Jackson’s friend claimed. “And then once he was on the inside, he used what he learned to further himself.”

While Mark believes Klein was guilty of “enabling him for so long,” he ultimately blamed Jackson for his own death.

“Michael had millions of dollars to go to other doctors who would have just as happily taken the money and enabled him,” Mark explained. “So unfortunately … the addiction was already there, and no one person could have made a difference, except Michael himself.”

“An addict needs a moment of clarity,” the friend added, “to understand, ‘If I don’t change, I’m gonna die.'”

The King of Pop died at the age of 50 on June 25, 2009 from cardiac arrest caused by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication. The fatal dose was administered by Dr. Conrad Murray, the singer’s physician, who was trying to treat his insomnia.

Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and served just shy of two years in prison before he was released in October 2013.

According to the report, Jackson was dependent on other substances, including the sedatives Lorazepam, Midazolam and Diazepam, as well as medications such as Xanax, Zoloft, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, paroxetine, and carisoprodol.

All in all, Mark believes it was the pyrotechnic accident on the set of a 1984 Pepsi ad that left Jackson with scalp burns and ultimately led to his drug dependencies.

“Back then, I realized Michael needed help,” Mark said.

The pal believes if Jackson had “an ethical doctor or a good psychologist” they may have been able to help him.

“In the bigger picture of addiction, I’ve tried to help a lot of celebrities through the years. I’ve had more failures than successes, quite frankly. When I realized there was nothing I could say or do for Michael or Arnold that could be helpful, I walked away,” Mark concluded.