Check out the video of John explaining why he wants to change his name back.
Video credit: Caters Video
A huge fan of Michael Jackson who legally changed his name to Michael Jackson and spent £1 million ($1.3m) on memorabilia is now desperately trying to change it back after the singer’s reputation was tarnished by allegations of sexual assault against children.
On legal records, John Lomas’s name is actually ‘John Michael Jackson,’ after he became obsessed with the late star.
The 38-year-old dad even estimates he could have spent more than $1 million on Jackson souvenirs, trips, albums and other memorabilia over 25 years.
But the aspiring care worker from Malvern, West Midlands, claims the name is causing him havoc when applying for new jobs.
And after the release of the controversial documentary, Leaving Neverland, he feels he no longer wants to support Michael Jackson.
John is currently working in a factory, and now fundraising to raise the $160 needed to make the change by deed poll.
He said: “During my childhood I had various obsessions and special interests growing up and one of those has been Michael Jackson.
“A few years ago I went to LA and soon after that I changed my name to Michael Jackson legally.”
“I have supported him blindly for years but it has come to a point with everything recently that I’ve thought, ‘no more’.
“There is too much doubt and I’m now left with this name that I need to get rid of.”
“I’m trying to get into the care profession but every time I do a DBS check I have to disclose my full name and if I’m going for a job like that it looks really bad that I’ve chosen to change my name to that of an alleged and believed pedophile.”
“I’ve asked for legal advice and there is nothing I can do to change my name back by deed poll without paying a fee, which I can’t afford.”
“I just want to put this behind me, I can’t have this name hanging above me anymore, I just want a fresh start.”
For years John defended his idol against speculation that the singer may have groomed young boys, purchasing everything from the 1988 Michael Jackson LA Gear trainers to shipping MJ umbrellas from Germany.
But after the release of the controversial documentary, Leaving Neverland, which has published stories of men who allege that they were molested by the star as young boys, John believes the allegations are true.
He said: “As a child, I bought anything and everything I could get my hands on, I bought his albums in every format I could, this obsession has been going for 25 years, since I was 12 years old, I could have easily spent over a million on it.”
“You do idolize these people and you just never really know what they are actually doing.”
“I’ve deleted all his songs and got rid of all my MJ souvenirs and memorabilia. It all went straight in the bin almost immediately after I had watched the documentary.”
“I knew this documentary was coming up and I thought it was just speculation, I thought here we go again but as I was watching it, some of the victims came across as completely genuine.”
John is raising money to change his name on Go Fund Me but so far has received no donations to his cause.
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