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Claim: Michael Jackson has a prosthetic nose, and it fell off during a recent TV special.
Example: [Collected on the Internet, 2001]
Variations: Depending on whom you hear the rumor from, the replacement nose is held in place with clips, stitches, or magnets. Origins: How does Michael Jackson pick his nose? From a catalogue, say the wags. The singer's numerous plastic surgeries coupled with the marked physical transformation he has undergone 
over the years has given rise to this particular rumor. Of all the surgeries endured, none have resulted in more striking a change than the work done on his nose. It is said Michael Jackson has undergone rhinoplasty six times, on each occasion reducing and reshaping that facial feature drastically. Those who look upon plastic surgery with disapproval find vindication for their stance in the whisper that Jacko's nose finally gave up the ghost and fell off. This is, after all, a tale of retribution for having tampered with Nature once too often.
Some describe Jackson's current proboscis in less than flattering terms. "His nose is the size of one of those baby corns you find in salads," said one reporter for The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in 2001. Others echo that pronouncement, likening it to something run through a pencil sharpener. Though beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, thus opinion will vary widely on whether the current nose is handsome or particularly suits him, none can deny this particular specimen looks far more fragile than the norm. This perception of fragility bolsters the plausibility of the notion that it wouldn't take much to make it fall off. Although current expressions of the gossip present the purported event as something recent (often tying it to the "Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration" which aired on CBS on
[Collected via e-mail, 1996]
That bit of scuttlebutt was possibly an expansion of an earlier, milder rumor:
Anyone heard anything about Michael Jackson's nose? It's been worked on so much it has lost its structural integrity, and now he has to wear a prosthetic nose because all he has left is a little knob. Some newspaper in Taiwan reported that it fell off during one of his concerts there on his current tour...and some radio DJ here said it also fell off when he was shooting a video and some water hit his nose directly.
[Wellington Evening Post, 1995]
When it comes to trying to figure out what to make of Michael Jackson's various facial surgeries, rumor often substitutes for fact because there's no credible information to be had. The singer's secrecy about his beautifications and his odd behavior overall compound the situation, making wild assertions appear more attractive than ever. For example, he showed up for a November 2001 interview with TV Guide with his nose swathed in gray bandages. "It is analgesic tape," he said. "For allergies."
More buzz about Michael Jackson. Or rather, what's going on with the star's face these days. Insiders report the singer's nose is "in trouble" and needs to be repaired as soon as possible. It seems Jackson's newest implant at the tip of his nose has become unstable and is causing the star serious breathing problems. There are whispers that he somehow injured his nose in early September 2001 while rehearsing, necessitating his seeking medical attention for it. Once again, this is difficult to confirm, but if an actual injury had occurred, it would begin to explain the resurgence of the "Jacko's nose fell off" rumor in the fall of 2001. Barbara "nose news is good news" Mikkelson Last updated: 14 May 2007 Urban Legends Reference Pages © 1995-2008 by snopes.com. This material may not be reproduced without permission. snopes and the snopes.com logo are registered service marks of snopes.com.  Sources:
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