Instagram Crashes Worldwide as Michael Jackson’s Official Account Suddenly Goes Live
Today, millions of Instagram users around the world were left in shock when the official account of Michael Jackson suddenly started a live video. This unexpected event sparked widespread debate, as the legendary singer passed away in 2009. Was this a special tribute, a prank, or something more mysterious?
At around 2:30 PM (U.S. time), countless users received notifications that the @michaeljackson account was going live. Within minutes, hundreds of thousands of people tuned in. However, instead of a memorial event or an announcement related to his legacy, the livestream displayed a blurry shadowy figure accompanied by Michael Jackson’s signature music. Some viewers reported hearing an echoing voice, but the words were unclear.
Within ten minutes, the number of viewers skyrocketed to over ten million, causing severe server overload. Many Instagram users reported experiencing lag, app crashes, and even being unable to access the platform. In several regions, Instagram was completely down for nearly an hour, fueling speculation and conspiracy theories across social media.
As the incident unfolded, the hashtag #MichaelJacksonLive quickly became a top trend on Twitter and Facebook. Some speculated that this was proof that Michael Jackson was still alive or that it was a secret promotional campaign orchestrated by his family. Others suspected that hackers had breached the account and pulled off a high-tech prank. Another widely discussed theory pointed to artificial intelligence, particularly deepfake technology, as the culprit behind this eerily realistic video, possibly created to deceive millions of viewers.
For over an hour after the mysterious livestream, Instagram remained silent, which only heightened the confusion and panic among users. Finally, Meta—the parent company of Instagram—issued an official statement confirming that Michael Jackson’s account had been hacked. Meta reassured users that their technical team was actively investigating the incident and working to restore the system. However, the company did not disclose who was behind the attack or how the fake livestream was able to disrupt the platform so severely.
Tech experts quickly analyzed the event and proposed several possible explanations. One of the most likely causes was the misuse of deepfake and AI technologies to create a hyper-realistic fake video. If true, this would be one of the most significant instances of AI abuse on social media, serving as a stark warning about the dangers of this technology. Another possibility was that this was a large-scale cyberattack, in which hackers infiltrated Instagram’s system to broadcast a fabricated livestream, either to incite panic or to exploit security vulnerabilities.

Meanwhile, some speculated that this was actually a marketing stunt aimed at drawing attention to an upcoming Michael Jackson project. There was growing speculation that an unreleased album or a new documentary about the King of Pop might be in the works, and that this eerie livestream was the first step in an elaborate promotional campaign. If so, this would be one of the most controversial PR stunts in entertainment history.
The bizarre event triggered mixed reactions from the public. Many Michael Jackson fans were thrilled by the possibility that their idol might still be alive, while others were furious that his name was being exploited in such a way. Tech enthusiasts expressed concern over the growing capabilities of AI and deepfake technology, warning that the ability to fabricate hyper-realistic videos could lead to widespread misinformation. Others called on Meta to improve its security measures, fearing that Instagram may have suffered a serious data breach.
For now, Instagram users continue to speculate, while cybersecurity experts and AI analysts work to uncover the truth. Regardless of the final explanation, this event has undoubtedly become an important lesson on how we consume information in the digital age.