Debbie Rowe, the 63-year-old ex-wife of Michael Jackson, attributes some of the King of Pop‘s 2009 demise to herself. Rowe can be seen in the newest TMZ Investigates: Who Really Killed Michael Jackson documentary. She elaborates on her previous employment with renowned Hollywood dermatologist Dr. Arnold Klein, who provided Demerol, an addictive and potent opiate, to the pop king.

When Debbie Rowe was serving as Jackson’s dermatologist Doctor Arnold Klein’s assistant in 1986, Jackson and Rowe first crossed paths. Rowe assisted Michael in getting treatment for his many skin issues because he had just received lupus and vitiligo diagnosis. The 27-year-old blond offered Jackson support and clarification on his medical issues, which led to the two of them developing close friendships.

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The Jackson-Rowe friendship lasted several years, during which time Rowe divorced Richard Edelman, a Hollywood High School teacher who she claimed trapped her. Rowe and Jackson would often talk about their bad luck in love and unhappy marriages; hers with Edelman, and Jackson’s with Lisa Marie Presley years later.

Lisa Marie and Michael’s relationship deteriorated as she grew dubious of their connection and avoided at all costs a potential custody dispute with Jackson by delaying getting pregnant with the kid Jackson so desired. Debbie Rowe responded to Michael’s sadness at the idea that he could never have children by repeatedly offering to give birth to the pop singer’s own child.

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Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Jackson and Rowe’s first child together, was born at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on February 13, 1997. The infant was given the name Prince in honour of Michael’s great-grandfather and grandfather. Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson, a healthy blue-eyed child, was born on April 3, 1998. 

Rowe became increasingly dissatisfied with their arrangement after the birth of Paris, a pregnancy marred by complications that rendered her unable to have any more children, and asked Jackson for a divorce, which he granted on October 8, 1999. Rowe received  a divorce settlement of $10 million and full custody of her children. 

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The marriage received overwhelmingly negative and cynical press and public reaction. The couple reportedly split because Debbie was so uncomfortable being in the spotlight all the time.