Atlantic City Weekly

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The late MJ with Carter.

Pete Carter was eight years old when he began emulating Michael Jackson’s dance moves. Carter now appears professionally as a Jackson impersonator, currently at Resorts’ Boogie Nights. His “day job” is videographer and photo editor, and, as if life weren’t busy enough, he currently also is “ghoulmaster” at Six Flag Great Adventure’s Halloween Fright Fest — which includes a Michael Jackson Tribute this year. There’s more to this than impersonation — Carter grew to know “Michael” over the years, and he shares some memories here.

Tell me about the process of becoming a Michael Jackson impersonator.

It wasn’t something I planned. I started out just being a huge fan, gathering everything I could about him. My bedroom was full of posters and memorabilia. And then every party I went to, people would beg me to dance like Michael. After a while, I realized I could make money doing this, and I started doing the full make-up and costume. So it just became like second-nature.

What drew you to Jackson?

At first it was the videos, the music and the dance. I became a fan during the Dangerous period, and then I started watching his interviews and learning what kind of person he was. Hearing him just totally shaped my life — I live by his words of treating everybody kindly, not making judgments on people. Also, even though he was grown up, he was still into childhood things like Disney, amusement parks and rides — all the stuff that I’ll love no matter how old I get.

There was darker news, too, when attention turned from Jackson’s humanitarian side to changes in his appearance, and the sexual abuse allegations. How did that affect you?

In the beginning, I felt the need to defend him wherever I could. I would get in fights, and lost friends over it, and I finally realized I can’t change people’s minds. People are very close-minded — they’ll have an opinion based on whatever the media says, or whatever they hear in the subways.

In person, was he as you anticipated?

As a kid, it was almost like he wasn’t a real person, he was just so cool, so I didn’t really picture meeting him. But as I started going to wherever he was going to be, he took notice of me a couple times when I was totally dressed up, and other times when I wasn’t. He’d compliment me on my outfits — some celebrities don’t like impersonations, but he was totally into it. So there we were, face to face.

To what extent does impersonation track through your day?

I don’t dress as Michael 24-7, and I don’t think that I’m him. Some impersonators have gotten plastic surgery, almost live their life as him, but I really have my own life.

You’ve been to Neverland?

Twice! On Michael’s 45th birthday, I was with fans who gathered at a gate outside his home, putting gifts out, blasting music from cars, dancing. Other celebrities might call the cops, but security drove out and said, “Michael wants to invite you in.” We had to turn in our cameras, sign confidentiality agreements. It was becoming night and all the trees were lit up, twinkling, with animals and stuff on the lawns. It was more than you can imagine. The big Neverland golden gates opened, and a children’s choir was singing. A train took us to the amusement park, where we stayed until late that night. The next time I went was when the allegations came out, in 2003. A friend called and said, “You’re on the VIP guest list for tomorrow in Neverland.” I flew out that night, and spent the entire day at a kind of support party, with his family and friends. There were literally moments when I was sitting in the guesthouse with Catherine and LaToya [Jackson], and it was absolutely unbelievable.