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Riley Keough Explains Why Mom Lisa Marie Presley "Died of a Broken Heart”
Riley Keough is reflecting on having the King of Pop as her stepdad.
Two years after her mom Lisa Marie Presley died at the age of 54, Riley is opening up about what life was like for her and late brother Benjamin Keough during Lisa’s brief marriage to Michael Jackson.
“Our life wasn’t crazier because that already existed,” Riley, who was just 5 years old when Lisa married Michael in 1994, explained during the Jan. 15 episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast. “But her life, I think when she saw Michael’s life—there were things that he had that she didn’t have. Like, she didn’t have a plane at the time, you know things like that. She was then like, ‘Oh I should have a plane. I should have this and that.’ So, our life in that way kind of got bigger.”
Riley—whose dad is Danny Keough—shared that while paparazzi was something she was accustomed to prior to Michael entering the picture, her life got much more luxurious while Lisa was married to the “PYT” singer.
“Before that, she was with my dad and their life was very simple,” the 35-year-old shared. “At home, she didn’t have 10 million assistants. She didn’t need all of that. I think that changed.”
And of course, the former couple’s combined star power also made for an unusual childhood for Riley and Benjamin—who are older siblings to Michael Lockwood and Lisa’s 16-year-old twin daughters Harper and Finley.
“There was a lot of closing down things for us,” Riley reflected, noting that she and her younger brother once got to pick anything they wanted out of a shutdown toy store in London. “It was kind of like the only way our family could do things. If we wanted to go to a toy store or something like that—ride rides. I don’t know if it was necessarily done for us or if it was just for our family situation.”
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Despite the extravagance at the time Lisa and Michael married, the “Thriller” singer was being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department for alleged child molestation at that time, too. (Michael was later put on trial for allegations in the early aughts, before being acquitted in 2005.) However, Riley shared that she and her brother were completely unaware—and she still has very little knowledge of Michael’s allegations.
“I was never told anything,” Riley noted. “It’s not something I’ve ever asked as an adult. I think it just was what it was. I would imagine my dad was really heartbroken reading the news. I would imagine he said all kinds of things to my mom that we didn’t know about. We didn’t know anything. We didn’t know about the allegations. We had no awareness of that.”
As for what Riley could say for certain about Lisa and Michael’s marriage? “They were in love and their love for one another was genuine because I was there and I remember,” she added. “Everything else I don’t know because I wasn’t there for it.”
Keep reading for a deeper look into Riley’s childhood…
Pride and Joy
Lisa Marie Presley posed with her daughters—Riley Keough and twins Harper and Finley Lockwood—and son Benjamin Keough in this June 2019 photo. The singer wrote on Instagram, "Mama Lion with cubs."
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
Three Generations
Lisa Marie was joined by her daughters and mom Priscilla Presley at a handprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on June 21, 2022.
Source of Strength
Shortly after celebrating her 53rd birthday in February 2021, the singer posted a family photo with her girls alongside the caption: "Thank you for all of the overwhelming birthday wishes from everyone. Like everyday, I couldn't have made it through without these three by my side."
Together Always
In 2013, the musician rang in Easter with her kids and mom.
CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images
Family Day
Lisa Marie took Riley and Benjamin to the Hollywood premiere of Lilo and Stitch on June 16, 2002. The trio were accompanied by Lisa Marie's half-brother Navarone Garibaldi, who Priscilla shares with ex Marco Garibaldi.
Birthday Wish
The To Whom It May Concern artist was fêted by Finley and Harper on her 51st birthday in 2019. "Grateful to be happy, healthy and alive," Lisa Marie captioned a mother-daughter snap from the celebration. "And grateful for all of you."
Getty Images
Girls' Night Out
Lisa Marie was accompanied by her daughters at Elle's 24th annual Women in Hollywood celebration on October 16, 2017.
Snuggly Selfie
"Love of my life," Lisa Marie captioned a selfie with Benjamin on Oct. 14, 2015. "One of the contents of my heart."
Fur-ever Friends
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Lisa Marie shared that she and her twins were fostering puppies from a local shelter. "Exhausting but so rewarding," she wrote on March 23, 2020. "Be well.
Quality Time
While celebrating Benjamin's 21st birthday on Oct. 21, 2013, Lisa Marie snapped this mother-daughter selfie. She tweeted, "love it when were all together."
Tiny Dancers
"Incredible night at the Nutcracker ballet w my fave people in the world," Lisa Marie wrote in a December 2018 Instagram post. "Now it feels like Xmas."
Bedtime Story
Lisa Marie shared a sweet moment with her twins backstage at a tribute concert for Elvis Presley on Aug. 17, 2012.
Presley Legacy
Lisa Marie and Riley unveiled a new Presley family exhibit at Graceland in August 2018. The "Lights Out" artist wrote on Instagram at the time, "Hope you all enjoy this little insight to my life."
Matching Tattoos
The singer got matching tattoos with Benjamin as a Mother's Day gift.
In July 2022, two years after her son's death, Lisa Marie explained the meaning behind design. "It's a Celtic eternity knot. Symbolizing that we will be connected eternally," she wrote on Instagram. "We carefully picked it to represent our eternal love and our eternal bond."
A Meal With Mom
Lisa Marie and her kids toasted with tea during a 2019 luncheon at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.
Easter Sunday
The family got together for an Easter Sunday celebration in 2015.
Jeff Vespa/WireImage
Rock 'n Roll Royalty
Lisa Marie supported Riley's movie The Runaways at a Hollywood premiere party on March 11, 2010.
DAVE M. BENETT/GETTY IMAGES
Movie Night
Lisa Marie and Benjamin enjoyed a night out at the London premiere of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1 on November 11, 2010.
Glam Squad
In October 2018, Riley snapped a mirror selfie with her family at a backstage green room. Lisa Marie captioned the shot: "glamming it up with my loves for a special event!!!"
CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images
Rock On
Riley and Lisa Marie walk the red carpet at a launch party for Commando: The Autobiography of Johnny Ramone on April 27, 2012 in West Hollywood, Calif.
Mark Humphrey/AP/Shutterstock
Celebrating Elvis
Lisa Marie was accompanied by her mom and her two oldest kids at a ceremony commemorating what would've been dad Elvis' 75th birthday in 2010.
Making Memories
Lisa Marie and Benjamin were snapped hanging out with DJ Ashba in December 2012, with the matriarch calling it a "fun night."
Feeling the Love
"Had such a lovely Birthday this evening with my Family [and] Friends!" Lisa Marie tweeted in February 2018. "Thank You everyone for all the LOVE and Birthday wishes!!"
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