It’s a familiar modern moment: a single photo surfaces, the internet races ahead, and the truth struggles to catch up.

This week, Michael Jackson appeared in newly released Jeffrey Epstein records after the U.S. Department of Justice made public a massive set of documents—many without clear context. The image shows Jackson standing beside Epstein, and it quickly sparked questions online.

But Jackson’s former bodyguard, Matt Fiddes, says the picture has a straightforward explanation. In a public comment, he claimed the encounter happened during a string of Palm Beach house viewings, when Jackson was considering a move to be nearer to friend and collaborator Barry Gibb.

According to Fiddes, a real estate agent arranged multiple property tours, and one stop was a home Epstein was selling. He says Epstein—like other homeowners that week—asked for a photo with the superstar, and that the team “didn’t even know who Epstein was” at the time.

Importantly, the document release does not accuse Jackson of wrongdoing, and the photo itself is undated in the materials. Fiddes also said other members of Jackson’s entourage were present and described Jackson as consistently polite with people he met.

In an era where images travel faster than explanations, it’s worth pausing to remember that being pictured near someone is not the same as being connected to their crimes—and context still matters.