The years that came after Michael and Prince became household names should have been a cakewalk. Professionally they were in rarified air. Michael Jackson had the number one album of all time. Prince became the first musician to occupy all the entertainment charts at the number 1 position simultaneously (film, music, etc..).

Somehow this is when the trouble began. Rewind to the 2022 Oscars. Chris Rock is hosting. Will Smith is the favourite to win the Best Actor award. Suddenly, there's mayhem and Will Smith and Chris Rock are at the center of a media firestorm. Obviously Will Smith has to take ownership of his actions. The media however, had a field day and created a circus. Now projects are being canceled careers are being questioned and money is changing hands.

Denzel Washington told Will Smith, "At your highest moment, be careful, that's when the devil comes for you."

Michael Jackson and Prince had a similar 84 & 85. Michael planned a tour with his brothers. The victory tour was meant to be the culmination of the successes that the Jacksons had accrued over a 16 year musical career. Instead there were missteps. There was the point of sales debacle. Their were various roll out snafus. As usual the media were there to pounce on every thread of a story. By the end of the tour Michael Jackson was damaged.

Prince entered 1985 riding high with a tour, movie and record. All of which had turned him from a hit making curiosity to a bonafide superstar. Then came "We are the World". On the night of the American Music awards Prince was expecting to win big. He won the big awards and Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie invited him to sing on the record. Artists like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dillan, Ray Charles, Kim Carnes, Jeffrey Osborn, James Ingram, Kenny Loggins, Kenny Rogers, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Lindsey Buckingham, Dan Ackroyd, Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, the Pointer Sisters, the Jacksons, Latoya Jacksons, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Hall & Oates, Dion Warwick, Cyndi Lauper, Al Jarreau, Steve Perry, Huey Lewis, and Bette Midler. Prince missing would also prove damaging.