The hat that Michael Jackson first wore when performing ‘Moonwalk’ is up for auction.

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Do-yeon = The dance moves of the ‘King of Pop’ Michael Jackson are still etched in the minds of people around the world, 14 years after his death.

Among them, the scene at the beginning of ‘Billie Jean’ where she throws the black hat she was wearing to the side of the stage to the beat is especially famous.

AFP reported on the 19th (local time) that the hat that Michael Jackson wore when he performed his signature dance move, the ‘Moon Walk’, to the audience while singing Billie Jean, is being auctioned in Paris.

According to reports, Michael Jackson’s black fedora will be auctioned in Paris on the 26th.

The auction price of this hat is expected to be 60,000 to 100,000 euros (85 million to 140 million won).

Jackson took off this hat while singing Billie Jean on the stage of the ‘Motown’ broadcast concert in 1983, and then performed the moonwalk, which became his trademark dance.

The moonwalk, which was first revealed on this stage, became a hot topic. The sight of him appearing to be taking a step forward, but actually taking a step backwards, enthralled the whole world.

According to Arthur Perrault, the organizer of this auction, an audience member named Adam Kelly picked up Jackson’s hat that had fallen at this time.

Kelly reportedly said, “I expected Michael Jackson’s staff to come get the hat, but they didn’t come.”

The hat remained in Kelly’s hands for several years before passing through several private collectors and eventually ending up in Paris.

Perrault said the value of Jackson-related items has recently fallen, “due to the sale of counterfeit items and the charges he has been accused of.”

Jackson was investigated by the police several times during his lifetime on charges of child molestation, but the court found him not guilty in May 2005.

Michael Jackson was the greatest pop star of the 1980s and 1990s, selling approximately 1 billion albums worldwide. He died at the age of 50 in June 2009 after receiving a lethal dose of propofol from his doctor.

Billie Jean is a song included in the album ‘Thriller’ released in 1982, and is the most sung song among his many hit songs.

Meanwhile, in addition to Jackson’s hat, this auction also includes a guitar owned by guitarist T-Bone Walker and a suit owned by Martin Gore of the band Depeche Mode.

dylee@yna.co.kr

▶ Report via KakaoTalk okjebo