Originally written by Anna Jordan on Small Business
Matt Fiddes was bodyguard to the former King of Pop, Michael Jackson, for 10 years.
These days he’s an entrepreneur and franchisor of Matt Fiddes Martial Arts, a global network of schools. Since its inception in 1996, the brand has grown and now includes MF Dance, MF Pilates and MF Performing Arts Schools.
He talks to us about working with Michael, franchising his business and the challenges in expanding to other parts of the world.
How did you meet and start working for Michael Jackson?
I met MJ through my best friend, Uri Geller. He introduced me to Michael when I was 18 years old. He called me in the middle of the night and asked me to come to his house urgently and would not tell me why. When I arrived, Michael Jackson was sitting in the living room and we hit it off right away. Uri wanted to introduce someone to Michael as a friend and who he could trust in his inner circle.
How has your association with Michael – particularly around the 10-year anniversary of his death and [documentary] Finding Neverland – affected your business and brand?
None of his inner circle was expecting that