Michael Jackson Performed “Remember the Time” Seated at the 1993 Soul Train Awards

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By Mockulus Editorial
October 12, 2026

An injury didn’t keep Michael Jackson off the stage at the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards. It changed how he performed. At the ceremony on March 9, 1993, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, MJ sang “Remember the Time” from a chair, while dancers handled the choreography around him.

What Happened

According to the event’s record, MJ sat for the entire performance because of an injured ankle. A Los Angeles Times headline from two days later put it plainly: he showed up to collect awards despite the injury. MJ went home with three trophies that night, tying Boyz II Men for the most of the evening.

Fan-run clips and social posts describe the injury differently. Some say he twisted or sprained his ankle in rehearsal, while others claim a broken foot. I could not confirm either version from a reliable primary account, so “injured ankle” is as far as the documented record goes.

The Song and the Moment

“Remember the Time” came from MJ’s 1991 album “Dangerous,” and the seated version has circulated widely among fans ever since. Clips show him directing the performance from the chair while the dancers carried the movement, with crutches visible nearby in some footage.

The night’s other MJ moment came when he presented Eddie Murphy with the Heritage Award. Murphy joked from the stage, thanking MJ for “hobbling out” to hand it over, a reference to the injury that kept him off his feet.

Why Fans Keep Coming Back to It

The performance has become a go-to example of MJ’s stagecraft, because it shows how much of his appeal rested on presence and timing rather than constant motion. It also stands out against the reputation of his standing choreography: even without his usual footwork, the number held attention, and the Soul Train audience’s response has been a talking point ever since.

It’s worth keeping the claims separate. The facts here are the date, the venue, the seated performance and the injured ankle. Claims like “most artists could never pull that off” are fan opinion, and that is how this article treats them.