Michael Jackson as a figure in the news growing up in the 2000’s was for a lack of a better term, a joke.
Media like Scary Movie 3/4, Family Guy or Mad TV presented a consistent caricature of him. A washed up, child snatcher with pale white skin and a series of fluctuating haircuts and disguises. This sort of “boogeyman” of Jackson’s image isn’t shocking from the era (most things from the Bush era loved to push “PC”), but we also haven’t gotten the cultural turnaround yet to discuss Michael in his later years.
This new film (and the Jackson estate) is doing nothing other than attempting damage control. Focusing on the “origins and rise to fame” narrative of a tarnished yet still profitable image. For the public, they want to present popcorn entertainment, refusing to engage in deeper issues or struggles in Michael’s life rather than “my dad was abusive but I persevered”.
It’s easy to speculate this film wouldn’t occur at all if Jackson was still living,(he wouldn’t see past the MeToo movement in my opinion, but that’s a different realm of speculation) Close to 20 years after his death, the tides of public opinion (or at least box office appeal) have definitely shifted in his favor.
All this to say, the idea of who Michael Jackson was as a figurehead, a pop idol, or a human with extreme physical and physiological issues later in life has become erroneous and warped in our post-truth reality anyways.
p.s. Kori King from drag race does a great MJ impression
At the end of the day, I am mostly angry at Michael. Michael Jackson's Thriller was the first album my dad ever bought me for my boombox which was a gift in the early nineties. I listened to it endlessly. His music was such a part of my childhood. I would tune in to watch the release of a new music video. Of course I moved on and had other musical interests, and I can't say I was a rabid Jackson "fan" who might line up for an autograph or something. But his music was a part of me. He was an undeniable talent.
After watching Finding Neverland, it can never be the same for me. James and Wade have continued to tell their stories even with no money on the line. Michael Jackson being gay has nothing to do with him being a pedophile. He raped a 7 year old. The depravity of it, and to do that to a child who basically idolized him, its so atrocious. There was a reason he needed propofol to sleep at night. I wish people would cut the crap and stop pretending this didn't happen. As much as he meant to me, I can't look past that and it does ruin the art.
The only thing that disturbed me was your text, because it presents a judgment of guilt about someone who has never been proven guilty — and that saddened me deeply. Michael Jackson was part of my childhood and adolescence and remains present in my life to this day. At one point, the influence of the media made me suspicious of him, but as someone who chose to seek information and research — rather than simply repeat tabloid narratives — I came to understand that there is much more behind the accusations than actual evidence.
This reveals a broader issue: often, the truth stops mattering. People who are accused, even when nothing is proven, continue to be treated as criminals. The mere accusation, especially of something so serious, can permanently mark someone, regardless of their innocence.
I believe that this phenomenon — the destruction of reputations through unproven accusations — will be widely studied in the future. This does not mean dismissing important movements like #MeToo, which play a crucial role in exposing abuse. However, it is necessary to acknowledge that, in some cases, such spaces can be misused.
This raises an important question: is it fair to condemn and ridicule someone when nothing has actually been proven? And shouldn’t we, as members of the LGBTQIA+ community — who have historically faced unjust accusations and judgments — be even more sensitive to this issue?
I find it lazy that to prove your point you mention Macaulay Culkin and Corey Feldman who have both adamantly denied any abuse,in fact Corey has stated many times that it was executives and other figures in the industry that did prey on him,not Michael.Maybe instead of making assumptions you should focus on the FBI files and the travesty of a trial that completely vindicated him,the prosecution had no case and the DA went as far as falsifying evidence.You mentioned Leaving Neverland,let’s skip the fact that students in his dance class have come out saying it was a common nickname to call Wade Robson “Uncle Pervy” because of the way he behaved around young girls as hearsay or speculation,what kind of victim begs to have his wedding at Neverland during the trial,a time he said he was being threatened to testify in favor of Michael?What kind of victim repeatedly texts his accuser’s family for a seat at his funeral or participates as one of the principal in a highly publicized tribute of him during a Janet Jackson performance?And the Cascios,why write a book titled “My Friend Michael” after his death,sell his personal belongings,involve yourself in a fake songs scam and then all of a sudden cry wolf when the money runs out?And now they are claiming Nicole Cascio was also abused,which one is it,is he now an abuser of both girls and boys or does the narrative just change depending on profit?There is audio of Michael,secretly recorded heavily sedated literally on his deathbed where he mentions his desire,from his deepest of subconscious mind,to build a children’s hospital that would focus on the psychology and mental enrichment of children in order to achieve healing.Go beyond the magazine covers and headlines and find the core of a man ,a black man, who found himself in a position no one has ever been in and still navigated a complex word by putting love first,who endured so much physically and mentally and still produced high quality art,magic. That is why people flock to see the movie,they feel the energy,a pulse that is rooted in goodness and purity,and no journalist with an agenda and a Jim Crow mentality can dilute that.Wasn’t nothing strange about him l,it was strange what he had to deal with.
Michael Jackson as a figure in the news growing up in the 2000’s was for a lack of a better term, a joke.
Media like Scary Movie 3/4, Family Guy or Mad TV presented a consistent caricature of him. A washed up, child snatcher with pale white skin and a series of fluctuating haircuts and disguises. This sort of “boogeyman” of Jackson’s image isn’t shocking from the era (most things from the Bush era loved to push “PC”), but we also haven’t gotten the cultural turnaround yet to discuss Michael in his later years.
This new film (and the Jackson estate) is doing nothing other than attempting damage control. Focusing on the “origins and rise to fame” narrative of a tarnished yet still profitable image. For the public, they want to present popcorn entertainment, refusing to engage in deeper issues or struggles in Michael’s life rather than “my dad was abusive but I persevered”.
It’s easy to speculate this film wouldn’t occur at all if Jackson was still living,(he wouldn’t see past the MeToo movement in my opinion, but that’s a different realm of speculation) Close to 20 years after his death, the tides of public opinion (or at least box office appeal) have definitely shifted in his favor.
All this to say, the idea of who Michael Jackson was as a figurehead, a pop idol, or a human with extreme physical and physiological issues later in life has become erroneous and warped in our post-truth reality anyways.
p.s. Kori King from drag race does a great MJ impression
At the end of the day, I am mostly angry at Michael. Michael Jackson's Thriller was the first album my dad ever bought me for my boombox which was a gift in the early nineties. I listened to it endlessly. His music was such a part of my childhood. I would tune in to watch the release of a new music video. Of course I moved on and had other musical interests, and I can't say I was a rabid Jackson "fan" who might line up for an autograph or something. But his music was a part of me. He was an undeniable talent.
After watching Finding Neverland, it can never be the same for me. James and Wade have continued to tell their stories even with no money on the line. Michael Jackson being gay has nothing to do with him being a pedophile. He raped a 7 year old. The depravity of it, and to do that to a child who basically idolized him, its so atrocious. There was a reason he needed propofol to sleep at night. I wish people would cut the crap and stop pretending this didn't happen. As much as he meant to me, I can't look past that and it does ruin the art.
The only thing that disturbed me was your text, because it presents a judgment of guilt about someone who has never been proven guilty — and that saddened me deeply. Michael Jackson was part of my childhood and adolescence and remains present in my life to this day. At one point, the influence of the media made me suspicious of him, but as someone who chose to seek information and research — rather than simply repeat tabloid narratives — I came to understand that there is much more behind the accusations than actual evidence.
This reveals a broader issue: often, the truth stops mattering. People who are accused, even when nothing is proven, continue to be treated as criminals. The mere accusation, especially of something so serious, can permanently mark someone, regardless of their innocence.
I believe that this phenomenon — the destruction of reputations through unproven accusations — will be widely studied in the future. This does not mean dismissing important movements like #MeToo, which play a crucial role in exposing abuse. However, it is necessary to acknowledge that, in some cases, such spaces can be misused.
This raises an important question: is it fair to condemn and ridicule someone when nothing has actually been proven? And shouldn’t we, as members of the LGBTQIA+ community — who have historically faced unjust accusations and judgments — be even more sensitive to this issue?
I find it lazy that to prove your point you mention Macaulay Culkin and Corey Feldman who have both adamantly denied any abuse,in fact Corey has stated many times that it was executives and other figures in the industry that did prey on him,not Michael.Maybe instead of making assumptions you should focus on the FBI files and the travesty of a trial that completely vindicated him,the prosecution had no case and the DA went as far as falsifying evidence.You mentioned Leaving Neverland,let’s skip the fact that students in his dance class have come out saying it was a common nickname to call Wade Robson “Uncle Pervy” because of the way he behaved around young girls as hearsay or speculation,what kind of victim begs to have his wedding at Neverland during the trial,a time he said he was being threatened to testify in favor of Michael?What kind of victim repeatedly texts his accuser’s family for a seat at his funeral or participates as one of the principal in a highly publicized tribute of him during a Janet Jackson performance?And the Cascios,why write a book titled “My Friend Michael” after his death,sell his personal belongings,involve yourself in a fake songs scam and then all of a sudden cry wolf when the money runs out?And now they are claiming Nicole Cascio was also abused,which one is it,is he now an abuser of both girls and boys or does the narrative just change depending on profit?There is audio of Michael,secretly recorded heavily sedated literally on his deathbed where he mentions his desire,from his deepest of subconscious mind,to build a children’s hospital that would focus on the psychology and mental enrichment of children in order to achieve healing.Go beyond the magazine covers and headlines and find the core of a man ,a black man, who found himself in a position no one has ever been in and still navigated a complex word by putting love first,who endured so much physically and mentally and still produced high quality art,magic. That is why people flock to see the movie,they feel the energy,a pulse that is rooted in goodness and purity,and no journalist with an agenda and a Jim Crow mentality can dilute that.Wasn’t nothing strange about him l,it was strange what he had to deal with.