Why are people still deluding themselves about Michael Jackson??

[waxahatchee]

If any grown man I know invited children to sleep in his bed with him there would be absolutely no question about what was going on. I am sure that most people would agree, why are so many people still deluding themselves about this?? Makes me so cross, why do they even play his music on the radio??

[lemonface]

I don't know

[Nearlythere1]

I agree. The worst thing is that people on both sides of the debate invoke his apparent mental illness and his own childhood problems. However, in that recently released footage of him being interviewed by lawyers, he was extremely lucid, much more so than he tried to let on.

[Jaynesworld]

I know. He was a grown man (mental illness or not) who was innapropriate with minors. Any other adult who invites children into their bed for a "sleepover" would find themselves on the sex offenders register.

[Orangecake123]

I watched the 2019 60 mins Australian documentary

I believe them.

[southeastdweller]

Stab in the dark here - it might be because there's no evidence?

[happyhillock]

The media should leave the man alone, he's dead and can't defend himself, wether the allagations are true or not we'll never know

[JazzyBBG]

I am the first to suspect people of being dodgy especially around kids however somehow just can't addd this one up. Was he weird? Yes. Crazy? Yes. Abuser? Really not sure he had it in him. Suspect others feel the same.

[Birdie6]

southeastdweller I'd say that when several men ( who were children at the time) talk about sharing a bed with MJ, rubbing bodies together, sharing naked spa baths with him.....would you call that evidence or not ?

[Walkingdeadfangirl]

What happened to innocent until proven guilty. Or is it mob rule now?

[Fantababy]

The media should leave the man alone, he's dead and can't defend himself, wether the allagations are true or not we'll never know

Was that the attitude we should have taken with Jimmy Saville?

I totally agree, OP. He should be considered on a par with all the other nasty celeb child abusers but people are so in thrall to him. You don't hear Gary Glitter on the radio.

[percheron67]

I never met him but someone in my circle knew him well and thinks he was childlike but not an abuser of children. I believe him.

[OrigamiZoo]

If the Catholic church won't defrock its abusers, there is no chance with Michael Jackson

[southeastdweller]

Birdie6 No I don't.

[easyandy101]

I just like his music tbh

[SpiritedLondon]

In what lifetime is a victims account not evidence? I promise you that any criminal court would consider it evidence - and do so in every child abuse case. MJ was an extremely famous , wealthy, powerful man. He had a preference for little boys and like lots of paedophiles was extremely good and grooming everyone - including the parents. People who were fans of his don’t want to believe that he could have committed these offences and look for reasons why it cannot be the case..... eg unusual upbringing etc. I would be surprised if there was anyone familiar with the investigation of child abuse who believes him to be innocent.

[internetpersonme]

His fans are so deluded they refused to acknowledge he had anything done to his face or that he isn't the biological father of white children.

[SuziQ10]

I can't listen to his music and wish it would stop being played.

He was clearly insane. And a child abuser.

[BlueSlipperSocks]

What parent allows their child to sleep over at some blokes house? I wouldn't. How did that scenario even happen?

MJ is dead and gone so can't defend himself. Why are these boys making accusations now - years later? Parents are responsible for their children's safety. It's not as if the parents weren't aware that their children were sleeping at some blokes house. They probably dropped them off..."Have a great night son. See you tomorrow. Goodnight".

[PtahNeith]

Um, if you could spot an abuser at fifty paces then they wouldn't get away with it, would they?

They rely upon being charming and likeable. They need people's reaction to any eventual allegation to be "oh no, not him, he'd never do such a thing, I know him!"

None of us really knows what another human is capable of behind closed doors.

[Missillusioned]

MJ is dead, so cannot now be tried for anything.

I don't believe he was the innocent he portrayed himself to be. People close to him have told how even his voice changed from the soft, high pitch we knew to a much deeper manly pitch in private. It was all part of a ' non threatening ' front he put forward. But as he's dead we will never really know

[SmarmyMrMime]

Unlike Glitter who has been found guilty umpteen times and Saville who managed to maintain a conspiracy of open secret until his death, Jackson had had several court cases that did not prove guilt of the allegations. If he was guilty, would the victims have accepted pay offs, or was it that people were chasing money in a litigeous society. We'll probably never have the answer.

In the absence of any convictions, musically Jackson's music was fantastic, survives the test of time and is worthy of being played. Glitter's music was never near that league and many in his genre have fallen by the wayside without the tarnish of the reputation of the artist.

[livinglavidavillanelle]

I'll be watching the documentary next month, 'Leaving Neverland' with interest.

I've also recently watched 'Surving R Kelly', and I'm gobsmacked that people can still get away with the things that they do for so long. Just goes to show you what money and fame can protect you from.

[NoCauseRebel]

I don’t know one way or another tbh. Some of his alleged victims have since admitted that they lied so it’s all questionable imho.

That being said, the parents here are also in part responsible surely? As what kind of a parent sends their child for sleepovers in the same bed as another man - if those children were abused then the abuser is culpable but the parents are responsible for allowing the situation to arise in the first place.

MJ is dead and cannot speak for himself one way or another, hence we’ll never know. And the reality is that there are people out there who will say whatever it takes because he was weird enough to be tarred with all manner of things.

But we will never really know one way or another.

[MaMaMaMySharona]

I have no idea if he was a child abuser or not (although strongly agree he wasn’t quite right in the head) but I wish they’d stop playing his music just because it’s god awful.

[Witchtower]

I’ve had R Kelly in my mind a lot recently and keep thinking how the fuck has he got away with it for so long. Did he not marry Aaliyah when she was 15 and he was 27. Surely that was enough evidence? Then it made me think about MJ and how creepy he was. I agree!!