Michael Jackson was a paedophile. Why does the local school choose one of his songs for the kids to perform to?

Yes I find this weird too. Yet there’s someone on another thread complaining that Oasis played a Gary glitter song last night (spoiler: they didn’t)….

Because for some reason, mainstream media seems to have forgotten this and it is OK to have stage shows, play his song on the radio and have kids dance to them.

What about all the musicians and performers who have used drugs and therefore contribute to the trafficking/murder/gang warfare/exploitation of children which directly results from production and dealing of illegal drugs?

do you listen to any music OP?

I don’t quite get why Michael Jackson is so revered nowadays either, although I appreciate his music was superb. Other artists have been demonised for a lot less.

Yes, I know he was never proved guilty, but if you judge his way of life using today’s criteria, then it looked very dodgy.

My own personal little stance on this is I refuse to go to MJ the musical.

I am unsure of the MJ stance. I dont like his music. But do you have a line?

I used to love the Lost Prophets, seen them in my teens. Had posters of Ian Watkins on my wall. I couldn't ever listen to them now. The thought turns my stomach.

I’m assuming people would be up in arms if the school showed an old episode of Jim’ll Fix It to the pupils (he is dead and wasn’t convicted either)

He wasn’t convicted of anything but his behaviour was at the very least inappropriate. This however would not stop me listening to his music if I wanted to. I’d also be fine with my grandsons listening to it.

You'd have to pretty much live in a bubble of your own manufacture if you wanted to escape anything that might have been created by a paedophile - they are in all the upper levels of our civilisation.

Did he write the song or just perform it? Have others covered it? I’d just let it go. Little dc won’t care about MJ and won’t know anything of you don’t tell them. Who’d be a teacher these days?!

I really doubt they'd be forever scarred by this.

Quite a powerful and horrific documentary. I then watched another documentary from an independant journalist who wanted to investigate all claims through evidence and facts. A lot of the Neverland story was debunked and it was shocking.

He was never convicted of anything however we feel about it so we can’t prevent his music being played without that (in my humble opinion). R Kelly on the other hand? Completely different story.

MJ was never convicted of a crime involving children in a Court. This is why his music is still played on the radio/TV/online. It doesn't matter that there were glaring red flags, or suspicion, he still wasn't convicted. Whereas 70's artist Gary Glitter has been convicted and been in prison (currently still is, I believe) and therefore his music is no longer played on the radio/TV.

There would really be very little to watch, listen to and look at if we treated all art like that based on what the artists allegedly did...

@FortyElephants not to derail the thread.i read a book about female criminals and your user name was an infamous gang of shoplifters 18 th nineteenth century.any connection?

What are you views on the musical that people are flocking to see!

Famous artists - both Picasso and Dali had views about women that most people would rightly question - yet museums are dedicated to their work, the art can be seen all over, etc etc. If we go down that line, we'd live in a dull dull world 👍 The list of dodgy people in 'the arts' is endless.

I don’t think being dead has anything to do with it.

I think there’s a difference between the likes of Jimmy Savile etc against whom there were so many credible allegations and Michael Jackson, who was a tad eccentric against whom a few allegations were made that didn’t stand up to scrutiny.

What about artists who were drug addicts, cheaters or abusers? Where do you draw the line? There is evidence of Brad Pitt verbally, emotionally and physically abusing his wife and children due to a drug addiction. Will you not allow your child to watch any movie with him in? MJ wasn't convicted. Plus, I don't think kids would really care that they danced to his song.

I sold my MJ albums and never listen to him now. And I LOVED his music. It was watching that documentary that did it for me.

I would probably not be irate about it, but I think you have a point!

I find people more accepting if MJ more and continue to listen to his music.

There's hate on another thread for Gary Glitter music that Oasis may or my not have used.

Perhaps the art is more important than the artist?
I enjoy Wagner's Operas - yet Wagner had appallingly anti-Semitic views.
Everyone uses Gill Sans font - yet Eric Gill was completely amoral and had sex with his daughters and his dog.

It's also not just about art.
Hugo Boss designed the NAZI uniforms for the SS and used forced labour in WW2
Don't even start on VW cars.

What else do you ban?

Many people still love Michael Jackson, his songs are still played on radio stations throughout the world. Even if he was convicted as a paedophile (he wasn’t), I doubt that would change. Same goes for David Bowie.

It seems that if you're culturally significant enough you get a free pass. After the Neverland documentary I stopped listening to his music but tbh he is dead and won't profit from any royalties.