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Why hasn’t Michael Jackson been cancelled??

619 replies

PoliteSquid · 12/09/2026 19:56

I’ve been out at a 80s day disco today… loads of fun. But it struck me that people were still delighted by MJ… why? He was a wrong ‘un of the very worst kind. How come he hasn’t been cancelled?!

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Elaina87 · 13/09/2026 22:02

He was never found guilty so that's probably why. I was always on the fence about him, leaning more to him just being a bit odd. But I have to say the netflix documentary left me thinking we are being a bit silly if we still believe his innocence. There were too many things in that to show otherwise, as much as we may want not want to believe it.

Palomiino · 13/09/2026 21:49

allthiscarryon · 13/09/2026 19:12

When I asked one colleague if she’d let her 12 year old son sleep in a bed or even be alone with a man she didn’t know, but who was famous, being treated to gifts and clothes and days out etc and of course she said NO WAY because that would be weird. But for some reason she doesn’t think it weird that MJ did that.

Cognitive dissonance.

MouldyOldBaps · 13/09/2026 21:27

Like Eric Gill. Talent protects them. 😢
no question of any talent in others they may have destroyed.

Plmnki · 13/09/2026 21:26

Completely agree, I was shocked how this isn’t an issue. Jimmy saville wasn’t found guilty but he’s persona non grata. MJ deeply strange and so many disturbing allegations. Very odd and disturbing.

Whoachino · 13/09/2026 21:09

allthiscarryon · 13/09/2026 19:15

Really? Personally I think it’s okay to ‘cancel’ child rapists. Guess I’m just a bit woke.

Nothing to do with woke or otherwise.

If you don't want to enjoy art created by anyone, for any reason, that's fine. Similarly, if you want to enjoy the art, that's fine too. It shouldn't be up to self-appointed moral guardians to make decisions about what art is and is not acceptable.

One can enjoy a person's art without condoning their lifestyle.

Aluna · 13/09/2026 20:40

MonteStory · 13/09/2026 20:31

As I think has been covered multiple times in this thread, because he’s popular, because the Jackson family keep his music and story in the public eye. The recent film stars his nephew for gods sake! It’s a propaganda film.

Saville had long fallen out of fashion and had no family or public supporters.

The MJ film was made by GK pictures which has a major multi-year output and distribution agreement with Sony Pictures which is a subsidiary of Sony.

The film was distributed by Lionsgate and Universal Pictures. Sony Pictures handles media and distribution for Lionsgate and works with Universal Studios on business ventures and digital distribution deals.

As I have said Sony also owns 50% of MJ’s back catalogue…

So yeah.. propaganda to protect their investment.

Aluna · 13/09/2026 20:31

Phoenixfire1988 · 13/09/2026 19:55

Because he was innocent he protected children and didn't want them going through what he did as a child star was he odd ? Yes a pedophile? No . Macualey culkin , cory feildman and others all said he was teying to keep them safe , the ones that made the allegations were pressured by their parents to get money .
Elvis was a massive nonce people still listen to his ( utterly shite) music .

Edited

In fact Feldman stated that Jackson never molested him, but after further allegations about MJ came out he re-evaluated and concluded that there were things that happened that were inappropriate:

“I started looking at each piece of information, and with that came this sickening realization that there have been many occurrences in my life and in my relationship to Michael that have created a question of doubt."

"If you consider it inappropriate for a man to look at a book of naked pictures with a child that's 13 or 14 years old -- then your answer would be yes."

”I was kind of grossed out by it. I didn't think of it as a big deal. And for all these years, I probably never thought twice about it ... But in light of recent evidence ... I have to say that if my son was 14 years old -- 13 years old, and went to a man's apartment that was 35, and I knew that they were sitting down together talking about this, I would probably beat his ass."

After Leaving Neverland came out:
^^
“I cannot in good consciousness defend anyone who’s being accused of such horrendous crimes.”

He said the two men’s narratives were “very compelling… they are talking about a cycle that’s called grooming. And the grooming process certainly fits the mould, and that’s why this case must be taken seriously — that’s why all cases must be taken seriously.”

MonteStory · 13/09/2026 20:31

localnotail · 13/09/2026 16:56

Yes, but look at how it all fired up with Saville? Why not MJ?

As I think has been covered multiple times in this thread, because he’s popular, because the Jackson family keep his music and story in the public eye. The recent film stars his nephew for gods sake! It’s a propaganda film.

Saville had long fallen out of fashion and had no family or public supporters.

Ireallywantadoughnut36 · 13/09/2026 20:18

PoliteSquid · 12/09/2026 20:18

My friends and I left the dance floor, but I have been pondering on it for the past couple of hours.

I grew up near Stoke Mandeville hospital- Saville spent a lot of time there 😬🫣 Absolute wrongun who has rightly been ‘cancelled’

MJ had “sleepovers” with children and was a deeply disturbed person. Absolute wrongun who has not been cancelled.

I don’t get it.

I agree, I found the film coming out really strange. I can kind of see a "well it wasn't proved so we will leave up the singles on Spotify" type of approach, but the fact he's so celebrated, it's more than just "not cancelled", it's full on glorified. His music is fantastic, which I can understand makes it harder but Kevin spacey is an amazing actor and his work has totally disappeared now (rightly so).
I agree he isn't the same level as Saville but the recent documentary makes it really clear that he was definitely dodgy and yet... everyone seems to separate what he did and the music he produced/who he was on stage, in a way that nobody else gets allowed to any more.
I wonder if it's also an historical thing, in that, Picasso was definitely also a wrong un, but nobody would take you seriously if you boycotted him (he was abusive to women and when he was mid 40s had a relationship with a teenage girl). At what point in history do we step away from cancelling people!? I mean, definitely not the 80s for Saville but I wonder if it makes a difference that MJ is dead, and his best work is 40 plus years old.

NeedAnyHelpWithThatPaperBag · 13/09/2026 20:08

The "he's dead = cancelled" doesn't make sense as he and his music hasn't thereby disappeared forever from view, quite the opposite, in fact.

Anonfortoday2 · 13/09/2026 20:03

Do you feel the same way about Elvis

Tablesandchairs23 · 13/09/2026 19:55

How much more cancelled can you be when you're dead!

Phoenixfire1988 · 13/09/2026 19:55

Because he was innocent he protected children and didn't want them going through what he did as a child star was he odd ? Yes a pedophile? No . Macualey culkin , cory feildman and others all said he was teying to keep them safe , the ones that made the allegations were pressured by their parents to get money .
Elvis was a massive nonce people still listen to his ( utterly shite) music .

Mumdiva99 · 13/09/2026 19:54

PoliteSquid · 12/09/2026 20:18

My friends and I left the dance floor, but I have been pondering on it for the past couple of hours.

I grew up near Stoke Mandeville hospital- Saville spent a lot of time there 😬🫣 Absolute wrongun who has rightly been ‘cancelled’

MJ had “sleepovers” with children and was a deeply disturbed person. Absolute wrongun who has not been cancelled.

I don’t get it.

I won't play his music. I was also at a disco where it was played and I was very uncomfortable and left the dance floor. People have been cancelled for far less than MJ.
(I'm not trying to erase his importance to modern music. Same as you can't say Jimmy Saville didn't raise a lot for charity. But doesn't mean I want to continue to support them.)

localnotail · 13/09/2026 19:49

I think, fundamentally, he was immensely talented and his music is amazing. A lot of people (me including) can't imagine classic pop music without MJ in it. I do accept he was a weirdo and perhaps even worse but his music is in the class of its own. Its like cancelling Wagner because he was a rabid antisemite.

Happysummerrain · 13/09/2026 19:44

I liked his music. It’s easy to believe someone is innocent if they’re found not guilty but it doesn’t mean it’s true. I watched the documentary from two men who accused him and it would be wild if those accounts were lies. If he had been found guilty most people wouldn’t play his music. I wanted to believe he wasn’t guilty but after the documentary I was surprised he wasn’t “cancelled”. Also, a person such as this, can die and still be shunned.

11AndCounting · 13/09/2026 19:41

donnaelle · 13/09/2026 19:20

Michael jackson was found not guilty twice in a court of law. I dont think anyone will conclusivly define michael, they have also seperate the man from the music.

Michael jackson was found not guilty twice in a court of law.
He was only charged once...

Easterchicken · 13/09/2026 19:39

StuckinAfrica · 12/09/2026 19:58

I think it’s because he was never actually found guilty of anything. Plenty of accusations but no criminal conviction

Only because he paid people off

donnaelle · 13/09/2026 19:20

Michael jackson was found not guilty twice in a court of law. I dont think anyone will conclusivly define michael, they have also seperate the man from the music.

TheDreamyFinch · 13/09/2026 19:16

Just the very fact he allowed children to sleep in his bed should cancel him. That’s an offence in itself. When I hear him on the radio I turn it off.

Silverbirchleaf · 13/09/2026 19:16

NeedAnyHelpWithThatPaperBag · 13/09/2026 19:13

Michael's body of work is such that it being cancelled would actually leave a massive hole in people's memories and enjoyment, whereas Savile's is completely disposable?

True. I get that his music and videos were a huge part of the eighties. I just surprised that with all the allegations about him, people aren’t more circumspect about celebrating Michael Jackson the man, rather than the music. There’s even been West End shows about him.

allthiscarryon · 13/09/2026 19:15

Whoachino · 12/09/2026 20:26

I'm glad he hasn't been cancelled. Nobody should be.

Really? Personally I think it’s okay to ‘cancel’ child rapists. Guess I’m just a bit woke.

TheDreamyFinch · 13/09/2026 19:14

EmeraldShamrock000 · 12/09/2026 20:09

I was a staunch believer that MJ was guilty. Not now, Hollywood is disgusting, they’ve taken down many before and after Michael.
I think he was a victim of the system.

He let children sleep with him in his bedroom. Just that should make him cancelled.

11AndCounting · 13/09/2026 19:14

BananaPeels · 13/09/2026 19:05

so he is guilty then if he can never be proved innocent?

you can’t have it both ways.

I don't think you have even a basic grasp of the legal system, which will make discussing legal verdicts with you rather pointless.

NeedAnyHelpWithThatPaperBag · 13/09/2026 19:13

Michael's body of work is such that it being cancelled would actually leave a massive hole in people's memories and enjoyment, whereas Savile's is completely disposable?