School band playing Michael Jackson

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It’s been decided that the school band - a group of 11 year old boys - are going to play a Michael Jackson number at the next concert. School staff were involved in this decision.

AIBU or is this just massively inappropriate in the wake of the Leaving Neverland revelations?

I agree with you OP, the school would be wise to give Jackson’s music a swerve - there’s hardly a shortage of stuff these10 year olds could be performing instead. Adults can make their own choices about whether they want to continue to be involved with Jackson.

I doubt I'd choose it for any of my pupils to play as there are many other musicians out there.

I've read into this in depth since watching the doc and there's a lot that doesn't add up about his victims. He was a very talented musician and dancer and we do not know whether he was guilty.

Of all the musicians and all the songs the school could have picked, for a group of 11 year old boys to perform, they picked a child sex offender, a paedophile, whose victims were young boys aged 7-14.

What on earth are they thinking? They've reallly misjudged this.

YANBU.

YANBU at all. Having watched Leaving Neverland, I have no doubt he was a paedophile. To have children perform his music now is so inappropriate.

YABVVU. The DJ played Thriller at DS’s KS2 school disco on Friday, the kids loved it and the adults thought nothing of it.

AFAIK he’s not been found guilty of anything?

YANBU. I would be concerned that one of the teachers was a troublemaker or completely stupid.

AIBU or is this just massively inappropriate in the wake of the Leaving Neverland revelations?

Why, is he going to host them all a private aftershow party or something??

😏

Tricky. First instinct is God, no, poor taste. But then I realise I’m quite happy to listen to Wagner whilst most definitely not being a nazi sympathiser!
On balance though, because it’s so current, I’d say they’d probably be wise to pick something else this time.

Inappropriate in the current climate id say

Of all the songs out there, why Jackson's?

I find the thought of loads of kids dancing to Thriller kind of ick now.

The bloke was a dirty, disgusting paedophile who ruined many peoples lives.

Maybe that's what's they have been practicing for ages and it's too late to do something else? Learn something else?
Must admit would make me cringe now, but his music was brilliant, we took daughter to see thriller twice last year cause it was fantastic, wouldn't go watch it now.

They’ve only just picked it last week. The concert is next term.

YANBU.

YANBU at all

YANBU OP.
FFS it's not right.
Now listen to me children, let's discuss the artist, says teacher

@edwinbear
AFAIK he’s not been found guilty of anything?

Was Savile?

Why is Michael Jackson given a free pass by some people! It's unbelievable. He was a child abuser FFS. Open your eyes.

I would tell them in no uncertain terms that considering what has recently come to light, you feel doing any Michael Jackson number is disgusting and your child will NOT be participating or present.

@KennDodd " they'll go to his estate"
And that in turn goes to threaten victims and accusers, and villifying them.

@edwinbear That's sad. That is exactly how abuse is propagated. By not thinking of the affect on victims. That you think it is ok to play that music to children is just sad and horrifying. And nauseating to me. And btw, OJ Simpson wasn't found guilty, either. But it is now clear what Jackson did, and children dancing to his music just so wrong it is sickening.

@puppy23 What 'sources' have you read? Let me guess; Jackson fan sites that went out of their way to pick apart the VICTIMS. There is nothing that doesn't add up. His victims were abused. There were at least 5 boys we know of, estimated has conservative top number at 20. There is no smoke without fire. 2 of his own family admitted he was a paedophile. We do now know he was guilty.

DS's school participated in an arts festival last year, and his group of about 50 kids did an awesome routine to a medley of MJ songs.

This sparked an utter love for his music in DS (then 9). He went on to learn all the songs, sings them by heart and was playing them all the time. DH and I enjoyed it, as it was taking us back to our youth, and reminding us of the music which was hadn't listened to in so long.

Then, bam - Leaving Neverland. DH and I both watched it, and - obviously - believe James and Wade.

We're now in a position of no longer actively supporting DS in his musical passion/fad, hoping it passes, and encouraging him to discover new idols.

I can't believe a school would do this, in the current climate. Would I be That Parent and say something? Probably not. But I'd be raising an eyebrow, as I suspect most parents would.

I say this as someone who loved MJ, thought he was incredible, a once-in-a-generation phenomenon, musical genius, etc.

But once you've seen the doc, you can't look back.

@puppy23 everything adds up, unless you're in denial.

His music is very popular. And for the record, if they wanted to play a Gary Glitter number then what would be the harm in that? It doesn't change anything. The music is the music.

We take our children to art galleries and teach them about beautiful paintings that were created by men who openly had sex with children. Shall we take down all of those classic paintings and erase them from history?

Nobody's talking about erasing his music from history, as if that were even possible.

They're suggesting a group of school kids perhaps chose something else for their next concert.

Name the artists..