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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Michael Jackson, veto?

206 replies

InkyPinkyPonky95 · 02/01/2021 21:56

It's up to you to decide whether you think MJ is a pedo or not, everyone is entitled to come to their own conclusion... but I think he was guilty and it's kind of ruined his music for me.

I won't storm out of a restaurant if one of his songs comes on! but I won't play his music myself because I can't separate his music from how disgusted I am by him.

That being said, for those that do believe he is guilty do you now veto playing his music? Has it ruined his music for you too? Or have you found a way to compartmentalise your feelings about it?

Side note: I understand not everyone thinks he's guilty, that's fine! Completely up to you to decide what you think. Not here to judge, just to hear other people's feelings.

OP posts:
Longtalljosie · 04/01/2021 08:49

I don’t want to hear it. It was an instinctive thing for me. I watched a documentary with those two young men which aired before he died. The me t day I got in the car and the radio started playing “Billie Jean”. It played it a lot and I really liked the song. I automatically turned it over to the CD player and that was that.

knittingaddict · 04/01/2021 09:02

Cokie3 just wanted to come on here and applaud your posts. They sum up everything I feel about MJ and how he hid in plain site. Thank you.

knittingaddict · 04/01/2021 09:03

Sight not site. Don't use my phone much for mn and bloody autocorrect!

AlwaysLatte · 04/01/2021 09:04

I loved his voice before but knowing what I do now has tainted it and I don't choose to listen to it anymore.

knittingaddict · 04/01/2021 09:11

@percheron67

Never met him although i know someone who new him well and trusted him. He seemed to have lots of problems that could be due to his abusive? upbringing. I don't think he was guilty of anything other than wanting to stay a child in some ways. I adore his music and hope that poor chap rests in peace.
I'm sorry but you are very naive if you believe that. His "childlike" persona was a con, a scam designed to suck vulnerable people in and get away with his crimes. Would you think the same way if he were a grown man acting this way and living in any ordinary street in the UK or did he get away with it because of wealth, fame and "talent"? He was a creepy child molester and doesn't deserve to rest in peace. It's a crying shame that he never saw the inside of a prison cell.
Sillysandy · 04/01/2021 09:15

Oh interesting!

I also fully believe he's guilty and I hadn't realised it till now but I would never ever put his music on to listen to.

ZoeTurtle · 04/01/2021 09:18

I don't listen to him anymore. I wouldn't walk out of a restaurant that was playing one of his tracks, but I'd turn over the radio if I was in control of it.

Emmelina · 04/01/2021 09:20

The high weak voice was put on, there are videos out there of him talking. He has a stereotypical deep black man’s voice. Would his natural voice have encouraged parents to leave their sons with him? No. I’ve no doubt there was a lot of ‘professional’ manipulation going on. If you don’t stay at my house/drink this alcohol/bathe with me naked, I’ll tell everyone you’re impossible to work with and because I’m Michael Jackson they’ll take me at my word and you’ll never dance professionally/act again!
Naive and innocent? Did you listen to the lyrics of the songs he sang?

FuckTheLemons · 04/01/2021 12:26

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the request of the OP.

lunasunshine · 04/01/2021 13:08

I think he is innocent and still listen to his music. It’s genius and timeless.

However, he was heavily exploited and ripped apart by the tabloids so I can understand why people who haven’t done their research would think he is guilty. The public were obsessed with the “Wacko Jacko” image and, the crazier the stories, the more the newspapers would sell which lined the pockets of the tabloids very nicely.

FYI, the “documentary” Leaving Neverland is a big pile of shite and has more holes than a swiss cheese.

Even in death, Michael Jackson continues to be exploited for his money.

Proudboomer · 04/01/2021 13:13

I believe he was guilty and would never play his music now. I believe he exploited his fame to abuse children and get away with it. I don’t want to listening to music that pays royalties to an abusers estate.

Notimeforaname · 04/01/2021 13:15

Yes lunasunshine I feel the same as you. Love MJ .
Looking at his huge portrait on my wall as we type..Smile

lunasunshine · 04/01/2021 14:24

@Cokie3 I’d love to know what ‘blatant evidence’ you know about?

lunasunshine · 04/01/2021 14:28

@Notimeforaname I’m so glad to hear that Smile

Have you watched Square One on Amazon Prime? It goes into detail about the 1993 accusers. Very, very interesting!!

Coldilox · 04/01/2021 14:41

I’ve never been a fan so wouldn’t choose to listen anyway (other than some early Jackson 5). But I believe he was guilty, so would never play his music.

He was an abuser who used his wealth and power to silence his victims, he even got them to believe they weren’t victims for a long time. His behaviour isn’t all that special, it’s pretty typical of abusers. The only thing that sets him apart is his fame.

Coldilox · 04/01/2021 14:49

Oh and the innocent til proven guilty thing doesn’t wash. I’ve seen dozens of rapists walk free from court, any countless others never get there in the first place.

My abusers have never been proven guilty. Doesn’t mean they weren’t.

ViciousJackdaw · 04/01/2021 15:05

I'm in two minds about this but as a PP said, would you accept a payoff to keep quiet if your own child had been abused? We'll never know the truth so I'll err on the side of caution - I won't turn the radio off if he comes on but his music isn't something I would play if other people could hear it.

As for Mozza, I'm truly disappointed by the old bigot. I magpied his solo CDs but still listen to The Smiths a lot because of Johnny Marr.

waterlego · 04/01/2021 15:15

Even if you thought ‘Leaving Neverland’ was bullshit, as some clearly do, Jackson himself said that he invited children to share his bed with him. In what universe is that ok?

Would you allow your child to share a bed with a man to whom they were not related? At the adult’s request? I really hope not. I can’t conceive of any innocent explanation for an adult to make such a request.

knittingaddict · 04/01/2021 15:20

There is none waterlego.

Chanjer · 04/01/2021 15:21

I don't know if he's guilty and in the grand scheme of things I don't actually care

I love (some of) his music and have never had an opinion or interest in him or his personal life, or any other celebrity or any other person I don't personally know really

waterlego · 04/01/2021 15:22

Exactly knitting

contrmary · 04/01/2021 15:24

I don't listen to his music, but neither have I deleted the few songs of his I have from my collection.

To be honest I was always uncomfortable listening to his music, even though some of it was quite acceptable. In the 90s there was lots of speculation regarding his paedophilia, and that's before you start on all the Wacko Jacko stuff like his face, dangling a kid out of a window, and the obscene self-satisfaction of the History album (which, thinking about it, came with a photo of a naked child - presumably him - in the booklet).

But it's undeniable that as soon as I hear one of his songs I immediately think "nonce" in the same way I do when I hear Gary Glitter. (Funnily enough, the same happens when I hear Steps - that whole Ian Watkins/"H" confusion was enough to taint them too.)

SapatSea · 04/01/2021 15:28

What to do about vetoing bands ? e.g Paedophile Ian Watkins of the Lost prophets (who I never listened to, but I wonder do any of their old fans).

I feel the Rolling Stones are tainted by Bill Wyman (Mandy Smith) especially, Roger Daltrey of The Who has made homophobic comments and Pete Townsend had child porn on his computer. Julia Holcomb has stated that Steve Tyler(Aerosmith) got her guardian rights signed over to him when she was 14 so he could take her across state lines (he was 27), Jimmy page (Led Zep) and underage groupies, kidnapping Lori Maddox. So many alleged wife beaters out there who were in bands e.g. Ringo, Lennon, Ike Turner... If you are rich and famous it doesn't seem to affect your career too much especially if the abuse is "historic" with the excuse given about the prevailing attitudes of the time (e.g. 60's, 1970's) often lauded as if it makes you more macho and "rock n roll."

knittingaddict · 04/01/2021 15:31

@SapatSea

What to do about vetoing bands ? e.g Paedophile Ian Watkins of the Lost prophets (who I never listened to, but I wonder do any of their old fans).

I feel the Rolling Stones are tainted by Bill Wyman (Mandy Smith) especially, Roger Daltrey of The Who has made homophobic comments and Pete Townsend had child porn on his computer. Julia Holcomb has stated that Steve Tyler(Aerosmith) got her guardian rights signed over to him when she was 14 so he could take her across state lines (he was 27), Jimmy page (Led Zep) and underage groupies, kidnapping Lori Maddox. So many alleged wife beaters out there who were in bands e.g. Ringo, Lennon, Ike Turner... If you are rich and famous it doesn't seem to affect your career too much especially if the abuse is "historic" with the excuse given about the prevailing attitudes of the time (e.g. 60's, 1970's) often lauded as if it makes you more macho and "rock n roll."

Only listen to female artists? It's a thought.
tisnotthedamnseason · 04/01/2021 15:36

Can we all please stop saying 'child pornography' it's offensive and inaccurate.
The correct term is child abuse images. It's not porn.