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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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

284 replies

P0d · 05/07/2025 08:36

I also have a friend whose little boy has learnt all his moves and she puts MJ on for him to dance to.

I don’t understand, hearing his music makes me feel sick.

OP posts:
FortyElephants · 05/07/2025 08:37

I kind of think that 'separate the art from the artist' can come in to play when the artist is dead TBH. Also a lot of people don't actually accept he was a paedophile 🤷🏼‍♀️

dontcomeatme · 05/07/2025 08:37

Was it proved he was a paedophile? I didn't think it was x

Fooshufflewickjbannanapants · 05/07/2025 08:37

He was never convicted of anything legally speaking. Not my cup of tea personally.

AcademicallyAverageTeddy · 05/07/2025 08:38

MJ isn't likely to come back from the dead just to grope any child who dances to his songs is he? I think the children are safe!

P0d · 05/07/2025 08:39

dontcomeatme · 05/07/2025 08:37

Was it proved he was a paedophile? I didn't think it was x

Well he slept in bed with little boys. I doubt if any of your adult male friends did this that you would say it was fine.

OP posts:
Energywise · 05/07/2025 08:39

My ds loves dancing to his music. Won’t be turning that off.

P0d · 05/07/2025 08:39

AcademicallyAverageTeddy · 05/07/2025 08:38

MJ isn't likely to come back from the dead just to grope any child who dances to his songs is he? I think the children are safe!

But that child will grow up and realise mummy was making him dance to paedo songs

OP posts:
Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 05/07/2025 08:41

P0d · 05/07/2025 08:39

But that child will grow up and realise mummy was making him dance to paedo songs

But what about the songs that MJ didn't write himself? Are you saying that anyone who wrote music for him was a paedophile? Many songs he was just 'performing', so he had no input other than vocal.

I think you need to divorce the artist from the art here.

WhereOnEarthIsMyPlanet · 05/07/2025 08:41

P0d · 05/07/2025 08:39

But that child will grow up and realise mummy was making him dance to paedo songs

Who is making a child dance? If they didn’t want to dance I’m sure they wouldn’t dance.

MaraB77 · 05/07/2025 08:43

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.

ScratCat · 05/07/2025 08:43

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.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 05/07/2025 08:45

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?

BlueMum16 · 05/07/2025 08:45

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.

AcademicallyAverageTeddy · 05/07/2025 08:46

P0d · 05/07/2025 08:39

But that child will grow up and realise mummy was making him dance to paedo songs

Hmm
IggleBiggle · 05/07/2025 08:46

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!

dontcomeatme · 05/07/2025 08:46

P0d · 05/07/2025 08:39

Well he slept in bed with little boys. I doubt if any of your adult male friends did this that you would say it was fine.

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.

PansyPotter84 · 05/07/2025 08:46

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.

InterestedDad37 · 05/07/2025 08:47

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.

FrenchandSaunders · 05/07/2025 08:48

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

Kimwestonhelpless · 05/07/2025 08:49

@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?

VintageKefir · 05/07/2025 08:50

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...

Sassybooklover · 05/07/2025 08:50

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.

Itallcomesdowntothis · 05/07/2025 08:51

MaraB77 · 05/07/2025 08:43

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.

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.

tripleginandtonic · 05/07/2025 08:51

P0d · 05/07/2025 08:39

But that child will grow up and realise mummy was making him dance to paedo songs

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

TizerorFizz · 05/07/2025 08:51

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?!