AIBU to be shocked by public celebration of Michael Jackson?

[2021x]

Now the MJ film is out my social media feed is flooded with people doing the dances and talking about the movie etc. My local cinema is holding special events and screenings.

I personally have no doubt that he was a predatory paedophile. All the signs are there, especially how he talks about how he would never hurt a child and sharing a bed with them is the "most loving thing you can do in the world". He manipulated the world into thinking he had a "child-like persona" but was able to manage a music career worth millions... which someone who is naive would never be able to manage.

I also do not judge people who enjoy his music. It was very popular at the time, and would be associated with all types nostaligic memories. I listen to problematic artists all the time, but I don't pretend that they weren't abusive.

AIBU to be astounded that any business/media outlet would be seen dead even associating with him let alone celebrating such a horrifically abusive man.

Genuine question why couldn’t you say that at the start? Why did you let him fall in love with his music?

Jimmy Saville was never convicted, arrested or charged.

I know, but there was much more evidence of his crimes than what there was for Jackson.

I'm not going to ban him from listening to music thats still really popular and often on the radio, played in shops etc. And I never really thought he'd get so into it considering its all pretty old stuff.

If I dont tell him soon someone else will so thats my hand forced. I hope he still continues to listen to the music he likes despite the noise around MJs alleged behaviour.

Because he’s 10.
How was she supposed to ’stop’ him falling in love with his music?
My daughter likes Thriller.

However, he made a damned good scapegoat for many others in Hollywood, allowing them to point the finger at the odd black guy who didn't try to hide the fact that he enjoyed the company of children, whilst the rich, privileged, middle aged white guys were all living it up on Epstein Island, abusing children left, right and centre.

@Faith77

This really doesn't add up, there can be many pedophiles you know, pointing the finger at one man and scapegoating him doesn't help any other pedophiles to get away with it unless they were being accused of raping the same children.

Also the concept of grooming was widely discussed at the time due to the Michael Jackson accusations, I don't think any other pedophiles abusing children would have really wanted that.

I've just come from watching the film. I'm not ashamed to say. I loved it. He was iconic and his music was genuinely genius.

I believe MJ is innocent. The Jordan Chandler case which was settled out of court - there is lots of evidence now that Jordy was drugged and made by his father to accuse Michael of abuse. Jordans father saw the ££££ and did his best to destroy Michael. The FBI investigated for several years he was found not guilty in court regarding the other allegations. There is all sorts of evidence now that Wade Robson and James Safechuck who made the Leaving Neverland hit piece were lying and their stories were bullshit as none of the timelines were correct. There are plenty of films debunking the whole 'documentary'. It's been pulled by HBO. Wade Robson was still at the time of MJ's funeral trying to get involved in tributes and MJ musicals etc. do people really think the if he had been abused by MJ he would still want to be in tribute shows and choreograph his musicals? Wade testified in court that MJ never touched him and he dated MJs niece and continued visiting the neverland ranch for years. He has been a proven liar.

It was never just boys. MJ had girls stay and their parents and family. His bedroom was a two story house! The press spin everything to look as bad as can be. Meanwhile convicted criminal and rapist is president of USA.

Some people are comparing MJ to Saville but it's not comparable there are literally hundreds of victims of Saville that have come forward. It's completely different.

@vickylou78 Agree with everything you say although I did smirk a bit at your comment on some of savilles victims not coming forward but not in a good smirk way I just mean the play on words type what with the man being a necrophiliac.

Yes it is completely different because Michael Jackson groomed his victims, he was the biggest superstar in the world and made the boys feel like they were the most special person in the world that he chose them. Victims of grooming will often have extremely complex views of their abuser and often won't come forward because they feel loyalty, guilt, love etc. It would most likely be even more complex and confusing in the Michael Jackson case because they slept in the same bed and also difficult because MJ has legions of fans who will call them liars and discredit them if they speak out.

It is my understanding that many victims of Jimmy Saville are children who he randomly groped whenever he got an opportunity, I know he raped others and there would have been an element of grooming with some but not in the same way as MJ. In that sense it would be easier in some ways for Jimmy Savilles victims to come forward.

What would you need to see to say that he was a paedophile?

The same way you would stop him falling in love with Gary Glitters musics

“ I know this music is fun, but this man hurt children so we should find something else to listen to”

Can you explain the difference in the evidence and why you think there is more for Saville than for MJ.

I’m despairing at so many of the replies on this thread.

How people can hide their head in the sand.

How people can excuse his behaviour because he was so childlike, and possibly a victim himself

How people can believe he was a predator yet think it’s fine to support his legacy and honour his music

I get that people can have their own opinion but it is all so very grim. What on earth message is this sending.

I feel so sad for the victims. I can’t help feeling that they must feel so betrayed by society as a whole.

Why does it matter to you if someone elses' kid wants to listen to his music? Like I get thinking he's guilty etc. I do too now, and not wanting to personally play his music but you can't control other people playing his music which seems to be what a lot of people are trying to do.

Not at all.

I am asking why you as a parent allowed your children to listen to music of someone you thought was a paedophile.

Adults can make their own decision about who to listen to, but as a child you are protected by your parents.

I am being so persistent because I am trying to understand what is so magical about MJ and why people are overlooking heinous behaviour

I understood why this could happen with the abuse of children in the Catholic Church.. it was hidden and systematic and deeply embedded in the culture. None of those things apply to MJ and other paeodpgiles have been wiped off the face of the planets

What is so different about MJ?

I'm not the PP with the 10yr old but protect him from what? Listening to some music of a guy whose been dead 16 yrs? What danger is he in?

He was exploited as a child he was protecting others from what he went through and what he witnessed if you care to look there is many celebs that have spoke out and ended up dead or careers ruined , the information is there if you bother to look .

Of feeling lied to.

You are a kid, you love this person and learn the dance moves and all the lyrics to the songs.

Then as a teenager you find out that this person assaulted kids. In addition your parents had know the whole time and let you… a child… think this person was amazing.

It would be reasonable then to ask… what else were they lying about?

Wade Robson and James Safechuck were in the entertainment business as kids so let's say for the sake of argument I give you that one, How was he protecting Jordan Chandler from exploitation? Who was exploiting him? And Gavin Arvizo?

The police didnt charge Jimny Saville either.
Failure on the part of the police does not mean innocence.

Oh right I see. Well I think you're making a bit of a big deal about parents lying to their kids about it. How much would you actually expect her to tell him? Parents keep ALL sorts of stuff from their kids until they're at an appropriate age to tell them.

Well you know he spent many nights with unaccompanied young boys in his bed. Because he said he did. You think thats fine?

Yeah right.
If it was all about bringing joy to the children and enjoying their company innocently here is what you do.
You invite the child AND THEIR PARENTS to hang about your private fair ground. You even allow the child AND THEIR PARENTS to stay over night because it was all such fun in. You in your sleeping accomodation , the children in seperate sleeping accomodation WITH THEIR PARENTS, somewhere on your extensive estate. That way he could have been "kind" to little girls as well. But little girls werent his thing were they?

What you do not do, unless you are a raging paedophile, is take lone children into your bed away from their parents or any kind of adult supervision.

Would you let him watch Jim’ll Fix It reruns if they were on TV?