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.

Who knows? If the department of child and family services in the US are anything like social services in the UK or Tusla in Ireland where I am then they constantly fuck up and leave children in terrible situations.

Im late to the thread

And I know its a double standard for me because I was never a huge fan anyway, but I get a visceral reaction on hearing his music.

Over the years ive watched quite a bit and was off ill so was able to catch a lot of the trial.

See we could go into all the arguments about art books and childhood etc, but having 4 kids myself its a very simple thing that a grown man slept and kept company with young boys, and to have huge security outside the bedroom why?

Yes I could if I wanted to get quite detailed about other things, but I can't seperate the vile man from the music.

If you can fair play, no judgement from me.

As I said im very late to this discussion, ive read through the whole thread the last couple of days and I agree.

Its like a cult.

Ive no problem with folk still wishing to enjoy his music and watch his videos, but its the vehemently reactive answers on his innocence of wrong doing with children. No I wasnt there but neither were they, and if it walks like a duck and quacks its likely a fucking duck.

And in all the detailed arguing of minor points ive still to see a good argument as to why children were having sleepovers with him as a middle aged man.

Im going to leave you to it as it turns my stomach to see the defence of it.

No I wasnt there but neither were they, and if it walks like a duck and quacks its likely a fucking duck.

This is what I can’t get my head around with these people. Why the steadfast determination that he’s innocent? He wasn’t your friend or family member. He wouldn’t piss on you if you were on fire if he were still alive and you happened across him. And yet this incredibly odd stranger somehow deserves your unwavering loyalty?
I can’t help but think that a person must have something missing in their life to have this level of devotion to a complete stranger.
As a parent, if there’s any hint someone might be a child abuser, that’s it done for me.

Yeh it’s like he tried to groom a whole nation to accept it is normal to share beds with boys.
what parents would actually be happy to send their 7 year old for a week long sleepover (or however long it was) in a grown man’s bed. Or share hotel rooms with him. Or have man come to his house for a sleepover in the kids bedroom! Like what the actual FFFFFF!!!
it’s crazy that this actually allowed to happen.
i don’t understand how people can defend this an think it’s ok….

All they can know is that he didn't abuse them.
Would you accept this is any other situation "Mr X raped me" "Oh no, he can't have done, because he didn't rape me. Also, he's very nice and has a zoo and a soft voice."
Ridiculous.

By this standard Jimmy Saville was innocent.

You know the truth.
You don't need to drink the superfan kool-aid any more.
You can still enjoy the music (though I can't).

as always South Park did it

Well this is the crux to me anyway.

Obviously he had superfans who loved him and still do.

Loved him, loved his music. That's ok. Through history there are fantastically talented people, authors, actors, musicians who were shite human beings.

Its when they cant actually acknowledge that he might have been less than the 'pure of heart' (bloody ridiculous term earlier in the thread).

That theres really something absolutely not right in having prepubescent boys in his bedroom

Its like HE has let THEM down if its true and its taking something away from their love and loyalty. Hes not that person they had on the pedestal any more.

So they continue to post about him being supported by Corey Feldman etc etc.....jesus two things can be true.. he could have been lovely to Corey whilst being a raving pedalo.

Of course theres others that play devil's advocate unless theres certain and irrefutable proof, and im usually one, but in this case I cant defend the indefensible!

@Lampzade
One thing that I notice about the MJ case is that it discourages fair minded discussion .

TBF if it wasn't MJ then there would be no debate about it at all because absolutely everyone would think he was guilty.

He says in the book the Rabbi made from his recordings that his female fans are the loyal ones, the activists and the ones that will fight for him.

The rest of his comments about women are deeply misogynistic so I don't think he thinks much better of the female fans. He just wasn't a nice person and he's incredibly narcissistic.

No, that’s not right and also rather patronising. I was a huge fan back in the day and still love listening to his music, enjoyed the film immensely and will rewatch it again at some point. He was a musical genius. However, I still think he could have been guilty of the crimes he was accused of and always have done. I’ve said it several times before and I’ll say it again, there is a lack of evidence here that proves he was guilty. I’m interested in facts - not prejudices and obfuscations presented as evidence.

Some of the crap posted on here has quickly been rebutted with relevant sources thanks to a marvellous invention called Google.

Then they took out their pencil and paper and drew a pic of Mj 's todger in àll its coloured patchwork glory, mj must have rolled over in his sleep, his pants fell off just so the young sketcher could complete his (still life) drawing.

Must be fucking RIHGL (rolling in his grave laughing ) at the imbeciles who for one minute are swallowing (sorry maybe not the the beat word) that.

Oh then they watched a bit of porn with their popcorn.

The child's alleged description of his privates was debunked anyway as nothing matched up.

This is exactly what I meant earlier

The deflection from the one big smoking gun. A middle aged man slept in the same room as prepubescent children. Why?

The cult of celebrity, I suppose. Some people are so blinded by fame that they’re willing to overlook awful behaviour.
As I said earlier, I think some people must have something missing in their life in order to need this level of adoration of a total stranger.

Also there are now eleven eyewitnesses that I can count who have said Jackson either directly sexually abused them or behaved in a sexually inappropriate way e.g. masturbating whilst talking to them on the phone.

But they are all liars and after money and anyway its their parents fault for allowing them to make Jackson look bad by having sleepovers with him.

That wasn’t a smoking gun if it’s the sleeping with children in his bed you mean. He admitted children slept in his bed in the 1995 interview he did with Diane Sawyer, and the 2003 interview he did with Martin Bashir. His defence attorney even brought it up in his trial. So, no, that wasn’t a smoking gun. There isn’t one, as much as some people here like to think there was.

Exactly. He grew up in a house of 9 siblings in a 2 bedroom house. It's all he knew so I'm hoping that was the reason for sharing. Don't forget his bedroom wasn't the norm. It was like a 2 storey house.

Its notoriously hard to get evidence in SA and rape cases.

If you want to watch sanitised films about him and like his music that's one thing

But deluding yourself that he was just an overgrown child himself with a 'pure heart' (ugh) is another level. What scenario or world is that ok in?

Just keep repeating that if it keeps your hero up there for you.

Meanwhile in the real world....

Just watched him denying certain plastic surgeries which its fooken obvious he had, so forgive me for thinking he's a self serving pdo

@MargoChanningsglass :

https://www.patrickjmclain.com/blog/2024/august/-smoking-gun-evidence/

I am not sure it is ok actually to watch the movie given that his estate is actively involved in discrediting his victims to preserve Jackson's legacy and their cashflow.

Yes of course. I posted earlier that i usually play devis advocate and posters supporting him keep talking about lack of evidence.

So the children so far are all just out for money and not to be believed? Rather than the rich rock star that befriended them?

Who paid out millions to make it go away? Is there really 11 witnesses now?

Pfffft