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.

I agree. I used to be quite a big fan and still love his music and listen occasionally.
However I won’t be going to see the movie because he as a person repels me, I can’t watch clips of him in interviews anymore or even clips of him performing, especially if there’s a child there anywhere m

I can understand the “appreciate the art but condemn the behaviour” argument. However there are people on here and elsewhere who simply don’t believe he did anything wrong, that’s truly astounding.

It is odd. It's the same with the BBC and John Peel.

I’m always fascinated by people being so convinced that the jury got it wrong and that MJ was clearly guilty, yet so many people can’t fathom that a jury might have got it wrong over Lucy Letby.

I have no feelings toward MJ. He had a dreadful upbringing but was a grade A weirdo in adulthood.

This is a world in which old TOTP clips wont be shown if they've got Jimmy Saville in them or other DJs that Ive now forgotten, Bake Off was cancelled or not shown becuase it had Scott Mills in....

But cinemas around the world are playing this film!!!!

Also just because he wasn’t ’found guilty’ doesn’t mean he wasn’t 1000 percent guilty. People have the right to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. There is no such burden of proof in the court of public opinion. So when rich people are able to use their power and money to manipulate the system perhaps it’s only right that the court of public opinion holds them accountable where the justice system has failed.

How come we aren’t still listening to Gary Glitter or Rolf Harris then?

I'm not shocked sadly. Not the only person who was abusive or worse to others in their lifetime who is celebrated or revered.

Their convictions were in the UK, perhaps?

I used to like OO, or at least his public persona, and fancied him when I was a teenager (pic shows what he looked like back then)!!! Then I read his autobiography, and couldn't get past the first few pages. Horrible.

Its irrelevant if people are arguing about separating out the artist from their crimes

Rolf did some nice pics and I always liked that song he did.

The fact is, he wasn’t found guilty, so regardless of how guilty you personally might think he his, YABU for criticising others for having a different opinion.

He wasn’t found guilty of one allegation. There have been several others and the accusers all say similar things about what he did.

The guy who tried to rape me didn't even go to court so wasn't found guilty but he still tried to rape me. Legal verdicts aren't the whole story, they never have been.

I don't accept this argument. I think it's morally the right thing to do to push back on the attempt to white wash his image, which this film is clearly trying to do. Even his own daughter agrees with the inappropriateness of this film.

There is a mountain of evidence that has emerged since the trial that suggests further charges should have been brought. One trial verdict doesn't make his entire behaviour towards all the victims okay or not criminal.

We need to keep pushing back on this because it speaks to deeper unsavoury trends in our society about the nature of sexual abuse and society's willingness to look away from uncomfortable truths.

Because their music wasn’t as good basically. They never had the popularity of MJ. If Paul McCartney, David Bowie, the BeeGees or Barry Manilow were accused of similar things then it would be the same story. In fact I think David Bowie was accused of having sex with underage girls (same as Rolf) but it didn’t damage his legacy really.

I do not think he was a paedophile, he was like a child that never grew up, he missed his actual childhood and tried to re-live it through other children. The boys that were friendly with him (not the ones trying to extract money) have said he never touched them. He was odd and eccentric but I think harmless. He was never found guilty of anything, doesn't innocent until proved guilty mean anything?

There was never any evidence he actually did anything wrong. Trump is a glorified pedophile though and look how many people worship that bastard though.

just odd, eccentric and harmless but had a chest full of BDSM material next to his bed, a 13 year old boy accurately described what his penis looked like, his staff describe finding his ejaculate all over his underwear, he shared beds with vulnerable children and paid their parents off if any complaints were raised. Okay then.

“Enough evidence”
They found poppers and pornography in a bedroom where he shared beds with children.
That is “enough evidence” for me.

@catipussYeah it means you avoid going to jail. Doesn’t mean that you get to avoid people making their own mind up and boycotting your legacy

I agree, he is clearly a pedophile.

Because they made shit music?

If he was harmless then why does his own daughter now believe he was a paedophile? Paris Jackson has been very vocal on the subject.

Janet Jackson refused to take part in the film because she can't support it, despite huge pressure from the Jackson family.

These people knew him in real life, had close relationships with him and can believe he was capable of being a paedophile. That says a lot more than people who never met him and just think he was an innocent gentle soul.