How's everybody doing?
I think I could only speak for me, but for me, as I get older, I'm understanding things a lot more. I never doubted Michael's innocence. His heart was in the right place, and never hid the fact that he prefers children over adults because a lot of adults do have motives for the wrong reasons. As a 40-year-old man myself, it's HARD being an adult, but that's how life is at times. However, with the stuff we see on TV, the internet, social media, magazines and the music we listen to, especially the news back then and now, things have gotten more complicated. Michael got tired of hearing the word "No," so that's where the "Yes" people came in. You don't have to be a celebrity to understand that, it applies to all people. Michael hardly ever got to experience the stuff a lot of us did as kids, so he tried to compensate for that. We never truly understood how it affected him, we could only speculate since none of us ever had a conversation with him. Michael could never take "no" for an answer, therefore, putting him in a vulnerable position...
After the allegations in 1993, he should've put the brakes on the sleepovers and stop getting too close to children. However, he opened the door to more accusations after the civil case was settled. I believe Michael wanted to take this to court, but way too many circumstances got in the way, his insurance company did the settlement...
thank you. this response is so much more constructive.
and as for me, i believe that, the "sleepovers" weren't even the issue. it was the way they were
PERCEIVED (and still are perceived) that is the issue. the amount of times michael pointed this out: "when you think bed, you're thinking sexual", "it's people with a dirty mind that think that way", when it came to those who challenged his beliefs on and overall, his vulnerability towards children. and he's right! "bed" and "sleeping" do not immediately mean "sex", "molestation", and "grooming." it's just a gross
assumption.
Again, I never doubted Michael's innocence, but this is the sad truth, those accusations will stick forever. Maybe this won't go to trial, but if it does, the Estate will be ready, and all I can do is pray. I'm not worried about this because it's too obvious that these punks will stop at nothing to get what they want, and you know what's really sad about all of this? They make a total disregard to all of the true sexual abuse survivors out there. One bad apple, spoils the bunch! Also, I think they have a fatal attraction to Michael, they're obsessed, along with a few other who will remain nameless...!
As for Michael's legacy, no legacy is perfect... I can't recall who has the perfect legacy... I can't. He made a permanent mark in this world that no one can take away, NO ONE! It's everywhere, and these haters can still hate all they want to. If you think Michael's legacy is tarnished, that's on you, you're trying yourself, I mean, "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" Get those thoughts out of your head.
Michael Jackson is not going anywhere, EVER!
also, yes! i once wrote a long Letterboxd review of Leaving Neverland. at the end, i point out how exploitative it actually is of real CSA survivors, how it takes advantage of those who have actually been traumatized by abuse.
across many years, i've known and met MJ fans and non-MJ fans alike who are CSA survivors themselves whose stories totally contradict those of LN's. typically they do not describe their past abuse as a "loving" thing or even recall it with a shred of positivity at
all (and personally, i find it disgusting how LN literally
ROMANTICIZES the nature of the stories of alleged abuse. there's even been notices of resemblances to Victor Gutierrez's "michael jackson was my lover" in it, which is basically a pro-ship book that romanticizes pedophilia and a made-up "relationship" between Michael and Jordan Chandler. the author himself was also a pedophilia apologist, supporting pro-pedo groups such as NAMBLA). i also think Taj Jackson (michael's nephew who was molested himself by another family member) also pointed this part out, plus how Michael was very supportive to him and helped him get by after the abuse happened (which is pretty damn contradictory to how Michael is typically portrayed as a monster when he was actually highly sensitive to cases of children being abused, and did NOT condone it! there's also a video of michael giving a speech about the horrors of children being abused, including sexual abuse, but i'll have to find it. plus having written songs like "do you know where your children are," which cover the topic of sexual abuse.)
LN may not have the same agenda as "MJ was my lover" or Victor Gutierrez, but it's still disgusting how they portray a story of alleged CSA as something that is "loving" or in the same vein as one would describe a consensual relationship between two adults, when in actuality, CSA survivors are much more likely to develop PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems because they were taken advantage of as children. CSA survivors in general are also often coerced into silence and stigmatized when speaking up about their stories in general, often being victim-blamed or being told they are lying, or threatened by their abuser that more bad things will happen to them if they tell anyone. and sadly, some abusers actually do go through with those threats...
and then, what happens when people like wade and james lie? suddenly, people are more mistrusting of ACTUAL survivors. they continue their stigmatization of them and don't allow them justice. they allow actual rapists and pedophiles to continue walking free, ready to and capable of abusing more people.
sexual abuse is such an irredeemable action. if Michael actually was a pedophile and committed these actions, i would never be a fan at all. all of my merchandise would be burned, i would never log back in here. even if it meant turning my back on the memories i made in this fandom, there is no way you would see me condoning sexual abuse and still supporting Michael if his accusers stories were actually true.
and yes, on michael's legacy, remembering the amount of videos i've seen in the past week where HUGE crowds have gathered at Forest Lawn at his grave on the 25th, and the amount of gifts fans still brought there, and the general cultural relevance Michael still holds to this day, I find it egregious to even assume his legacy is "tarnished." i would say the allegations
stained his reputation rather than
tarnished completely.
