ExoticPrincess
Guests
I can only speak for myself, but I don't think the fans woke up one morning and just decided to be mad at Michael's mother.
I've slowly, slowly watched this fan community get more and more disappointed with Katherine. It's not something that happened overnight. It's not like we want to feel disappointed with her, but it is what it is. That's just how we feel.
In the beginning, most were willing to be sympathetic and give her the benefit of the doubt. When she formed a business partnership with Howard Mann. we were a little alarmed, but didn't think much of it. We were still in the mindset of her being a vulnerable grieving mother and this sneaky business man was having fun taking advantage of her. Then the Mann contracts leaked, and we cut her some more slack. It would have been hard for her to understand, it's worded strangely, she's an old lady and she's not going to understand most of what she signed. Plus the part about the kids being binded to Mann "for life" wasn't even legal, so we were angry, but it not like they could enforce the contract on the children.
While many were getting impatient with her most were still willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. When she did the Oprah interview and included Michael's children, many felt more anger towards her but it was believed that the kids wanted to do it, and maybe they begged her or something, and she was an old lady, and she couldn't tell a 13 year old what to do and what not to do and so on and so forth. When the interview aired which showed the children lacking enthusiasm about the interview and Blanket look so uncomfortable, and Prince trying to leave the table half way though, there was more anger directed at her. Add that to all the things she said in the interview, not really "defending Michael" as Taj said she would, and the fans weren't too happy. Let's not even get into the fact that the interview was with Oprah, which caused even more outrage than the interview itself. More people may have felt anger towards Katherine for it, but many said let bygones be bygones and nothing could be done about it now so just overlook it.
Early the following year, Michael's estate was in the middle of a litigation against a fraudulent charity, who were using Michael's logos and name for profit. Katherine and Howard Mann went ahead, got involved and began to support said charity. She put Michael's children on the youth ambassadors' board, and she granted yet another interview involving Michael's children--this time with them wearing t-shirts promoting the fraudulent foundation. Many fans thought this was the last straw and they could no longer tolerated it, and began speaking very harshly about Michael's mother, but many were also willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, yet again. I got blasted for criticizing Michael's mother for the whole htwf thing because Michael loved his mother (and I have no doubt he did) and she is therefore above criticism. Regardless of her actions, many were still able to give her the benefit of the doubt, and, if not that, at least close their eyes to it and ignore it somewhat because Michael loved her and it would hurt him to see us being critical of her.
The final straw for most was this "Forever Michael" tribute show. Having Michael's children be required to attend as per the "terms and conditions." Getting KISS involved and saying that Michael would be happy about it, regardless of the fans complaints. Continuing to support the tribute, even though the organizers have disrespected the fans, deleted their concerns from facebook, lied about it, lied to her about the "international galaxy of stars", lied to her about it being the "greatest show" in history, and essentially not giving a damn about what's done in Michael's name, and leaving the fans to pretty much clean up all the mess that they have started. We should be spending this time getting ready for Murray's trial, not sitting here worrying about this "tribute" and the impact it will have on Michael's legacy if it goes forward.
There's only so much we can tolerate. We've given Katherine and the whole family more than enough rope. I just feel like my patience is wearing thin. When they start making the children promote their scents, fake charities and fashion lines, it just creates more and more resentment. There were times that Michael could have exploited his children and used them for his own gain. I'm sure that a five minute interview with the children explaining what a great dad he was would have been great for his public image. Michael was called an awful father who abused children, so why not? He needed the image boost. For all we know, they may have been begging him to do it. There could have been times when the children heard something bad about their dad and wanted to come out publicly and defend him. Even if that was true, Michael still didn't allow it because Michael did what he was supposed to do as a father. Michael protected those children. He didn't make them do anything unless it was with their best interests in mind.
What has Katherine done that has been in their best interests? The children do an interview to be used as a tool bring in extra viewers, and, in turn, increase publicity for Katherine's book. They wear Heal the world t-shirts, their generosity being used to secure trademarks for a fake charity to exploit their father and be put up against their own father's estate. How is three minors being included in contracts in their best interests? How is attempting to bind three minors to a porn producer for life in their best interests?
Maybe we should ask Taj whether taking Michael's children (or any child for that matter), and just using them as leverage to secure opportunities for yourself is something that wouldn't go against everything he stood for. We must have missed the memo, because, as far as we could see, he made himself pretty clear about how he felt about children being exploited and growing up in a fish bowl. He also made it pretty clear that he didn't want that life for his children, so...
Okay, without even going a step further through this thread i just have to say BIG UPS! for tellin' it like it is, its all been layed out quite nicely in your post.:yes:
