So, Michael Jackson died a few days ago. He was 50 years old.
Like many people, I have mixed emotions about MJ. In countless ways he defined the music of my generation. He almost singlehandedly made MTV the success it became in the 80s. And his vision, talent, and showmanship were unmatched. Additionally, he was a huge-hearted and admirable philanthropist. At the same time he was indescribably strange. Obsessed with surgical alteration, larger than life surroundings, and the company of children. Plagued by lawsuits and accusations of unthinkable offenses.
Most disturbing are the charges of child molestation, all of which he vehemently denied and were settled out of court. I'm not saying he's innocent, because I really don't know either way. But I always found it suspicious. If someone molested my child, I'd want their sick ass in jail, end of story. But these people accepted a buy-off. Was there a chance it was really about money and not molestation? Just wondering.
Those who know me know I'm not a bleedingheart. But after watching several interviews over the years, I truly think Michael suffered from an extreme stunting of his emotional growth. The combination of superstardom at such a young age and the abuse he received in his younger years stripped him of any semblance of a childhood ... resulting in a completely dysfunctional adult. He spent his adulthood desperately trying to recapture the childhood he missed. Had he been an average Joe, I'm confident he'd have been categorized with some sort of severe and tragic mental illness. Perhaps his fans were his saving grace up to this point. I always felt bad for him in a way - I think he tried to be a good person. He just couldn't seem to function properly.
I hope he finds the peace in death that eluded him in his life.
1 week ago
3 comments:
I'll have to say that I agree with what you wrote here.
My favorite MJ song is Billie Jean.
THANK YOU.
I have been saying the VERY same things about him for years.
I have always said (since he turned into kind of a freak) that the poor man never had a normal childhood... because of that he can't possibly understand what "normal" is.
Like you, I'm not totally convinced that he did molest those children... there is no amount of money in the world that I would "settle" for if someone molested my son, I'd want to see them die or at the least rot in prison forever. And those accusers were too easy to "settle."
But either way, it's not my place to decide or judge.
All the cruel jokes and the negativity about his life that has been brought up and talked about since his death has kinda bothered me. To me, negativity is not something you dwell on when a person dies... you celebrate their life and the good and positive things they brought to the world.
I was a huge teeny-bopper fan with my bedroom walls covered in MJ posters in the 80's and I have always loved all of his music.
He had massive talent and was an extraordinary entertainer and THAT is what the world should remember about him.
Although MJ was never one of my favorite entertainers, and I suspect it is my age that plays a part in that, I am sorry he passed away without having reached the maturity he sought!
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