I need to discuss this with you girls, because it has really torn me up. Born in 1977, I grew up with Micheal Jackson like most of you. I remember trading cards with his picture, wanting a silver glove so bad, and watching Thriller over and over again. I loved Micheal Jackson. I respected him. I lost a lot of love and respect when he started getting obsessed with plastic surgery and looking freakish. But, I continued to give him the benefit of the doubt, attributing much to his difficult childhood and the loneliness that comes from being at the very top. So, when he was accused in 1992 of child molestation I still gave him the benefit of the doubt. Afterall, the family agreed to settle out of court for millions of dollars; that alone casted an awful lot of doubt around that situation.
Now, I still find myself giving him the benefit of the doubt. I guess I should; he IS innocent until proven guilty, right? Half of me believes he is guilty and a pedophile that should be imprisoned, and the other half wants to believe Micheal's side (the family accusing him makes that all the easier). My SO told me that Micheal had child pornography magazines in his room. I heard it was just standard porn mags. Does anyone know which type of magazine the police found? Because, honestly if Micheal had child pornography then I just know he is guilty of molesting little boys, but I don't know what the case is here.
Nancy Gray (is that her last name?) was on Larry King last night and I found myself agreeing with her when she said that the jurors will be giving Micheal a benefit of the doubt because of his stardom and influence for so many years over so many people. Nancy said most jurors assume the person being charged is guilty because why else would they be there; they must have been doing something. I would hate for Micheal to be given a pass if he is guilty. He should go to jail for a long time if he molests children, especially given the circumstances. Then there is the other part of me again, aching for Micheal; worrying that he would never be able to stand being in jail. I know I would never feel such sympathy for another man brought up on these charges; that's why I feel so torn.
I wonder what he would do if he were to be found guilty; I'm sure he would pull some kind of crazy stunt.
Also wanted to add that since Micheal was arrested I have not been able to listen to MJ's songs. I used to love "I'll Be There For You" (the Free Willy song), "Billy Jean," and other (mostly early) songs. I can't listen to them on the radio and I deleted all his songs from my Ipod.
Anyone else going through this?
Are you guys not responding because you don't care, don't know what to say, or what?
I've stopped listening to his music too. I just want to know if hes found quilty or not and I'll take it from there.
Just like Kobe Bryant, I was a big fan of his until the rape charges came out. then I just chilled and waited, he wasnt found quilty for "rape" so I still love how he plays basketball but I have to admitt I've lost some respect for him cause of what we've found out to be true. whatever, ..... I've also lost a lot of respect towars MJ too though, guilty or not.
I'm really torn on this whole thing too Drew. I grew up listening to MJ, had a poster on my wall, etc. I can't listen to his music anymore. If he comes on the radio, I turn him off.
I don't know what to think. I definitely think there is something mentally wrong w/him. I'm not sure if he molested this particular boy, because the family does seem to be after his money, but even if he isn't guilty in this case, I wonder about previous accusations. I think he has the wrong types of relationships w/young boys. It's not right for a grown man to be inviting young boys to sleep over in his bed. It makes me wonder about him, especially since he thinks there's nothing wrong with it. If he's not guilty of molestation, I still wouldn't trust my kid alone w/him.
Keep in mind that if he is found guilty he won't go to a 'normal' prision. He'll go to one where he gets special treatment because he's a celebrity w/money. Plus, they'd eat him alive in a normal prision - he wouldn't survive a day.
gosh, i haven't been following the case at all (mostly because i knew it was going to be long and drawn out and too exhausting to listen to) but i cannot help to feel really, really sorry for him. he was on top of the world and so extremely talented and gifted and he has slowly sunk to rock bottom. it's so sad. i actually played "beat it" on my ipod the other day. it's such a nostalgic song for me. it's like 1983, im in the 5th grade, hanging out with my cool girlfriends and we are trying to re-create the dance steps from the video we are watching on mtv in her family room after school or we are at the roller rink trying not to get caught skating backwards to "billy jean".
i dunno... i guess i just want to remember him like that for the rest of my life since i literally "grew up" listening to his music during that period of my life. i really don't listen to anything post-"thriller" though. he started messing with plastic surgery shortly after that and i lost interest in him and his music. when i look at him now it's really hard for me to even "see" the michael jackson i once saw. he's someone completely different to me know.
I do think he is guilty of child molestion, but I don't know if he is guilty of molesting this particular child.
Too many things seem questionable- the secret bedroom that he has in his closet, the admitting to sleeping w/ boys, giving them alcohol. I know that just because you do these things that does not make you a child molester, but there is just something not right about him.
I do feel sorry that he grew up in the spotlight and it seems that he had a rotten childhood, but that doesn't excuse what he did. The whole thing is disgusting and sad.
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I don’t want no part of your tight-ass country-club, you freak bitch!
I think he probably is guilty, but it's SO hard to really know because there ARE frauds out there and kind, weak people with money are the best targets. On the other hand, known frauds are also perfect subjects to victimize, so you just have to decide who's story is more believable and who has more evidence....I tend to think Jackson is guilty.
And if he is guilty, I actually feel even sorrier for his lost soul than if he is not. He is a sad human being.
On a totally different subject, I hope he has to sell his Beatle's rights.
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"Go either very cheap or very expensive. It's the middle ground that is fashion nowhere." ~ Karl Lagerfeld
I'm really torn on this whole thing too Drew. I grew up listening to MJ, had a poster on my wall, etc. I can't listen to his music anymore. If he comes on the radio, I turn him off. I don't know what to think. I definitely think there is something mentally wrong w/him. I'm not sure if he molested this particular boy, because the family does seem to be after his money, but even if he isn't guilty in this case, I wonder about previous accusations. I think he has the wrong types of relationships w/young boys. It's not right for a grown man to be inviting young boys to sleep over in his bed. It makes me wonder about him, especially since he thinks there's nothing wrong with it. If he's not guilty of molestation, I still wouldn't trust my kid alone w/him. Keep in mind that if he is found guilty he won't go to a 'normal' prision. He'll go to one where he gets special treatment because he's a celebrity w/money. Plus, they'd eat him alive in a normal prision - he wouldn't survive a day.
This sums it up for me too. The relationships that he's had with young boys are just not right; even if he didn't molest anyone, they were totally inappropriate and I have a hard time believing there was nothing sexual about them.
I grew up listening to his music and even had a crush on him during his "Thriller" days, back when he was a cute young guy, and it makes me sad to see him now. I can't reconcile that the MJ today is actually the same MJ we all loved when we were kids.
lets not forget he has kids of his own that live with him. If he is guilty I hope they get to it quick and get those kids in a better enviroment! I really feel sorry for his kids.......