It’s almost a month since Michael Jackson died (June 25th, 2009), and yet the news media’s obsession with this individual ceases to wane. Day after day we are inundated with news items about some aspect of his life and legacies; sometimes sordid tidbits emerge about things more speculative in nature than factual. And lately, a few New York politicians have waded into to the news stream with their condemnation of the deceased as a pedophile (Rep. Peter King for example). Well; was he?
Was Michael ever convicted in criminal court of pedophilia? The answer is no. But then that doesn’t say that he wasn’t one either. Many criminals have beaten back criminal charges against them even when it was ostensible that they had indulged in criminal activity. In Michael’s case, I don’t believe we have enough info in order to condemn him as such. And remember this: a man is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law (for whatever that’s worth).
I must admit that at one point in my life I was a big fan of Michael and the Jacksons; and then I grew up. In growing up, I then realized that the type of idolatry many Americans heap on celebrities is sick. It is so unhealthy that it says a lot about individuals and their self-esteem (or lack of). And it also says a lot about the society we now find ourselves living in: a society of celebrity-worship, selfishness, narcissism, greed, ignorance, shallowness and superficiality.
The basis for some of the political attacks on MJ has to do with the fact that he settled at least two lawsuits wherein he was essentially accused of child molestation. Credible reports seem to suggest that he was coerced into settlement by at least one insurance company (against his will). Credible reports also seem to suggest that he may have been blackmailed by voracious scoundrels. Not one credible piece of media evidence has emerged whereby MJ was accused of penile penetration. It was always claims of nudity, exposure, fondling, touching and the like; the type of shit kids do at summer camp when they compare penis sizes, breast sizes, muscles, and such. And for MJ, his life was a sort of summer camp: he never really appeared to grow up; at least in my estimation.
I am not saying that he did or didn’t do some of the things accused -I wasn’t there. I may even speculate that he probably played all sorts of kiddie-type games with his young friends, and as such is open to all types of speculation. What I am saying is this: I am unaware of any claims of penile penetration, and by now this would have surely emerged. NO?
So what are these accusers saying? That he was a pedophile with limits?
To me the question is this: was this man a pedophile, or was he suffering from the “Peter-Pan” syndrome- wherein adults consistently display childlike fantasies, attitudes, actions and behaviors; almost always refusing to take on adult responsibilities and demeanors?
I don’t believe that MJ was a pedophile. I don’t. But that’s just my personal view. But I have to admit that his obsession with kids was disturbing; just as disturbing as his obsession with having his skin complexion lighten up to white (or almost white). And yet I can also tell you that on 125th Street in Harlem, I am told that the highest grossing beauty product is skin bleaching cream. The ones that claim to make your black skin lighter. This problem is much bigger than MJ folks; it is about blacks and their collective self-esteem (but that’s another column).
When I saw the very public interview with MJ and that British journalist a few years ago, I came away with the distinct feeling that this man (MJ) was not a mature adult. He seemed unaware of appropriate adult behavior as it related to kids. And yet I also came away with serious doubts of him being a pedophile. I doubt that any pedophile will go into a very public forum and openly talk about sharing his bed with kids. No way. It’s like a mafia capo going to a news reporter and talking about whackings in which he participated. It just doesn’t fit.
MJ appeared to love kids too much to hurt them like that. He may have displayed some strange behaviors at times, but he never came over as one who would deliberately hurt someone else. I know I am writing from a distance but I can’t help but feel this way, based on all I know about the man -from my mediated reality.
Stay tuned-in folks; always.