Michael Jackson Approaches 50
I’ve certainly done my share of Michael Jackson-bashing posts, all of which I still stand behind. But on the eve of his 50th birthday (yes, 50 years old…gah, when did this happen?), I can’t help but look at the above photo and feel a twinge of pity for the man.
After all, perhaps Michael would have led a life of relative obscurity had his father not pushed he and his brothers into the spotlight at such early and tender ages. Who knows how much of MJ’s personality is a result of nature versus nurture; how much would have come out had he not turned into one of the biggest superstars of the modern era. Would he still have struggled with the inner demons that have plagued him for so long? Or were the demons planted there when he took his first spinning dance steps on a stage?
Of course, I also remember that a lot of his current problems have been of his own doing, because had he not been behaving inappropriately with young boys much of this would not have happened and he would have still been regarded as a great yet eccentric genius, probably still making new music and putting on concerts. After all, for all I’ve railed on Madonna (and rightfully so), she is also 50, and is energetically embarking on a new tour to promote a new album of fresh music. MJ has simply been re-releasing new versions of old stuff, such as his remake of his classic album Thriller, and by all accounts isn’t even interested in doing concerts any longer…not that he could, with his current problems with his back and ankles, the legacy of all those acrobatic dance moves. Was his behavior because of his fame, or in spite of it?
It’s said that his most recent trial is what has finally broken his spirit:
Those who knew Jackson before the 2005 child-molestation trial – in which he was acquitted – place the blame firmly at its door.
Emotionally devastated, he has been unable to bounce back, suffering almost as much as if the verdict had been a guilty one.
I remember the day of his acquittal. I sat behind Michael in the Santa Monica courtroom – as I had every day for months – and listened as each charge was dismissed.
When he stood up to leave, he didn’t seem to know what was going on or even that he had been found not guilty.
He was a shell of the person I had known over the years. He was disoriented – his eyes vacant, his face expressionless – the result of obvious drug abuse.
I knew then that he would never be the same. The testimony had been so damning, I was certain that a man as private as Jackson would never recover.
Unfortunately, Michael has been allowed over the years to do as he pleases, without having to be held accountable to anyone, and this is one of the things which has caused his downfall…his inability to deal with anything resembling the real world and all the obligations that entails:
Looking back, Neverland – which he bought in 1988 – was the worst thing ever to happen to Michael Jackson.
It allowed him too much solitude and gave him the chance to isolate himself from his friends and family, and from common sense.
He surrounded himself with children, animals and a false reality – so much so that he never learned how to cope in the real world. He never wanted to grow up, and his managers encouraged these eccentricities when they should have encouraged therapy.
They allowed him to live an excessive life and spend money like there was no tomorrow.
Alone in his madness, he became gradually weirder, and no one seemed to care.
During the Eighties, when he started to experiment with plastic surgery – an obvious cry for help – there was nobody to slow him down and not even his family seemed to help him.
But by then, it was almost impossible to get through to Michael in his increasingly isolated state.
And now, he has selfishly added three children to this mixed-up existence he calls a life…children who are never, ever going to have anything that resembles a normal life, much like their father:
A middle-aged man wearing pyjamas is being pushed in a wheelchair down a sidewalk by an assistant. He is gaunt and frail-looking. His skin seems to be peeling. His fingernails are a sickening shade of yellow-brown.
Beneath a red Marines baseball cap a surgical mask is visible, covering the bottom half of his face. A pair of large sunglasses shield the top.
Three children walk ahead – two boys and a girl. All seem happy and look adorable in colourful clothing. Their baseball caps do not seem a deliberate attempt to shield their faces.
‘Slow down,’ the man commands in a hoarse whisper, but the children ignore him and quickly cross the street to stand in front of a bookshop.
When the man in the wheelchair finally catches up, one of the children dutifully holds the door open as he is wheeled inside.
‘Thank you,’ he mutters weakly. All seems calm, but then – just as the children are about to follow the man into the shop – a stranger approaches the smallest of them.
‘Was that…?’ she begins to ask. The boy is about to answer, when a large man steps between them.
‘No. That was not,’ he says, taking the boy by the hand and rushing him inside. But, just before the door swings closed, the young boy turns to his inquisitor, smiles broadly and mouths just two words: Michael Jackson.
Yes, his father was horrible to him, and I’m sure that has a lot to do with the man Michael became…however, we are all responsible for our own actions, regardless of upbringing. That is something Michael just cannot accept. He’s spent his whole life blaming everyone else and trying to escape, instead of stepping up and taking responsibility for himself. At some point there was a place where two roads diverged, and Michael chose the wrong one to follow.
So while I realize that Michael Jackson has to pay for the decisions he has made in his life, I can’t help but wonder just how much of this is the result of being pushed too far, too young. And here is the result.
Michael Jackson, Dina Lohan, Denise Richards, Kardassian family, anyone out there with children who are in the public eye…are you paying attention? When you whore out your children to the john of fame and fortune, this is often the cost you barter…because in this business, it isn’t the johns who hand over money to screw you out of your childhood. It’s the children who end up paying the price.
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When I think of Michael Jackson, I see all the beauty life has to offer. He inspires me.
He is an amazing talent and just as important, I think he is an amazing person. He made an absolute dream come true with Neverland, and if he surrounded himself with children and animals, it’s because of the purity and innocence that emanates from them. I think he is like that himself.
It’s the bitterness, anger and jealousy of people like you that keep trying to tear down Michael Jackson and his accomplishments.
No… when I think of Michael Jackson, I want to celebrate all the gifts that life presents us with… when I think of the writer of this article, that is when I want to despair. It’s unfortunate, that your narrow-mindedness limits you so. It is you that I feel sorry for.
Open up your mind a bit… the view is truly great.
Comment by Cindi — August 28, 2008 @ 11:58 am
Michael Jackson is a “brillant” showman and artist. No one can take that from him. “I`ve certainly done my share of Michael Jackson-bashing posts, all of which I still stand behind”. Right away you revealed your hand. It`s easy to determine that you wouldn`t be a great poker player. Spewing your hateful venom about Michael only introduces me to the kind of person you are. And from my view it`s not a pretty picture.
I can see all the rot inside as the disease in you festers like a cancer. I dare to say that you, like so many others, have never even had a conversation with Michael. Yet, like leeches, you continue to feed off of his blood. Demons; what about your inner demons? The demons of envy for whatever reason/reasons.
Has Michael made some bad choices in his life? Absolutely. Hopefully he has learned from those choices. However, the Michael Jackson-bashing has gotten really old. Don`t let your life pass you by by passionately hating someone who doesn`t know you or I exist. No matter how many spiteful articles you write it won`t fulfill the void that seems to be in your own life.
I suggest you take self-inventory and deal with your own demons. Michael Jackson is not the source of your problem. How could he be; you don`t know the man. Let go of your bitterness and begin to live. Believe me, life can be a beautiful thing…
Comment by Terence — August 28, 2008 @ 2:20 pm
**Of course, I also remember that a lot of his current problems have been of his own doing, because had he not been behaving inappropriately with young boys much of this would not have happened***
I READ TO THIS POINT AND REALISED THIS POST WAS BULLSHIT- MICHAEL IS THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD MAN IN THE WORLD
acting inapprpriate? DONATING MILLIONS AND GIVING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF KIDS A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE- YEAH REAL INAPPROPRIATE
*****HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL JACKSON********
Comment by harrie — August 28, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
Jackson is 50…Yeah so he had a bad childhood like many people have had but he didn’t go through it completely alone – he had four brothers with him plus the other family members whom all shared the pain and wrath of Papa Joe… When are people going to expect after a certain age that you’re responsible for your actions? He’s had millions of dollars and 30 years to deal with his painful childhood but has apparently done nothing to help himself in that regard. The guy was in his 40’s when he was charged with CHILD MOLESTATION and people were still blaming his father. Good Lord! For people that are so easy to dismiss Jackson’s behavior because of his father, shouldn’t they be dismissing Papa Joe’s behavior as well? I’m sure he had a difficult childhood too. And I deem Jackson more responsible for his own behavior because he’s had the opportunities and financial means to get help – something I’m sure Papa never had – but chose rather to cut up his face and sleep in bed with little boys.
Comment by Thriller — August 28, 2008 @ 2:53 pm
Obviously still playing the victim. I’m 50 but what happened to my childddd..hooo..ooood…?
He’s got his own kids. Time to be the adult.
Plus, a completely overrated entertainer.
Comment by Kookoo — August 28, 2008 @ 2:58 pm
First of all – will people STOP comparing Michael to Madonna? Seriously, it’s not even relevant, they are only linked by their age really and their situations are completely different.
Yes Michael Jackson has been ravaged by person problems related to his childhood, but in all fairness that is his business.
I put alot of blame onto his ‘friends’ and managers for allowing him to befriend chimps and change his face with cosmetic surgery – when they should have recognised the cry for help.
Just taking a look through his autobiography from way back in 1988 you get an idea of the loneliness and isolation Michael felt. Why did nobody step up to help him?
Putting this to one side, I would like it if people could stop questioning the man and just appreciate what he has done.
Why does nobody mention the millions he has given to charity in these sorts of articles? or the hospitals he has vistited to grant the last wishes of dying children?
Because its more interesting to write sensationalist stories on elephant man bones and hyperbaric chambers that’s why. Which are completely untrue for the record. (The so called hyperbaric chamber was actually a piece of burns treatment equipment which was a gift from Michael to the hospital burns centre which treated him after the pepsi inccident.)
So please, lets just stop questioning Michael Jackson. Lets just enjoy all he has given us.
Comment by Emily — August 28, 2008 @ 4:40 pm
WTF kind of statement is “he has selfishly added three children”? So anyone who wants to have children is selfish or is it just Michael? Frankly his children are none of your F*CKING business, he is a great dad, those children are lucky to have a father who loves them as much s Michael does! And wtf is with this comment “Unfortunately, Michael has been allowed over the years to do as he pleases”? Well yeah he is a grown man, he is allowed to make his own decisions! Who makes your decisions for you? Whoever does fire them because they are not doing you any favors by letting you be an idiot!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL “ANGEL” JACKSON!!
Comment by cathy — August 28, 2008 @ 7:29 pm
People need to calm the heck down, K wasn’t being hateful. I think she was trying to express being sad and a little let down that Michael Jackson, the top male act of the ’80s, wasn’t able to gracefully bow out of the spotlight because he made poor decisions. I don’t even think he necessarily had sexual feelings toward those little boys, I think he was trying to compensate for his own childhood or something. He wants to watch kids be kids and maybe he can feel like being with smiling young boys will make him feel like a little kid again. BUT, he should have known as an adult, while you can donate money and spend time with kids and whatnot, you cannot SLEEP IN THE SAME BED as someone else’s little boy. Because there are people like NAMBLA and it’s just not a good idea, even if there is no touching. I loved the man’s music, and still do, and I also think it’s a shame that he wasn’t able to stay in top form and whatever like the other pop sensation of the ’80s, Madonna. Yeah, they aren’t quite the same, but I think it’s a good comparison because of the power they held as pop icons at about the same time, though Michael had a much earlier start.
You above fans who were quick to attack the writer need to back off. Although I don’t think it’s selfish to want kids, I think the public in general finds it hard to believe that they have no mother figure because Micahel used artificial insemination, and we all remember how Michael raised a baby over the balcony or made the kids wear party masks in public. I’m sure Michael loves his kids, but he’s basically all they’ve got and he’s not doing such a hot job of taking care of himself. He is an example of why I don’t condone the use of plastic surgery– he didn’t know when to stop and now his poor nose is falling off and whatnot.
I also feel sorry for him, but I think most people, inlcuding K, are rooting for him. I don’t even laugh at his eccentricies anymore… it’s just gotten sad.
Comment by Brooke — August 28, 2008 @ 9:39 pm
Please! “He didn’t have sexual feelings toward the boys he slept in bed with…” That is so completely niave. I don’t understand why people treat him like he’s a jesus or mother theresa…like his soul just beams goodness… He is narcissist! And a very disturbed person. Just like all pedophiles, he is self gratifying and doesn’t care about any child he hurts. He’s only aware of his own needs and his own pain.
Comment by Hoosier — August 29, 2008 @ 2:01 am
Assuming that comment was aimed at me, Hoosier, uh… I would hardly consider the man our modern-day Jesus Christ or whatever. But I saw the documentary that caused everyone to take action against him, and the kid who later brought on the accusations had very nice things to say about the guy. And if I recall, he seemed old enough to know the difference between “good touch bad touch”, but not necessarily be old enough to be uncomfortable with sharing a bed with a guy not his immediate relative. And everyone admitted they slept together, and I don’t think he would do that on camera if he’d actually done anything sexual… I remember thinking “Uh, can he say that and, like, people are okay with it?” at the time, and sure enough it came back and bit him in the butt, but he didn’t seem to think anything was wrong. That and the way he blushed when talking about heterosexual adult sex, I kinda just don’t think he has it in him to prod anyone’s orifice at all. I don’t think I’m being naive because I understood him talking about it was NOT a good idea, but come on, there are confused people out there who just don’t do things the way normal people do them. And he’s, uh, not normal. And yeah, I agree, despite all the money he’s donated in the past, he seems to be a lonely, self-obsessed man.
Comment by Brooke — September 1, 2008 @ 1:36 am