It's Time For #MeToo To Dethrone Michael Jackson's Legacy | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Survivors

The Time Has Come For #MeToo To Dethrone The 'King Of Pop'

Why are we still praising an abuser?

143
The Time Has Come For #MeToo To Dethrone The 'King Of Pop'

Content warning: sexual assault

I don't care how much you love doing the "Thriller" dance or screaming along to "Billie Jean" — Michael Jackson was a sexual predator who targeted children and we need to stop listening to him right now.

I am a music junkie and have always adored classic artists like Michael Jackson. Even today, it's hard not to find his movements compelling and his melodies infectious.

However, after learning of his despicable acts, I am absolutely disturbed by the way people still hold him up as some sort of God.

I recently finished HBO's documentary "Leaving Neverland" and was astonished by how blatant Michael Jackson's pedophilia was. The documentary details the story of two men who were sexually abused by Jackson as young boys, one of whom was abused for seven years.

Not only does the documentary tell the story of the two children who remained silent, it also discusses the plights of those who tried to speak out and were crushed under the weight of Jackson's stardom. Multiple children came forward with sexual abuse allegations, one victim is a young cancer patient.

Jackson was put on trial for molestation but was eventually acquitted. This is partly due to defense from those that would later reveal they were either manipulated or oblivious.

For instance, Wade Robson, a victim of Jackson's, defended him for years, even as others came forward. He explains in the documentary how he was so poisoned by Jackson that he could not bring himself, to tell the truth.

Jackson manipulated this young boy into thinking that their sexual acts equated to love. How could a young, impressionable child know any differently?

Robson explains in the documentary that it wasn't until he had a son of his own that he realized how truly disturbing what happened to him was. This is partly what prompted him to come forward, even after the death of Jackson.

The mothers of Wade Robson and James Safechuck, another victim, even admitted to letting Jackson sleep in the same beds as their sons on several occasions for years. Their mothers assured everyone that it was innocent and they were just playing games. Umm, what? A grown man sleeping in the same bed as children? We're just going to let that go?

James's father even said he observed Jackson kissing his son on the lips, but he never found it strange. WHAT?

How could he get away with this? In the era of the Me Too Movement, maybe things would've been different. But stardom won out over justice and it continues to win out every time we stream his music.

It doesn't matter that he's dead. We as a society should not be praising someone who preyed on innocent boys.

While he rests in loving memory, his victims live on with lasting repercussions.

Both men in the documentary are still affected by what Michael did to them. And to make matters worse, they still receive death threats overcoming forward.

Now please, don't try to categorize me as a sensitive millennial with nothing better to do than destroy the things that make people happy. I, too, am very sad to learn about this. But the facts remain. And don't take my word for it, I challenge you to watch the documentary yourself.

In Oprah's "After Neverland" special, she quoted New York Times's Maureen Dowd, who put it best, "How can you see clearly when you're looking into the sun? How can an icon be a con?"

If you don't believe me, if you didn't believe that dying child, if you don't believe the men who are still healing to this day, ask yourself: are you really trying to see, or are you content with blindness?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
cousins
Bailey Totten

I've known you your entire life. More than likely I held you in the first three days of it and at least one of us cried. Cousins are truly one of the best things in the world and while sometimes I complain about how many people crowd Grandma's living room on Christmas Eve, I wouldn't trade you all anything.

You are my best friends, the only people who can understand what it's like on Thanksgiving, and you are the spunkiest people I have ever met. But you as so so young, most of you are just now starting your adventures in the public education system. I mean, I'm so very young too. I'm not married, I don't have children, heck, I just started my adult life, but I do want to give you what little advice I have. My dears, these are the things I want you to know.

Keep Reading...Show less
ORHS Graduation
Kristen Sack, ORHS Graduation

You are a senior in high school, you have made it to the final year that you have been looking forward to since the first day of freshman year. Whether this has been the worst or best four years of your life, appreciate it. You will never have these times back, you will never be in high school again. It is hard for someone still in high school to wrap their brain around, but there will be a day when you wish you could be in the shoes you're in right now. Here are 15 things I have learned being in college that I wish I knew as a high school senior:

Keep Reading...Show less
one tree hill
Wikimedia

Everyone, and I mean everyone has heard of the show "One Tree Hill". Many people think that this show is the best thing they've ever watched and others won't bother watching it because they know they'll get hooked. And yes, I know many people have written about this show before, but I couldn't resist. I could re-watch every season multiple times to the point where I can almost quote an entire scene. Trust me, once you start "One Tree Hill", you will be hooked. There's way too many reasons to list as to why you'll love this show, and these are just a few.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

5 Ways To Bring Positivity Into Your Life When All You Want To Do Is Drown In Self-Pity

It seems like life has been serving up more bad than good and in all honesty, the only thing you want to do is crawl under your covers and hide from the rest of the world.

2039
5 Ways To Bring Positivity Into Your Life When All You Want To Do Is Drown In Self-Pity
Photo by Kinga Howard on Unsplash

The first two weeks of classes have come to an end and they have been anything BUT easy. It seems like life has been serving up more bad than good and in all honesty, the only thing you want to do is crawl under your covers and hide from the rest of the world.

Although this seems like the best solution, it is also the easy way out. Take it from the girl who took basically a whole week off from her life because she just could not handle everything that was being thrown at her. This caused her to feel extremely lonely and even more stressed out for being behind in classes that JUST began.

Keep Reading...Show less
friends

1. Thank you for being my person.

2. Thank you for knowing me better than I know myself sometimes.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments