The Moral Support Thread

I made the mistake of watching a Grunge video about musicians that had their career destroyed by a single moment. Michael came up, and as soon as I got the vibe it was going to be super negative, I fast-forwarded. As I fast forwarded it showed previews of what I was skipping and of course, there were clips of LN. Not sure if they left it neutral by saying the movie is questionable; I didn't try to find out but knowing how these big clickbait producers are... I was so upset I blacklisted Grunge using a Youtube browser plugin. Too bad it can't be done on my TV.

I know, I know "it's been debunked" etc... It just makes me sad that so many ignorant people are going to click on these clickbaity videos for the remainder of human existence, will see that part of the video, and take it as fact. Oh yeah, they had Janet in there too because of the whole Super Bowl thing, so that was nice.

His music is so good that they can’t give it up, they come up with this lame ‘separate the art from the artist’ angle to justify their listening.

Somewhat unrelated, but I’ve been mulling it over lately and the more I think about it, the more it feels as though the animosity for MJ and the misinformation against him is organized, calculated, and premeditated (IOW: deliberate), since long before LN.

He received one of the greatest standing ovations in recorded history at the 2006 WMAs and 99.9% of the tabloids and the media collectively reported the next day he was booed offstage. That nonsensical BS is even in the “history” books. Even though those who were there and actual footage depicts otherwise. Organized, calculated, and premeditated.

In 1993, Corey Feldman gave the SBPD (and LAPD?) a listing of names regarding Hollywood predators who abused him. But they completely ignored him and only took an interest in pursuing MJ. Organized, calculated, and premeditated.

Jason Francia was quite literally bullied and pressured into making an extremely dubitable accusation against MJ by the police’s REID tactics when they just wouldn’t take no for an answer. Organized, calculated, and premeditated.

MJ received possibly THE most unfair trial coverage in the history of the American media (barring E! News, and the fact that back then, dissenting opinions were somewhat allowed regarding sex abuse allegations). Hardly anyone bothered to report what actually went on inside the courtroom and almost all presumed upon his guilt. They were already prepared to convict him before the jury verdict and would not accept the actual unanimous verdict itself (only those who had financially driven reasons to “change their minds” would sing a different tune later on... sound familiar?), chalking it up to “celebrity justice” or some other baffling nonsense. Organized, calculated, and premeditated. That trial killed MJ. It broke his spirit. He was never the same after that.

In 2016, upon the seventh anniversary of MJ’s passing, exceptionally doubtful “news” articles spread like wildfire claiming that child “porn” was found in MJ’s home among other “disturbing” anomalies. Ron Zonen, the prosecutor of the 2005 trial himself, had to set the record straight yet again that nothing untoward or illicit regarding such material was ever found on MJ’s premises. Most of the news “outlets” who published such preposterous articles didn’t retract anything, of course. Organized, calculated, and premeditated.

During this time period and over the next three years, LN was made in full secrecy, with Dan Reed interviewing MJ’s latest, money hungry accusers (who previously and voluntarily defended him under oath without any uncertainty) and their families at length. Dan Reed chose to completely ignore any exculpatory evidence and only interviewed the prosecution for the movie, totally snubbing the defense (which is quite easy to do when the subject of the movie in question is dead and so cannot defend himself or sue for defamation). LN received the biggest PR, hype, and promotion I’ve ever seen for a film about sex abuse allegations in history, bar none. As a result of the widespread acceptance and unwillingness to question anything about LN’s narrative, largely due to the current climate, and due to the aforesaid promotion (and because of HBO sponsoring award shows left and right), LN has had fifteen nominations in total, five of which are Emmys, and six awards to this day, one of which is an Emmy. Surviving R Kelly has some hype and promotion, but only receives four nominations (one of which is an Emmy) and zero awards. Untouchable, the Harvey Weinstein documentary, has no coverage at all, and has zero awards and zero nominations. Organized, calculated, and premeditated.

Those are only some examples, but I cannot think of any other legacy artist who has been defamed and slandered to this extent, even in death. There’s no one else. MJ, whilst not perfect (no one is), always gave of himself to the world, even when the world did not treat him particularly well. It’s great that he isn’t “cancelled” like we feared, but I really hope the world does not forget all the good MJ did for it because of LN. Dan Reed, HBO, Oprah, the mass media, whoever else, no one should have that kind of power, especially since MJ is no longer with us, to just rewrite history, and for what reason? To be relatable and relevant? For $$$? To get “yours” since it’s “time” for you to? To engage audiences on a global level (like MJ did? *cough*)? To supposedly raise awareness for CSA even though there are many other ways to do so? This is certainly not about those “boys” telling their “truths” because there is no such thing as “their truth” or “his truth” or “her truth”. There is only ONE truth and it is THE truth.

She does know I'm a fan and we had a lot of back and fourth about the subject when LN was in the news. I did consider blocking her, but then another part of me doesn't like her posting this shit unchallenged.

Chiming into this thread for the first time in while.

I know this is way over simplifying the situation, but when it comes to Michael, I've adopted a "consider the source" attitude and it's worked wonders for me.

I took a step back and evaluated the friends I have that are free thinking and those that choose to have their "facts" spoofed to that them. Once I separated them in my mind, I got way less upset over the people who believe Michael was a bad person.

I even know one person who said to me "OK, even if he didn't commit crimes against children, you do know that he wasn't the super nice guy you make him out to be, right?"

He said this to me like *I* was the idiot for wanting to believe in someone or something. In that moment I realized it's better to believe in the good at all times. I think Michael would be proud of me for that or at least I hope so.

I'm pretty drunk on a random Wednesday night, so I sincerely hope what I'm trying to say makes sense

That last sentence. Gorgeous.

Well whatever is said, you can take some comfort in that a trial has 2 sides, unlike a film!