Michael Jackson

[Magwitch]

A great comment ...This is why I agree with Pat Brown's belief that jurors shouldn't just be picked at random, that their should be roles made especially for being a juror. With training, so people know how to analyse things in an objective way. Something a lot of people seem to lack nowadays.

You are talking about professional jurors, who would have to be paid for their services. Can you not see how problematic this would be?

 

[Miss Havisham]

surely the trial shouldnt have been allowed then
this is what google said when i asked if a celeb in trial should have jurys who like their music acting etc

Legally, no; a celebrity should not have a jury composed of people who like them. The goal of a jury trial is to provide an impartial trier of fact, and having a jury packed with fans would create an inherent bias that undermines the core principles of the justice system

It shouldn’t happen, but then I would expect it would be impossible to check / confirm either way.

I imagine they could be asked if they are a fan (but then how do they decide what makes someone a “fan”)?
All they have to do, is say no.

 

[Libertine1975]

Lots of manipulation on MJ’s part - but also downright arrogance and entitlement. Perhaps that comes down to being a global superstar, and not an ordinary Joe.

The marriage to Lisa Marie Presley (that lasted months), just after the initial allegations. Bizarre that LMP went through with it, when she must have known that she was being manipulated - perhaps she wasn’t in a good place.

It would be no surprise, if false allegations are mixed in with actual abuse. The families involved were willing to hand their children over to an adult man, because he was rich and famous (so very money driven) - it seems inevitable that they could make allegations regardless.
But still, it continued - having boys sleeping with him, unsupervised by another adult. Despite allegations it continued (much to the horror of MJs advisers and associates).
I feel that this was manipulation. In plain sight and the feeling / belief that he was above everybody else - and everything / anything can be bought.

Evidence that a child has accessed pornography in an adults home is a raging red flag and abusive in itself. It’s a known tool by paedophiles to manipulate, groom and abuse children for their own needs.

I've not read it but I understand LMP in her book has said that MJ and LMP were meeting up for like 4 years after the divorce to see if they could make things work between them.

 

[MrsBsDayOff]

That's the thing with me, no evidence was ever found. Neverland was torn apart when the second accusation came out and nothing found to suggest anything had happened.

Yeah I think MJ was innocent of what he was accused of

 

[samwilzrhcp]

Don’t want to hear his music ever again. There’s no smoke without fire, & let’s be honest since the early 90’s there’s been a hell of a lot of smoke.

 

[White rose]

I’m afraid, I hear more impartiality from the people who are willing to question Michael Jackson’s legacy, than I do from his fans (fan being short for fanatic), who will fervently defend him. The fact of the matter is no one knows, other than his accusers, and certainly not ‘100%’.

Many of the people on this thread have already disclosed that they were fans of Michael Jackson, or there is a part of them that is still able to appreciate his artistry, but still question his very dubious behaviour.
Much like any contentious issue, if people are not prepared to question the status quo, and face the possibility that their own belief system MAY be shattered, then I would question why, and certainly wouldn’t entertain their POV.

Yes there is plenty of die hard fans that would still defend him even if they had evidence, I am not one of them. I wasn’t and I’m still not a die hard fan, do I like some of his music? Yes but that’s as far as it goes. If Michael was guilty it doesn’t “ destroy “ me like it would all his fans, but again no evidence of abuse. The claims of these abused kids don’t add up, times past behaviours ect ect.

These so called “ victims “ are out there spreading lies ones 22 mil richer. While his kids are defending him, I’ve seen people state Paris believes her dad is guilty because she doesn’t speak up in social media about it, it’s all made up lies. Paris has stated she says nothing as it fuels the fire.

Michael could do no right, he give millions away, was accused of bleaching his skin, the list is endless. The bloke has been dead 17 year and the papers are still chucking up shit.. what’s the latest one? He was watching a nazi film so it means he had evil in him. It’s completely mental. I’m shocked that even after death they are still
Trying to make money off his name.

 

[jenny265]

I just watched Michael Jackson: The Trial on Channel 4. I always adored his music but thought he was a bit weird and ultimately believed everything I read about his abuse of children. Now I’m not so sure having watched this. Knowing now how much Martin Bashir manipulated the whole Diana situation, did he do the same with his reporting on MJ?

 

[MsPelzer]

I cannot listen to his music because he was a pedalo. He paraded his favorite child stars around like trophies. I also feel he messed with Lisa Marie Presleys son.

 

[Prince fan 1999]

You’re like me. You’ve done your research I see and there is just so much that doesn’t add up. There was something like 60 lies found in that “documentary “ hit piece. So anyone can be tried and convicted on two charlatans bad acting now? Disturbing and graphic accounts do not make for evidence and facts. He went through court and they found nothing. He wasn’t even in the same country when one of the man claim abuse happened. The media have loved to peddle the narrative. Oprah Winfrey, got the “victims” on her show and watched LN on a boat on her birthday ( who does that ??) . Someone who then turns out to be best friends with Harvey Weinstein and lined up girls for him to sexually abuse. Call me daft but I do believe that MJ knew too much about what was going on in Hollywood and that’s why they tried to pin it on him. He was used as a scapegoat for the likes of all the pedophiles coming out now.

Still can't get away from the fact he let (mostly)young boys in his bed. Whatever the facts,this is wrong surely??

 

[Handerton]

Hey you can tell a lot from song titles! Rick Astley sang “together forever”... and is still married to the same woman and no gossip on him cheating over his entire career. He must love his wife and be sure he’s “never gonna give her up” let alone run around and desert her.

Anyway remember how Jackson was so broke before he died? Anyone wondering how a man who owned the rights to thousands of famous songs by other artists couldn’t be making enough cash to pay his bills or support his spending habits would apparently be amazed to find that much of his income was going towards dozens of multimillion dollar pay offs that included NDAs and so haven’t ever been disclosed, so the rumour goes. I mean, we all heard allegations about Weinstein and a handful of actresses, but what came out involved hundreds of women nobody had mentioned, from office workers to hotel maids to interns and nannies. I don’t think Jackson is likely to have only ever had a handful of accusers, it’s just the majority aren’t public knowledge
I won’t listen to his music again. It’s too creepy now.

Stings that his prosecution was in a country that showed how they deal with the famous when OJ was in court

 

[Nosey_Lady]

I can't help but believe the allergations. They have nothing to gain by saying this now surely.

 

[Prince fan 1999]

My take on MJ is this - he was an incredibly talented, driven person. Probably because of his daddy issues.

He wanted to be the biggest star in the world and he was,

I think apart from one nose job he always denied he'd had any plastic surgery. Which is crazy cos his whole face changed. So we know he didn't always tell the truth about himself.

Regarding the allegations for me it's simple. After the chandler lawsuit and toll that investigation must have taken on him - why did he carry on being involved with wee boys??? Common sense tells you to stay away from them.

Even if you've done nothing wrong and only have the best intentions towards these kids, surely as the biggest star in the world with a "brand" to protect, some level of self preservation would kick in??? But it didn't. Very strange.

But the fact is if you think MJ is innocent, you're not gonna change your mind. Same as if you think he's guilty.

Personally I think he was a total oddball that I wouldn't let anywhere near my kids. But if I had a son who liked singing and dancing and the biggest star in the world said they could help him, would I change my mind???

And 2 final things, this one is especially for UK tattlers - if you believe MJ is innocent after paying out cash to the Chandlers, do you also think the Artist formerly known as Prince Andrew is also innocent as he paid out a civil claim, which was raised during the platinum jubilee???

And lastly - who's Bigi!!!

Bigi is blanket. I feel Michael isn't a pedalo. He was a desperately lonely person who put himself in situations for others to take advantage of him personally.

 

[andromeda17]

I need to finish the show but I had to google when the Gavin abuse allergiedly happened. If this is correct it was after the documentary aired... why would he abuse Gavin while the press were after him for the sleeping in the bed accusations.

they actually changed their dates of abuse multiple times before it went to trial. Initially they claimed it happened pre-documentary but a video was found of them behind the scenes of the documentary talking extremely positive about Michael which they couldn’t explain away. They also claimed they were ‘held hostage’ at Neverland but again, they found that the mother went for a bikini wax and to the dentist during the time they claimed they were being held hostage so all the dates got shifted to after the documentary .

They also said there was a conspiracy for Michael to ‘get rid’ of them by sending them to Brazil in a hot air balloon. This is all mentioned in the court transcripts. The mother was charged with Fraud after this case, as the mj case actually flagged the fact she was claiming welfare checks whilst concealing her income sources. They also continually fundraised for money for Gavins chemo, whilst they actually had insurance which covered all his medical care. Jay Leno, Chris Tucker and a few other celebrities took the stand saying this family tried to get money out of them too.

 

[Prince fan 1999]

I think he had a god like complex. You only have to look back and see how he walked around with the umbrella, he wants three kids, he got them, he wants a playground built for him in his house, done, he wants to change his skin colour, ok we can make that happen. I don’t buy all that child like behaviour with his “Peter Pan” stuff and his high pitched innocent voice and do believe he abused young boys. It can also be true he had a messed up childhood. He also did have some great songs. I don’t think he would get away with it these days

The umbrella was because of his vitiligo. The vitiligo was the reason for the skin change.

 

[Tangerine Dream]

I'm nervous about the Beatles one, especially as it has been described by Mendes as a "bingeable" cinema experience.

 

[Tangerine Cat]

I cannot listen to his music because he was a pedalo. He paraded his favorite child stars around like trophies. I also feel he messed with Lisa Marie Presleys son.

Interesting thought. He had mental health problems and committed suicide didn’t he? I guess we’ll never know if there’s any truth in that or it was the result of being born into vast wealth without any purpose in life.

 

[shellie]

Saw this today:

FBI concluded Jeffrey Epstein wasn’t running a sex trafficking ring for powerful men, files show

The FBI pored over Jeffrey Epstein’s bank records and emails

www.independent.co.uk

I wonder what his fans who claim 'the FBI tailed him for years and found nothing' as well as 'They would never look the other way/take bribes to say he was innocent.' are saying now?

 

[Ivegone]

I feel like it's more to do with people being blinded by a celebrity and being star struck. Maybe people think famous people are more trustworthy than your average joe.

But they are still strangers

 

[Prince fan 1999]

He said he slept on the floor, that part always gets missed out / glossed over

Yep

 

[Ivegone]

surely the trial shouldnt have been allowed then
this is what google said when i asked if a celeb in trial should have jurys who like their music acting etc

Legally, no; a celebrity should not have a jury composed of people who like them. The goal of a jury trial is to provide an impartial trier of fact, and having a jury packed with fans would create an inherent bias that undermines the core principles of the justice system