The Stars React ...

Michael Jackson: Commentary By Kurt Loder
Lovable eccentric? Persecuted genius? Child-molesting freak?
Michael Jackson: Lovable eccentric? Persecuted genius? Child-molesting freak?

Take your pick. In fact, it seems that most of us already have.

It's clear that millions of people still love Michael Jackson. Or think they do. Actually, there's no way you can "love" a reclusive multimillionaire you've never met. You may love his music or his videos, but the man himself is more than just the sum of those things. His real thoughts and feelings, and the things he does in private, can't be known at such a distance.

I'd imagine that many of today's younger Michael Jackson fans may respond to his "sensitivity," his cultivated air of limp sweetness: He seems so harmless, only a deeply mean person could suggest he might be capable of inflicting harm. And I wonder if a lot of his older defenders aren't really pledging their allegiance to a Michael Jackson of the past, back when his music mattered and may have played an exciting part in their fondly remembered youth. But that Michael Jackson — especially the handsome, dazzling star of Off the Wall (1979) and Thriller (1982) — is long gone. He's been replaced by somebody else.

There are also those who point to Michael Jackson's undeniable talent as proof of ... well, proof of what? Talent is famously no guarantee of character. In fact, on Thursday, the day that Michael Jackson was arrested, Phil Spector, another reclusive multimillionaire, who transformed the sound of popular music in the early 1960s, was charged with murder in the shooting death of a woman in his home last February. Spector, too, is a talented man. But that doesn't preclude the possibility that he may be found guilty of this killing. The two things are unrelated.

So, OK: child-molesting freak? Tabloid journalists — the people who years ago dubbed him "Wacko Jacko" — are clearly panting for Michael Jackson to take a fall this time. They think (and they are not alone in this) that the only reason he wasn't nailed on a child-molestation charge 10 years ago is because he had the multimillions of dollars necessary to buy off his 13-year-old accuser, thus ensuring that no criminal case could be brought against him. His rationale for that payoff — that he just wanted to put the whole unfair mess behind him — was, in this view, preposterous.

We may never know what actually happened between Michael Jackson and young Jordie Chandler back then. And while it's tempting to jump to conclusions about the current case, it's unfair to do so until all the evidence, on both sides, has been presented in court.

However, I don't think this means we can't come to at least one conclusion about Michael Jackson: Any 45-year-old man who regularly goes to bed with pubescent boys — who flaunts his obsession with them in public and even demonstrates and defends it on television (in Martin Bashir's documentary, Jackson, holding hands with a 12-year-old boy whose head is resting on his shoulder, says, "It's what the whole world should do") — is appalling. Can this be a controversial assessment?

If anyone other than the wealthy and willful Michael Jackson were known to be bedding young boys and all but boasting about it, can we doubt that some sort of protective legal action would be taken to put a stop to it? And what if, instead of boys, it were young girls he was having these little overnights with? Might that be seen as somehow more worthy of objection? (Stay tuned for the R. Kelly trial.)

In the past, Michael Jackson has attempted to defend his dallying with children as an innocent way of compensating for his own nonexistent childhood. This isn't entirely persuasive: On Thursday, his brother Jermaine Jackson told CNN that "We had an incredible, wonderful childhood." But that's not the point. Whatever the facts of Jackson's own upbringing, they are irrelevant to what he's doing now. And what he's doing now is disturbing on more than one level. Because if the collecting of children by the rich and powerful is now OK, then what isn't?

—Kurt Loder

RIP Michael! I hope God gives you family strength in this time of grief. Your music was inspirational and wonderful.

last February. Spector, too, is a talented man. But that doesn't preclude the possibility that he may be found guilty of this killing. The two things are unrelated.

So, OK: child-molesting freak? Tabloid journalists — the people who years ago dubbed him "Wacko Jacko" — are clearly panting for Michael Jackson to take a fall this time. They think (and they are not alone in this) that the only reason he wasn't nailed on a child-molestation charge 10 years ago is because he had the multimillions of dollars necessary to buy off his 13-year-old accuser, thus ensuring that no criminal case could be brought against him. His rationale for that payoff — that he just wanted to put the whole unfair mess behind him — was, in this view, preposterous.

We may never know what actually happened between Michael Jackson and young Jordie Chandler back then. And while it's tempting to jump to conclusions about the current case, it's unfair to do so until all the evidence, on both sides, has been presented in court.

However, I don't think this means we can't come to at least one conclusion about Michael Jackson: Any 45-year-old man who regularly goes to bed with pubescent boys — who flaunts his obsession with them in public and even demonstrates and defends it on television (in Martin Bashir's documentary, Jackson, holding hands with a 12-year-old boy whose head is resting on his shoulder, says, "It's what the whole world should do") — is appalling. Can this be a controversial assessment?

If anyone other than the wealthy and willful Michael Jackson were known to be bedding young boys and all but boasting about it, can we doubt that some sort of protective legal action would be taken to put a stop to it? And what if, instead of boys, it were young girls he was having these little overnights with? Might that be seen as somehow more worthy of objection? (Stay tuned for the R. Kelly trial.)

In the past, Michael Jackson has attempted to defend his dallying with children as an innocent way of compensating for his own nonexistent childhood. This isn't entirely persuasive: On Thursday, his brother Jermaine Jackson told CNN that "We had an incredible, wonderful childhood." But that's not the point. Whatever the facts of Jackson's own upbringing, they are irrelevant to what he's doing now. And what he's doing now is disturbing on more than one level. Because if the collecting of children by the rich and powerful is now OK, then what isn't?

—Kurt Loder
www.mtv.com/news/articles/1480615/20031121/jackson_michael.jhtml

And what if, instead of boys, it were young girls he was having these little overnights with? Might that be seen as somehow more worthy of objection? (Stay tuned for the R. Kelly trial.)

In the past, Michael Jackson has attempted to defend his dallying with children as an innocent way of compensating for his own nonexistent childhood. This isn't entirely persuasive: On Thursday, his brother Jermaine Jackson told CNN that "We had an incredible, wonderful childhood." But that's not the point. Whatever the facts of Jackson's own upbringing, they are irrelevant to what he's doing now. And what he's doing now is disturbing on more than one level. Because if the collecting of children by the rich and powerful is now OK, then what isn't?

—Kurt Loder
www.mtv.com/news/articles/1480615/20031121/jackson_michael.jhtml

miss u mj so much u look so cool and your kids would know because they are little.

miss u mj so much u look so cool and your kids would know because they are little.

After that statement, I have great respect for Kurt Loder!

he waz a peadeaphille & a pendar ho.
his music was dated & his home a trap for young boys.
it will be a mark of hodom who actually pays respect.
he gave freak a really bad name.
the bushes gone & the paedaphille out thank god we are approaching an age without terrifying man or child.
he was a child molestor & a frequent of rituals. they changed the law to get him but the mob got in a bully head juror.
i'm sure the parents of the children he molested & wives for he molested for many years will be praisng the drugs that he chose to debauche on.
his children had to wear masks in public & nobody did anything about it.
he was a freak at any age people just covered up for him that's all.
yesterdyas news like his music.

he waz a peadeaphille & a pendar ho.
his music was dated & his home a trap for young boys.
it will be a mark of hodom who actually pays respect.
he gave freak a really bad name.
the bushes gone & the paedaphille out thank god we are approaching an age without terrifying man or child.
he was a child molestor & a frequent of rituals. they changed the law to get him but the mob got in a bully head juror.
i'm sure the parents of the children he molested & wives for he molested for many years will be praisng the drugs that he chose to debauche on.
his children had to wear masks in public & nobody did anything about it.
he was a freak at any age people just covered up for him that's all.
yesterdys news like his music.

WHERE IS JANET ???

How did you know when it was bed time at Michael Jackson's place?

When the big hand touched the little hand!

MICHAEL YOU SONGS WILL LIVE ON!!!! YOU WERE ONE TALENTED INDIVIDUAL!!!! REST IN PEACE!!!!

Molested kids. Good riddance!

Thanks for posting Kurt Loder's reaction. It was great.

Oh god I remember the Bashir interview. It was so disturbing I had to pause the recording and leave the room twice. Jackson was a sick man.

You're most certainly welcome! I remembered it too and it creeped the hell out of me too!

jackson family i am so sorry for your loss michael was a huge part of my life i wasn't obsessed just connected i was with you from day 1 i'm 53 and i'm still with you all. i wish i could help in some way but i know your surrounded and you don't know me but you were my family and i am feeling all your heartache. michael will now be imortalized i know you aren't looking for that. he gave up his life as a boy to a talent that went far beyond his years and anyones imagination. his tender soul got lost along the way never having the chance to be a regular boy and experincing the good the bad and the ugly of life well in my opinion he got robbed but so did i and thus the connection. i don't know if you'll get this but i want you to know i know how much good he did he wa the pioneer for stars getting involved in making this world a better place his tender soul speaks for itself he was robbed of his life thanks to the media and iddiots that always have to make a buck at someone elses expense. we are the world he started that ball rolling and how much did he put into the cause and never [asked TO BE AN AMBASADOR ]he is going right to heaven he walked the ground so many are taking credit for now all i have left is you are all in my prayers and i know you will take care of his babies i just wish i could help i will miss him so very much and i am so grateful to have had him in my life i'm here if you ever need me love noreen thankyou

Pray for the molester, he'll most certainly need it! He may have touched a lot of people with his music, but he touched kids too! When society makes entertainment more important than child molestation, then we truly have become a horrible society!

11:45 Very well said!

Life needs passion.

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1147, I'm relieved that some people understand that! People just seem to ignore it because he made music and videos they liked. Every other case where children are involved sends people into outrage, but not this one? I think this sends a message that as long as you are a celeb, you can get away with anything!

It's amazing that almost every negative comment about Michael Jackson that's coming from this website are all listed "Anonymous". Is it because you're cowards? ignorant? THAT'S IT!.... YOU'RE BOTH! The Lord only knows what you do in your lives while you're hiding behind a computer screen posting sad, pathetic, stupid comments which truly show who you are, while you're calling him a child molester and a pervert. Regardless, Michael Jackson was a musical genius. Let the guy Rest In Peace. Before I go, Samantha.... You're ramblings truly are diluted and unintelligent. Please proofread! It's pedophile not peadeaphille.

Here is the Bashir interview, part 1. There are 10 parts, just so you know.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMD5IJmBcS0

12:08 I'm relieved to find someone else who understands too! The boundaries of normal social conduct have been blurred for celebrities. I’m as appalled as you are, that the line protecting children from molestation has been sacrificed on the altar of celebrity worship.

Anonymous 12:20,

For your information, the idiom ‘Speak no ill of the dead’ is not biblical. According to Diogenes Laërtius’
Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, it originated in the 6th Century BC and is attributed to a Spartan ephor magistrate named Chilon. He said, ‘de mortuis nil nisi bonum’. The Latin to English translation is: ‘of the dead (say) nothing but good’.

This isn’t the 6th Century BC and we are not Spartans!

Individuals and institutions within a society render judgments. If you don’t want to judge Jackson - that is your prerogative. You liked his music. Good for you. However, you do not have not right to tell people to suspend their critical thinking about a matter as important as child molestation. Jackson was a sick man who took boys into his bed.

PERIOD!

12:20 and you are obviously worshiping at the altar of celebrity and not common sense, fellow ANONYMOUS! And I'm using pedophile and not the English spelling of it, which is also correct (which you misspelled). My name is not Samantha by the way, which only lessens your pointless point.

Thanks for the link to the interview. I may watch it again. I hope every decent person who worked for him will consider telling the world what went on behind closed doors.

1226, good point as well, especially the part about critical thinking vs. public image. And I liked your altar of celebrity, so I borrowed it, Thanks. Feel free to chop out that Loder article to use as you see fit! More people should be aware of statements like his.

I'm going to watch the Bashir clips later when I have the time, but I do remember it very well. I'll be sure to mark the lowpoints as I find them.

Thanks 12:36. Feel free to use 'altar of celebrity'. The Loder reaction was excellent. I'll help reposting it.

Thank you for the help! Sleep calls and good luck raising people's awareness that celebs are people, capable of great good and great evil, but they are still people and should not be regarded as flawless demigods.

My pleasure! Great line, 'should not be regarded as flawless demigods'.

Goodnight!