Michael Jackson’s mark as the undisputed “King” who changed the rules of pop music remains unbeatable over time, but his image, 15 years after his death, carries the controversial accusations he faced for child abuse.
The way in which he boasted of dancing the most impossible steps, his versatile voice, the white gloves and his desire for spectacle forged a hallmark attached to Jackson and that would be copied and followed by millions of people incapable of doing a minimum of shade to the creator of the ‘Moon Walk’, the anti-gravity tilt or the crotch grab.
With an impeccable career, he achieved hits that marked a musical milestone such as Thriller (1982), the best-selling album in history, or songs that defined his brand such as Beat it (1982), Bad (1987) or Smooth Criminal (1988).
His life, however, was surrounded by controversies and obstacles: from the change in skin color, to the paternity of his three children, to his economic situation, reaching the point of near bankruptcy in the early 2000s.
His death was also not without speculation. She died at age 50 on June 25, 2009 from an anesthetic overdose in her rented mansion near Bel Air, the exclusive celebrity neighborhood in Los Angeles.
Did he commit suicide or did his doctor, who was convicted and arrested for involuntary manslaughter, prescribe him too many medications on purpose? Many of his fans continue to wonder.
CHILD ABUSE CASES FLOATING
The controversy that has most marked the American interpreter has been the accusations of child abuse. The first case appeared in 1993 with Jordan Chandler, whose family closed the investigation after a $23 million settlement.
Five days after the King of Pop’s death, Chandler revealed that he had lied about the abuse and committed suicide in November 2009.
This first case was joined by the testimony of several families who accused Jackson of sexually abusing their children. Although he was never convicted of these allegations, artists such as rapper Eminem ridiculed the pop star in their music videos addressing this controversy.
This issue reverberated in the media again in August of last year when a California court accepted that Wade Robson and James Safechuck pursue their lawsuit against the businesses that belonged to them to be compensated for sexual abuse.
Both are protagonists of the documentary Leaving Neverland (2019), in which they recount their experiences as alleged victims of the singer.
THE straw that breaks the camel’s back: HIS FILM
In November 2019, producer Graham King, promoter of the musical film about the life of singer Freddie Mercury Bohemian Rhapsody, acquired the rights to Michael Jackson to shoot Michael, a new film about the pop icon. The work was accused last March of serving as an opportunity for the international idol’s entourage to clean up the murky image of the past.
Although the production of the film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, claimed to have received the go-ahead to address his life with creative freedom, this story stars Jaafar Jackson, the singer’s nephew, with whom he bears a great resemblance.
The executive producers include the singer’s estate attorney, John Branca, and his co-executor, John McClain. In addition, according to contacts of the specialist magazine Variety, there is always a member of the Jackson family on the set of the film, which is scheduled for release in April 2025.
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2024-06-26 14:51:56