By Michael Conally
Michael Jackson came this close to being murdered on many occasions; or at least his character has anyway. But, like his friend Elizabeth Taylor, he has developed a knack for surviving against the odds.
While he made himself and others lots of money they accepted him and promoted him to the hilt. But when he decided to “see a new light” and take his music to a more conscious direction and refuse to be manipulated or exploited by the corporate interest he was contracted to, they sidelined him to teach him a lesson. You don’t mess with the Zohan, right?
Suddenly, you started to read items in the gutter press hinting how Jackson was fraternizing with young boys, etc. Then a number of other incidents happened. Banks started to call in debts on his property, something they were previously comfortable with because they knew Jackson has a licence to print money.
Other incidents, all seemingly with the purpose of birsmirching Jackson’s name and career, became public, culminating in the big court case a few years back in which he was acquitted of all child molestation and other charges.
Maybe it might not have struck you why a strong prosecution team would go through such trouble to prosecute a (black!) star like Jackson only for him to be acquitted of all charges. Maybe for them it was a victory just to have the case tried in the glare of full publicity. The salacious details which came out ensured the Michael Jackson industry once again thrived and his reputation looked hung in the balance. Job done!
Following his acquittal Jackson, of course, left America, where most of the evil was being directed from and headed to the Middle East to chill out. But then the devils kept pounding relentlessly on his door. Jackson was still not playing ball by allowing them to exploit his legend. Plus the wolves were at his door to get their hands on his property and other extravagant assets.
That’s when the idea of a series of (end of days!) concerts took root. Only it would be held in the UK where the Jackson family had already set up camp and received a much warmer welcome than in their native America. But is Jackson now co-operating and playing ball after all? To the onlooker this is how it might seem! For instance, when was the last time you heard any negative Michael Jackson stories? Struggling to think aren’t you? I rest my case…
News of the Jackson concerts alone guaranteed they were sold out within a few hours. Now they are changing hands at many times their sale value. It’s a win win win situation, right? The corporates are happy, the fans are happy and Michael Jackson who stands to make over £50 million is happy.
But will he be able to step aside and retire from the business of being a corporate machine, or will he be forced through revelation of some new media generated calamity to continue to feed the legend?
Almost makes you want to reach for the popcorn, doesn’t it? Either that or the number to your bookmaker!
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April 2nd, 2010 at 7:54 pm
Personally, Michael Jackson was one of the premiere entertainers of all time. His work communicated towards the heart and soul. He had his problems with the press, but men and women were too quick to judge with so little understanding of this delicate soul and consummate entertainer. I wish we could have him back. He'll be missed. I just wonder how his tour would have been received, if he had lived.
May 3rd, 2010 at 11:06 am
This is rather macabre looking at it now because this article was written days before Michael Jackson was killed…erm…I mean died. ;-)