Michael Jackson is Dead!

[H.Starr]

He died today, of a heart attack I believe.

I must tell you, I am not sad.

Yes, he made some good music back in the day...but once you have sex with little boys (or little girls for that matter) we're no longer friends.

My husband is very sad because he loved Michael's music growing up.
But I have to admit, cruel as it is, I keep thinking "Good riddance!"

Maybe its because I'm a mom to a little boy. Maybe its because I have morals. Maybe both.

I just can't be a fan of a child molester. Thoughts on this?

[H.Starr]

PS -Michael and Roman have the same birthday. :P
(which is also the same birthday as John McCain)

[SiMaMa]

Yeah i feel the same. Michael Jackson was cool when I was younger, but then he started to get really freaking creepy. Even if he didn't do all that stuff. . . who has an amusement park at their house???

The lady on the radio was crying when she was talking about it. I'm sorry, but child molester or not, I'm not gonna cry over some body i don't know.

I'm not gonna say good riddance, I mean, he does have a family and whatnot. I'm sure Blanket will miss him. . .that is if he didn't molest him too.

Anyway, I'm not happy that he died, but I'm not sad either. I really don't care honestly.

On a side note, Farrah Fawcett also died today of what my mom ever-so-gently called "butt cancer"

[RLTMommy]

Farrah Fawcett died too. On MJ--I can't believe that any decent parents would let their child stay the night with a suspected molester. I think the parents after the first case should have been charged too. I would agree with your disgust if he was guilty. Seems like he was, but only he and the victim? really know. Did they only judge against him in a civil case, or a criminal case too?

[H.Starr]

I think saying Michael wasn't guilty is just like saying OJ Simpson wasn't guilty.
Give me a break.

Anyone who isn't richer than god can't get away with HALF the stuff celebrities get away with. Money rules everything.

And as for Blanket, his psycho dad hung him off a balcony. That kid is probably better off without him too. I don't know if Michael would molest him or not, but good god, who risks their baby's life like that??? No one sane, that's for sure!

[MNmomOf2]

I am a little sad. I loved his music growing up. I know there are people out there who saw him as a monster or just a bad person, to each their own.

But at then end of the day he was someone's brother, son, grandson and yes he was a father....who knows what kind he was behind closed doors, only his family and god know.

My heart breaks for his kids who have lost their father.....they are so young and who knows it maybe better that they do not have them but still to loose your father to such a tragic accident at such a young age.....

[SiMaMa]

I think saying Michael wasn't guilty is just like saying OJ Simpson wasn't guilty.
Give me a break.


I never said he didn't lol. I stopped liking him after he became 'white' lol . . . it just got worse after that. I nearly died laughing when his nose fell off. I always believed he did it. . . . and what dumb ass parents would let their kids go to a grown man's house any freaking way???

And as for Blanket, I'm sure he'd be better without him too. That doesn't mean that his son won't be sad that he is gone. Maybe. I dunno. Either way, like I said, I don't really care. I just won't say I'm glad about it either. He's not a part of my life and his death does not affect me or my family in any way, shape or form.

[freckles]

I am lost. I know he had 2 kids....Paris and Prince. Did he have another child named Blanket? Wait, do I really care? lol

[SiMaMa]

I am lost. I know he had 2 kids....Paris and Prince. Did he have another child named Blanket? Wait, do I really care? lol

Now I'm lost lol. I did not know that there were more than just Blanket!

[charliesmommy]

Yea and his death is over over shadowing Farrah's and that SUCKS!

[brandie1127]

I believe blanket is Paris' nickname because he was always taken out in public with a blanket over his head to protect him from paparazzi. I feel bad for poor Micheal I once watched an interview with him where he was talking about never experiencing the normal things in life - like going to the store because hes been a star since he was so little. I don't know if he touched those boys or not I do know that there was something terribly wrong with him every grown up knows its not ok to sleep with other peoples children in your bed ... just because! Unfortunately I think mentally he was 10 years old too - just having a sleep over! I'm not defending him at all - just saying that he was a pretty messed up person.

[H.Starr]

My husband says there are three kids. Paris, Prince Michael, and Blanket who is also known as Prince Michael II sometimes.

[Lilypad]

My husband says there are three kids. Paris, Prince Michael, and Blanket who is also known as Prince Michael II sometimes.

Yes, these are technically the names of his 3 children. Which I hope we can appreciate that these kids lost their father today. I too am skeptical of what he may have done. But I still feel for these children and what they are going through. Same as I felt for OJ's children as they have to live with the fact their father most likely killed their mother. This is a pain I do not wish on any child.

[MNmomOf2]

I think the reason why this is over shadowing the Death of Farrah Faucet (sp??) is because the world knew she only days or hours left in her life, it was just a matter of time. But with MJ it was a sudden tragic death.

I feel for his family and kids to loose someone so sudden....:(

[Bec caV]

I just can't feel sorry for Michael Jackson... I can't. Do I think he deserved to die so young? No. But I have no remorse. No matter how his childhood was, no matter how rich he was, he broke boundaries of society simply by having sleep overs and what not. I do believe he did something to those children, I don't know what or to what extent, but something happened. I also believed he bought his way out of justice. He needed therapy and supervision, not sleep overs with young boys and a Peter Pan complex.

[H.Starr]

I still say, while I do feel a little bad for his family (Death is a part of life, everyone knows its going to happen. To everyone. When its your time, its your time.) I feel worse for the families of the little boys.
Maybe its their own "fault" for letting their sons go to his house in the first place, but that far from excuses his actions.

[H.Starr]

I'm with you, Becca. No one "deserves" to die per se. But some people aren't worth missing.
I'm sure the little boys and their parents are far from devastated today, and tragic isn't the word they'd use to describe his death.

[jenn_0629]

The first thing I said when my mom told me he died, "Well, hopefully that will save a couple of twelve year old boys from being molested." And didn't give it another thought.

[SiMaMa]

I tell you what shocked me the most. . . he was freaking 50! I had no idea he was that old. . .

and it's kinda annoying how everyone is talking about him and not Ferrah. I haven't heard anything about her at all.

Not to mention, it's completely f**ked up my dvr because it's on just about every freaking channel! Grrrrr!

[H.Starr]

I never really cared too much about Farrah, but she definitely should get more attention and sadness than Michael.
Even if her death was more "expected." At least she was a decent human, as far as I know.

[Lilypad]

I still say, while I do feel a little bad for his family (Death is a part of life, everyone knows its going to happen. To everyone. When its your time, its your time.)

Feel bad for him, no. He brought all of this on himself. But do I want to be the mother explaining this to the children??? No, it is the children brought into this world on a whim that I feel sorry for. No matter who it was, children most often love their parents in spite of their faults and are in pain because of this. Just because death is a part of life does not make it any less painful to those left behind.

[jenn_0629]

Ed McMahon died too.

[SiMaMa]

I never really cared too much about Farrah, but she definitely should get more attention and sadness than Michael.
Even if her death was more "expected." At least she was a decent human, as far as I know.

Yeah i feel the same. I'm not like a huge Ferrah fan, but I still think it's bull that no one's talking about her death because nutty bar boy lover died.

[Disco Lemonade]

Ok ladies…I’m quoting Katt Williams (one of my favorite comedians.) “How do you put a black wiener into a white woman and come out with two blonde hair blue eyed babies???” Man he has a point! Shouldn’t they have been interracial babies?? Any who, he’s dead…boo hoo.

[j-love]

No matter what your thoughts or opinions are about Michael Jackson, he was still a father, brother, uncle, friend, etc. It is sad that his family and friends has lost someone they love. And about if he is guilty or not, only God can, and will, judge.

[H.Starr]

People with families die every minute of every day. FAR better people than skeezy child molesters. And the whole damn world doesn't mourn over them.

I do not know a single person who ever met Michael or knew him personally. Why get sad and depressed and mourn someone you don't know? It just seems stupid to me. I bet if some stranger that lived on your block died, you wouldn't mourn him. Why Michael? Because he's rich and famous? Because he makes great music? Maybe the guy down the street did too, he was just never "discovered." Whatever.

Either way. Yeah its sad for his kids. Its sad for people's kids every day when they die. No one cares about them, or we'd be moping 24/7.

[KayLady]

You people are so sad saying he had sex with little boys and defaming him when, at the end of the day, YOU DON"T KNOW. I believe in innocent until proven guilty, which he never was. Sure, he put himself and those kids into a situation that he shouldn't have, but that doesn't mean he should be labeled a child molester. His reputation and his character were tarnished by people who simply exploited him for his money. When you drop criminal charges as soon as you get a payoff, you can't be all that 'traumatized'.
I hope someone never wrongly accuses you, or we'll have to tar and feather you as well. It's called karma.
It's sad when anyone unexpectedly passes at a young age, and Michael Jackson touched so many lives. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

BTW - when he 'turned white' it was do to a rare skin condition documented by his doctor. It's a shame that we haven't progressed enough in this world to quit labeling people with disabilities freaks. Those people out there whose babies were born with birth defects should understand.

[KayLady]

People with families die every minute of every day. FAR better people than skeezy child molesters. And the whole damn world doesn't mourn over them.

I do not know a single person who ever met Michael or knew him personally. Why get sad and depressed and mourn someone you don't know? It just seems stupid to me. I bet if some stranger that lived on your block died, you wouldn't mourn him. Why Michael? Because he's rich and famous? Because he makes great music? Maybe the guy down the street did too, he was just never "discovered." Whatever.

Either way. Yeah its sad for his kids. Its sad for people's kids every day when they die. No one cares about them, or we'd be moping 24/7.
Do you plan on teaching your son this kind of compassion?

[H.Starr]

Yes Kay. I do.
Why should I teach him to think regular people don't matter and celebrities are everything?
Celebrities are just regular people with bigger paychecks and more plastic surgery.
Why on earth would I teach my son that he should care about them and not regular people everywhere else in the world?

And so you also believe OJ didn't kill his wife and her boyfriend? Because the court said he didn't, in spite of INCREDIBLE evidence that he did? Give me a break.

[KayLady]

Were you there? How can you definitively label someone a child molester if, like you said, you didn't even know him? BTW, I wasn't referring to celebrities, necessarily, I was referring to the way you said we shouldn't be sad or mourn for strangers down the block that we don't know. I think it's okay to feel compassionate towards the people left behind. If I found out someone I didn't know on my block died, I would go to the family and see if there was anything I could do for them, and yes, I would be sad and mourn them. Not mope 24/7. Besides, I don't feel like anyone in this world is better than anyone else. You obviously feel like you are better than other people, and that will come back to bite you.

[Bec caV]

Here's the thing... we just had a whole thread about someone who thought something happened to her daughter at a play date... http://forums.parenting.com/showthread.php?t=8205 and for this nameless person, he's practically been tried and sentenced in the Parenting Community court room.

Something happened to the boys that stayed over at Michael Jackson's house. What, we will never know. Because he is a celebrity does not mean that he is exempt from the scrutiny we put on the man down the street.

I don't recall any conclusions coming up from that trial, just the parents having the children recant their accusations. That does not prove him innocent.

The man needed professional help which, for as much as we can see, he never got. Instead he indulged his fantasies and those close to him indulged him as well.

Heather is right, he deserves no more empathy or sympathy than anyone else, in some sense probably less simply because of his celebrity status.

I haven't heard any confirmation that he actually is dead (the news outlets had unconfirmed reports when I heard it yesterday) nor do we know what he died of. I will feel more sympathy if he died of something that he didn't bring on himself, though I suspect it was something from his life style that caused it.
Nor do I know the relationship he had with his children if any at all.

[H.Starr]

No. You completely misread what I said.

I said why mourn a celebrity who is a STRANGER, when you wouldn't mourn a stranger down the block.

As in, celebrities are no more special than any other person, why treat them as such?

It is very good of you that you would help out the family of someone on your street you've never met, but most people wouldn't.

That was my point. Why care about a stranger who is rich and famous if you can't care about a stranger who isn't?

[KayLady]

And here I thought we lived in America, where you're proven guilty, not proven innocent.
H. Starr, I live in a world where most people would help out others they don't even know, I'm sad that you are surrounded by people who wouldn't. Oh wait, isn't your husband in the military?
And I do care about strangers who aren't rich and famous. It's God's rule of Love thy neighbor as you Love yourself.

[H.Starr]

Yes Kay, he is. So obviously he cares at least somewhat for people he hasn't met. Enough to risk his life. Thanks for asking. Would you do that? Doubt it.

Anyway, aside from your "personal shots" and back on topic:

I'm not saying its right. I'm saying most people wouldn't go console their neighbors who they've never met. Its just a fact. Yes, some would. But not most.

So I'm saying, everyone is so upset and flustered about what a "tragedy" it is that he died. but PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY. They aren't tragedies? So why is it that Michael is and regular people aren't? THAT IS MY POINT.
Why is it that people who wouldn't think twice about the guy down the street dying are now "in mourning" over a celebrity dying? It seems really shallow to me.

[Bec caV]

How I took it is that a celebrity is no more entitled to sympathy than a regular person. Michael Jackson deserves no more or no less than the guy down the block.

[KayLady]

That wasn't a personal shot, my point was to show you that you are MARRIED to someone who not only cares about strangers, but he is willing to lay down his life for them. I am grateful for that.

[KayLady]

How I took it is that a celebrity is no more entitled to sympathy than a regular person. Michael Jackson deserves no more or no less than the guy down the block.
You're right, he doesn't. But that's simply the way the media works because more people in the world knew who he was.

[H.Starr]

And Kay. If your kids went to play at your neighbors house, or he babysat them, or whatever. And they come home and tell you he slept in bed with them, and whatever else those kids said happened, you'd be okay with it?
You'd go calmly ask your neighbor, "Is this true?" and when he said "No way." you'd just believe him and move on? Because he wasn't proven guilty?
I doubt it. So again. Why should it be different with a celebrity than with a regular person?

The only difference is Michael had the money to bribe the families into secrecy, and bribe the court into throwing out the case. Same as OJ. He had the money for a skeezer lawyer, and to pay off the court.

Yeah, justice at its finest.

[H.Starr]

How I took it is that a celebrity is no more entitled to sympathy than a regular person. Michael Jackson deserves no more or no less than the guy down the block.

THANK YOU, Becca! Exactly.

[KayLady]

Um - I would never leave my kids with a neighbor or anyone who would think of doing that, because I know better. When my kids have play dates, I stay there. So the parents who left their kids at his house like that, their motives should be questioned.

[H.Starr]

You're right, he doesn't.

AAAHHHHHH then why are you arguing with me?!?!?!?!?!

That's what I've been saying all along!

[KayLady]

AAAHHHHHH then why are you arguing with me?!?!?!?!?!

That's what I've been saying all along!
So I guess you said all the same things when Princess Diana died and everyone was talking about that?

[Bec caV]

Princess Diana actually was a person who did a lot for other people to make their lives better. She also died tragically, if I find out Michael Jackson died of something that couldn't be prevented I may feel a little more sympathy, however, he did not contribute much to society in my view.

[H.Starr]

Yes. So she was a really good person who did really good things. It was sad that she died so young, unfortunate for people close to her.

But. No sadder or more unfortunate than when any other really good, not world-known person dies.

Death is death. It should be viewed and treated equally regardless of a person's bank account, status in life, or how many people knew their name. I don't think those material things should be what really matters. Its all the same, no matter who you are.

[H.Starr]

As for those little boys' parents, somehow I really doubt they were thinking, "I'm going to take my kids to Michael Jackson's house, I bet he molests them and then we can get a ton of money!"

It was probably closer to, "I'm going to take my kids to Michael Jackson's house, how cool to say I met him, and how cool for my kids to grow up and be able to say they played at a celebrity's house!"

Still stupid, especially considering WHO they were talking about and that he had already been accused of molesting little boys before, but not as much of an evil ulterior motive as the first scenario.

[Lilypad]

We have all seen this happen with the media when a celebrity has died and the media disects their lives. The difference between this and non-celebrity has nothing to do with their lives being of MORE value in my opinion.

What we need to think of when so many people are mourning is that this person in particular has provided music for multiple generations of people. His music has been played at weddings, birthdays, perhaps funerals. People will associate him with events in their own lives. We all know when you hear a song that is special to you, it has an effect.

Regardless, of what else was going on in his life, his music was huge and had this effect. So, why I agree with Becca that he may not have had made the contributions to society that someone like Diana did, he DID have a tremendous effect on MILLIONS of people. That is what people remember and that is why there is the coverage of his death.

[Bec caV]

Oh I understand covering his death (to death) in the media. I actually have no problem with that, but I do agree with Heather that on a personal level we don't have to feel any more sympathy than we do for any non famous person.

[KayLady]

H. Starr I think we agree on both points now, as long as you apply your points equallyhttp://forums.parenting.com/images/editor/menupop.gif;). My problem was with people convicting someone outside the courts when they don't have all the facts, especially since people have been exonerated by DNA after wasting their lives in prison. I think people were more likely to believe he molested those kids just because he was so eccentric. Again, I do think the sleepovers were wrong and agree that he had not matured into an adult, but it's not fair to assume he was a criminal.

[KayLady]

What we need to think of when so many people are mourning is that this person in particular has provided music for multiple generations of people. His music has been played at weddings, birthdays, perhaps funerals. People will associate him with events in their own lives. We all know when you hear a song that is special to you, it has an effect.


We Are the World and You Are Not Alone are two songs that still move me.

[Lilypad]

As for those little boys' parents, somehow I really doubt they were thinking, "I'm going to take my kids to Michael Jackson's house, I bet he molests them and then we can get a ton of money!"

It was probably closer to, "I'm going to take my kids to Michael Jackson's house, how cool to say I met him, and how cool for my kids to grow up and be able to say they played at a celebrity's house!"

Still stupid, especially considering WHO they were talking about and that he had already been accused of molesting little boys before, but not as much of an evil ulterior motive as the first scenario.

Ok - so they already probably knew that he had been accused of this before -- they still send their kids...

Something did or didn't happen and then they go to trial, things start to go wrong because their story starts to unravel. There were things that were not consistent with those accusations. I am not saying that he was innocent, but I think it is a little naive that these people could not have taken adavantage of situation to get money out of celebrity. The didn't send their kids to their to get molested, but may have decided to their situation to SAY that the child was molested and get the money.

I STILL would not allow my child to stay over with ANYONE who I didn't know, no matter how cool it would be...

[H.Starr]

H. Starr I think we agree on both points now, as long as you apply your points equallyhttp://forums.parenting.com/images/editor/menupop.gif;). My problem was with people convicting someone outside the courts when they don't have all the facts, especially since people have been exonerated by DNA after wasting their lives in prison. I think people were more likely to believe he molested those kids just because he was so eccentric. Again, I do think the sleepovers were wrong and agree that he had not matured into an adult, but it's not fair to assume he was a criminal.

Oh, I do. The only "celebrity" with the "right" to be treated differently/viewed differently than regular people would be Jesus Christ himself. In my opinion.
The rest are still regular people, just "glorified."

I think he should be treated equally on the molestation topic as well. If he was a neighbor and those kids were your own, I think we'd ALL be "convicting" him ourselves. And most likely, all situations the same, if he was not a celebrity, the court would have convicted him too. The "special treatment" because of his "status" is incredibly wrong, in my opinion.

[H.Starr]

I STILL would not allow my child to stay over with ANYONE who I didn't know, no matter how cool it would be...

I definitely agree with you. I was just suggesting what those parents MAY have been thinking at the time. Unfortunately, a LOT of people are more materialistic than rational.

[freckles]

I do not know a single person who ever met Michael or knew him personally. Why get sad and depressed and mourn someone you don't know? It just seems stupid to me. .

Well you have a point and I have seen this scenario a few times. I guess my answer would be that music can inspire lives and touch ppls hearts. Say someone was feeling down real low one day and they heard one of their favorite teenage songs like "I wanna rock with you." That the song had been playing on the radio during their first date when they had their first kiss. These two ended up getting married and now this is thier song and Micheal is the one who wrote it.

Anyway, music can stir ones emotions, good and bad. You know what I am saying. People play songs during their wedding ceremony because it means something to them. I know you get me.

[bvas81]

I so wanted to bust out the thriller dance yesterday.
I think it's the shock that he died "unexpectedly" that has many up in arms.
My heart goes out to the brave men and women who have lost their lives and those who continue to put their lives on the line for us. There's not enough money in the world that can buy freedom. Freedom is bought with blood, sweat, tears and steel.
Now, all this North Korea stuff has got me thinking......
If i die, I hope that if I knock hard enough and plead at the pearly gates, God will open his doors for me. It's too hot to be in hell.
Sad, maybe, but still true....We all live to die. The end.