Michael Jackson is dead. Let the fame-whoring begin.



Michael Jackson is dead. Let the fame-whoring begin.

Michael Jackson is dead. Let the fame-whoring begin.

Published on July 6th, 2009
Published on Febuary 6th, 2010
Nat Lauzon RSS Feed

Not even a week, and every jerk who's ever had anything to do with Michael's inner circle is ready to spill the beans for a quick buck.

Jackson's ex-wife Debbie Rowe just revealed (get ready to bust out the shocked face) that the two never had sex, never kissed on the lips and the children she bore him are not biologically his. They were, she says, the result of a sperm donor. Also, she doesn't ever want them back as she was just 'a womb' paid for her services (about 8.5 million, by the way). Debbie Rowe, you're all class. Can you entirely blame the woman though? I mean, she was absorbed into a circumstance and a lifestyle that itself was simply not normal.

Then again, so was Michael. From the time he was 6 years old he was in the spotlight. A child star without a childhood and a lifetime attempt at trying to compensate for it. The irony is that, for kids of the 80s - he was such a huge part of our own childhoods. It's why we feel such a connection: the music is a piece of our own past too.

It's funny how it affects you when a huge celebrity dies. Princess Diana, John Candy, Phil Hartman, Aaliyah, Heath Ledger - all shocking, all tragic, all too soon. In my case I feel like a piece of my own history has dimmed. Growing up, it was all about Michael Jackson. I was crazy about the guy! The posters plastering my bedroom walls, my replica red 'Thriller" jacket, the pins, the t-shirts, the records...you name it, I had it. I was even MJ for Halloween one year.

He was untouchable, remarkable, adorable, spellbinding and genuinely gifted. I honestly haven't been this touched by a celebrity death since John Ritter died 6 years ago. John Ritter was my first TV crush, the reason that Three's Company remains my favourite TV show of all time and why "funny" is in the top 3 on my boyfriend criteria checklist.

He was brilliant. One-of-a-kind. In fact - like Michael - he too was ramping up toward his own comeback career. Sadly, we'll never know what the future might have held for either of them.

We've certainly heard the rebuttals from the post-80s crowd. Wondering why we're so affected by the death of a man whose eccentricities evolved into full-fledged creepiness. To them, Michael was always a weirdo. It's almost impossible to think of the iconic 80's Michael as being the same person: the mask-wearing, surgery-addicted frail little man, dogging molestation allegations and drowning in debt.

If you're one of them, hopefully the headlines will make you dig deeper and explore the music and not the media circus. Judging by the way his albums are being snapped up these days, I hope that's the case.

It's surreal to think that for kids born now, Michael Jackson will always be a dead guy. Just like Elvis to many. And JFK to others. Personally, I consider myself lucky to have lived through the time of Michael's meteoric rise to pop stardom and to have such a brilliant soundtrack to my formative years. That's the Michael I'll choose to remember.

Comments

  • Username
    deepak
    - February 17th, 2010 at 14:18:13

    I feel so sad

    Submit a Comment

    • Username
      rpkuqycdgo
      - April 22nd, 2010 at 11:41:04

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  • Username
    stdslove
    - February 17th, 2010 at 14:18:12

    I love Michael Jackson!!!!!! Many people on the largest STD dating site Positivefish. com said that Michael Jackson donated at least $10,000,000 to the people with HIV in Africa.

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    susannah harris
    - February 17th, 2010 at 14:18:10

    excellent article

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    stdslove
    - February 10th, 2010 at 12:55:40

    I love Michael Jackson!!!!!! Many people on the largest STD dating site Positivefish. com said that Michael Jackson donated at least $10,000,000 to the people with HIV in Africa.

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    deepak
    - February 10th, 2010 at 12:55:40

    I feel so sad

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    susannah harris
    - February 10th, 2010 at 12:55:38

    excellent article

    Submit a Comment

  • Username
    Alana Ronald
    - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:28

    Several of Michael's songs seem particularly apt in light of the feelings expressed in this article. Remember The Time, and You Are Not Alone, speak to our memory and communal grief. It's such a pity that Scream echoed what Jackson probably felt, after the questionable accusations of molestation. But as much as I cried, (and I'm not even a particular fan of pop music), I like to honour his memory by pointing out his vast charitable contributions, and cherish the feeling he inspired with the noble, global, tune, We Are the World. Bless him...

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  • Username
    Raj
    - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:22

    Very insightful article. I remember winning a Michael Jackson poster after a drawing contest in High School. We all adored him. He was always there, taken for granted that he was THE only pop star that mattered. It *IS* strange that young generations will never understand our sudden nostalgia for "Wacko Jacko". Suddenly, it's ok to hear MJ's music blaring on ipods, and the media has only now begun to understand that his skin condition was real. The controversies aside, he was a victim from an early age. Only after his death could people finally begin to realize that. This will be remembered as one of those tragic stories of our century---forever immortalized by his music and charity. RIP MJ.

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  • Username
    Susan Gervais
    - February 10th, 2010 at 11:46:20

    Nat as always you have hit the mail on the head. I remember in highschool doing a poster of MJ and everyone loved it. We had a dance in his honour. He was a huge part of my Highschool years. I do remember your MJ costume,didn't Jen dress as MJ too? Anyway. I would like to think that Micheal is now at peace, away from all the negative press all the judgements that were made towards him. I hope he is doing the moon walk on the moon and thrilling all those we love up in heaven. Well done Nat.

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