Keeping it Real: Nobody Liked Michael Until He Died

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Something weird seems to happen when people die. Not just normal people, but especially with famous people. It seems that all is forgotten. Well not all. Of course the triumphs, the accolades or in the case of the recent passing of Michael Jackson, the timeless classic music, all that is not forgotten. No those all stay fresh in memories and are celebrated more than ever when those people pass. In fact it seems in most cases the good parts are the only thing that is remembered.

What tends to be ushered out of the public consciousness however and rarely mentioned are the not so sweet times of a person’s life. It seems that those whom while living were outcast and whose every move, both public and private, was made into a downright mockery are suddenly to be remembered to be nothing but the geniuses that they were. Not the freak shows and media puppets that they had become. Marlon Brando, 2Pac, Edgar Allen Poe, Anna Nicole Smith, those are just a few of these tragic figures and now sadly Michael Jackson can be added to that list.

Now I know my next statement might get a few heated comments but let’s keep it real here people. Frankly put, nobody gave a shit about Michael Jackson before he died. Oh sure all the musicians and artists in the world praised him for his greatness and musical genius. And we too as the people recognized that yes, he did have talent and one time was a true star and icon. However I am 22 years old. While I do remember seeing all the old videos and even trying the moonwalk a few times that is not the lasting memory of Michael that I will have.

Instead the countless SNL skits, the comedians who did entire 30 minute sets on the man, all the tabloid reports, the baby hanging out the window, the Eminem spoofs, the endless jokes about him touching kids. That is what will last to me and for good reason. That reason being of course because for the past thirty years or so Michael was our freak show, and not much else. This was not by accident. This is what we made him to be. Where were all these heartfelt well wishes when this man was here? We couldn’t wait to see his next plastic surgery mishap or point and laugh when he appears on TV in a tree with his pet chimp Bubbles.

Simply put, Michael was not only laughed at but he was overall disliked. The public as a whole hated him for the fact that they thought he touched kids. The black community didn’t like him because he tried to be white. The white community didn’t like him because he was freak show and his nose fell off occasionally while cameras were rolling. And oh yeah in case I didn’t mention, HE TOUCHED KIDS!  

Now he dies and suddenly all the same people that laughed at him are now praising him and once again realizing his genius. So what happened? How come we can make an entire man’s existence into a tabloid show while he’s living, but let him die and oh now it’s a whole other story. Now he’s Michael Jackson,  the world uniting genius musician who taught us all how to live, love, and dance.

And how long will it take before we start with the ha-ha’s again? Will Kat Williams never get his entire audience to chant “Fuck Michael!” again? Will we never see another powder faced imposter on SNL trying to entice little boys to his bedroom with milk and cookies? I doubt it. I give it a few months before Mike is back on the market and we are once again tearing this man down at every opportunity we get.

Now don’t get me wrong with this one. I am not a Michael hater and I do have a great amount of respect for the dead. However I do have to call bullshit when I see it and God has given me the gift and the outlet for which to do so and I will take full advantage of both. I think we need to keep it 100 people. If we don’t fuck with someone when their living why all the sudden realize how great they were when they die? Like I said Mike is not the first and will not be the last celeb that we the public do this to. Remember people, a person is the same person living as they will be when their dead. They just wont be around to hear all the sorrowful praises and how much people loved and adored them. Maybe if they had heard that when they were here they wouldn’t of spent the last twenty years isolated on their own amusement park with nothing but a chimp and some drugged up kids to keep them company. Just a thought.

Can you imagine George W. Bush’s memorial?  "Today we lay to rest a great leader..."