ARTelevision

We are currently awash in the news of Michael Jackson's legal situation. The stories are out there now and changing by the hour. So far there's yesterday's initiated search of his home and land and today we hear there is a warrant for his arrest. All this is the outcome of a specific allegation made against him by a child.

We know this. What I am interested in is the feeling of satisfaction you may have over the news. Personally, I feel very good about this. The man who, in my opinion, admitted his pedophilic predation on British TV - replayed in the US - months ago is now being hunted down by the law.

Perhaps there are some of you who feel differently about this. Of course, one is presumed innocent by the law, etc. But I have seen enough of this to simply acknowledge that it gives me a very good feeling to see what is happening as a result of the way this guy lived his life for years and years.

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GuttersnipeXL

I feel good too Art...Money can buy you out of things for awhile...I'm thinking about the 25 million dollar settlement to the 13 year old awhile back. Anyway, I think it is high time something be done about it. There is no reason for a 42 year old "manchild" to be sleeping with a minor. Even if he truly does have the mindset of a child, it is still not acceptable. The guy obviously has bigtime problems, which with any luck will be solved by law enforcement. The thought of a sexual predator being brought to justice brings me joy.

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Averett

He'll get off again. Money talks, and just like last time he'll wave some around....



They should throw him into a regular prison. Not the pansy Beverly Hills prison. He wouldn't last a day.

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erion

I disagree. I'm sure they'd keep his ass alive for a very, very long time.

Peetster

He's gonna make a real pretty bitch for "Spike" once he gets packed upriver.

Conclamo Ludus

I had a feeling this was on the way. The guy has some serious screws loose. Lets say for the sake of argument that he never molested any children. Even so, the man makes his children wear masks for christs sake, he is afraid of the sun, he spends his whole day acting like a child. At the very least he is incredibly strange.

Now lets say for the sake of argument that he is guilty, get him away from the kids and toss his ass in jail. It frightens me that he was able to buy himself out of it once before.
That documentary on him was one of the most bizarre things I have ever seen. We've got so many damn trials now I can't keep track of them all.

-Kobe Bryant
-Martha Stewart
-That Elizabeth Smart Kidnapper
-The DC Snipers
-Scott Perterson
-Wacko Jacko

Yikes.

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teflonian

I don't feel good about this. Only because it would help confirm all the rumors and all the sick things that he was said to have done. It also is sad to see such a gifted man be so tragically tainted. If he did commit the crimes, then I am glad he is finally going to have to pay for it... Does it make me happy or feel good? No. Poor kids, poor fans, poor friends and family... I don't see anything to feel good about.

Batman976

Well, assuming he is guilty (which wouldn't surprise me in the least), I hope he gets what's coming to him. He needs to learn serious concequences to his actions instead of just buying his way out of them. Even if it is a very large sum of money, it's not punishment enough for doing indecent things with minors who aren't even through puberty yet.

Can someone refresh my memory as to what he said on British TV regarding this situation?

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JStrider

he bought himself out of it before... will he do it again... i really hope not...

hes a sicko... hes molested kids before. gotten away with it... and he will keep molesting until he gets put away....

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Averett

He said he sleeps in the same bed as children. Then he says "It's very sweet, I tuck them in and we sleep. it's not sexual."

I think he also said he took baths with this one kid that was in the documentary.

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numist

I cannot trust anything that I can not verify.

Michael Jackson may indeed be outside the law, he may be outside morality (which is more important to me by far), however, I don't know the man, and no one I know does either. Hence I can not make a decision about him.

I'll have to leave it to a judge and/or jury to figure it out. If he is indeed in the wrong, he will be punished, if not, then he will be released. Either way, its about time all of the hype in the press has been brought to a closing with this, although it does mean dealing with a media feeding frenzy for the next little while.

From what MJ has said, it seems that he may be legally wrong, but perhaps not morally. It does not sound like there is any abuse going on of any kind, and this is the point where the law differs from the morality of it.

I am age-blind, Michael Jackson is still a kid at heart due to his childhood with bad parents, and I really do feel sorry for the pain that the man has been forced to endure. I can only hope that whatever happens after this is just.

Hence, Im sorry art, but for the first time I'm forced to disagree with you, it may not be a good thing. No one deserves to be abused (and I mean the children in this case, what happened to MJ can't be undone so theres no point in trying to fix that anymore), but if there really isnt any abuse and its in the best interests of all involved, it still is against the law, hence the gap between Law and Morality.

I can only hope for a solution that works for all, but due to the justice system I know all I have to look forward to is constant media attention (all of it biased one way or another) and a lot of pain and distress for everyone involved (except the lawyers, who will wind up very rich from these proceedings).

Peetster

The only blinking warning light in my mind comes from the fact that he is currently shooting video in Las Vegas for his new album. The last time he was investigated, he was also filming for a new album. I'd hate to think this was carefully orchestrated to draw attention to his latest release.

ARTelevision

The reason I posted this is because it is rare to the point of near singularity for me to "feel good" about something with such negative implications associated with it.
That's why it moved me to ask how it makes y'all feel.

Thanks for the feedback - all of it. Keep it coming if you are moved to do so. It looks as though this will be an extended story...

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rogue49

Whether or not he is guilty.
He has lost it all now...no company is going to get near him within a mile of him
too much history, too many repeats...his issues have made him too big a risk.

And about time...his music has gone downhill...and I'm tired of the circus around his life.
He has become a joke.

Stare At The Sun

Yeah, he's pretty fucked. He deserves it though, fucker..

If he goes to prison, i'd almost feel sorry for him....almost

mattevil

the guy needs to be in an insane asylum. he's definetly got issues and needs to be seperated from people that further support his weird nature. it's ok to be ecentric but there is definetly a line.

ARTelevision

Here is this afternoon's early update:
..................................................
Posted on Wed, Nov. 19, 2003

Sources: Boy's allegations sparked raid

By JOHN F. MORRISON
morrisj@phillynews.com

'IT'S A BEAUTIFUL thing," Michael Jackson once said.

Cuddling in bed with young boys, he meant.

Nothing perverted about it. Never mind that he was said to have settled for millions of dollars a 1993 lawsuit by a 13-year-old California boy who described in graphic detail sexual encounters with the superstar.

The 45-year-old man has just never grown up, say friends and advisers.

Now the boy-man might be in real trouble.

Investigators swarmed over his amusement-park-like Neverland Ranch near Santa Barbara, Calif., yesterday, searching for evidence in a possible criminal case.

They even brought along a portable toilet, indicating they intended to stay a while.

Sources said the raid was the result of allegations brought against Jackson by a 12-year-old Los Angeles boy.

A source told the TV program "Extra!" that the boy recently approached a Los Angeles law firm and claimed inappropriate conduct by the superstar.

L.A. lawyer Larry R. Feldman, who represented the 14-year-old in the 1993 suit against Jackson, said he could not "confirm or deny" that he was representing anyone in a similar action.

Chris Pappas, of the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office, would say only that the raid had been part of an "ongoing criminal investigation."

Sixty to 70 officers from the Santa Barbara County D.A.'s and sheriff's offices arrived in what was described as a "convoy" about 8:30 a.m. PST.

With them came a forensics- lab van and an ambulance. The ambulance left shortly thereafter, unoccupied.

Detectives were expected to be gathering evidence into the night. The district attorney and sheriff planned to provide more details today.

Neither Jackson nor his three young children were home at the time of the search. Jackson has been in Las Vegas for three weeks making a video.

His spokesman, Stuart Backerman, said he could not comment on the raid because he lacked information about it.

"We're unaware of what the substance of this matter is," Backerman told CNN. He said the raid came as a complete surprise.

Jackson denounced media coverage of the spectacle in a statement Backerman released to the Associated Press:

"I've seen lawyers who don't represent me and spokespeople who do not know me speaking for me. These characters always seem to surface with dreadful allegations just as another project, an album, a video, is being released."

Epic Records yesterday released "Number Ones," a greatest-hits collection featuring Jackson's new single, "One More Chance."

Whether the talented singer-songwriter-dancer will get one more chance is debatable. His career already has been foundering since revelations of his proclivity for boys was dissected in the media.

In Las Vegas, a Jackson family spokesman briefly talked with reporters outside a recording studio.

"The family stands behind Michael," spokesman Steve Manning said. "He's holding up."

Rabbi Shumley Boteach, Jackson's spiritual adviser, said he had counseled the entertainer to behave more responsibly.

"I have sent him many messages," the rabbi told Fox News. "We're not just talking about the fall of a business. We're talking about the fall of a human being.

"He's not a child; he's an adult, and he has to accept" the consequences of his actions, Boteach said.

Jackson has made no secret of his fondness for boys but has vigorously denied having had any sexual contact with them.

He said in a British TV interview in February that he enjoyed snuggling in bed with 12- and 13-year-olds.

"Why can't you share a bed?" he asked. "The most loving thing to do is to share your bed with someone. It's a beautiful thing. It's very right; it's very loving. Because what's wrong with sharing a love?"

Among his bed partners have been the Culkin brothers, Macaulay (of "Home Alone" fame), and Kieran, also an actor.

"When you say 'bed,' you're thinking sexual," Jackson said during the February interview. "It's not sexual. We're going to sleep. I tuck them in and I put a little music on, and when it's story time, I read a book.

"We go to sleep with the fire on and I give them hot milk and cookies. It's very charming and very sweet.

"I am Peter Pan. He represents youth, childhood, never growing up, magic, flying."

Jackson once said he was so fond of children that he would kill himself if there were no kids in the world.

His ranch, situated in the Santa Ynez Valley outside Santa Barbara, is itself a playland for kids, containing a Ferris wheel, amusement rides and other fun things for children.

But Jackson caused an outcry last November by dangling his youngest child, Prince Michael II, whom he reportedly calls "Blanket," from a hotel window in Germany.

The child's face was covered with a towel. In public, Jackson has each of his three children covered in masks or veils.

Magician Uri Geller, a friend of Jackson's who used to bend spoons for a living, told Fox News that if the allegations against Jackson were of a sexual nature, he couldn't believe they were true.

"I'm a father myself and I would never associate myself with anyone who would do anything with a child," Geller said.

He described Jackson as "gullible, innocent, maybe a little confused...but I would never believe he would sexually abuse a child."

Famed lawyer Johnnie Cochran represented Jackson in the 1993 case and said at the time of the settlement a year later that it was in no way an admission of guilt.

Another controversial issue involving Jackson is his connection with Hollywood private investigator Anthony Pellicano, who began serving a federal prison sentence Monday for possessing illegal explosives.

Pellicano, 59, worked for Jackson as a spokesman and security consultant during the 1993 case.

The private eye is also being investigated about whether he secretly taped conversations of celebrities and their lawyers.

Jackson's new song, "One More Chance," has been available at radio stations for the past few weeks, but has gotten scant airplay. It has peaked Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart at No. 45.

The song was written by R. Kelly, who himself is charged in Chicago with 21 counts of child pornography.

Jackson's last studio album, "Invincible," sold about 2 million copies in the United States - great for most artists, especially veteran stars, but only so-so for the man who bills himself as the "King of Pop."

An upcoming CBS special might boost sales of the new album. A representative for the network refused to speculate whether it would shelve the special due to the new developments.

.....

As I type this, he is said to be "in Vegas negotiating his surrender"
(CNN)

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lurkette

He did have an atrocious childhood, but so did any number of other citizens, with fewer resources, and you don't (for the most part) see them running around acting childish and molesting kids. If he made any sort of effort to rehabilitate himself, I could grant him the "abusive past" defense, but he just keeps getting weirder and the allegations keep coming. Whatever happened to him, HE is the one who chose how to react to it, and it seems that by and large his reaction has been to escape from reality and responsibility. He has the money to afford therapy, I can only assume he doesn't want help or is so far gone mentally that he really ought to be committed. Whether or not his actions are inappropriately (i.e., sexually) motivated, they are clearly being perceived as inappropriate by some of the objects of his...er...attentions. His past is sad, but there's no reason to compound the sadness by spreading it to another generation of children just because he's in too much emotional pain/denial to grow up and act like an adult.

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numist

its a phychological defense to regress like that to childhood, and that is probalby why he hasnt "grown up" or sought therapy.

The best solution for everyone would have been to have MJ live at an asylum, but not be confined there (i.e. the asylum is his house, but he can still go out and do what he does otherwise).
There, no more kids coming home, and everyone is still able to live happily.

Again, its too late for all this...

BoCo

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Batman976

Ugh.... that seriously creeps me out. I can't believe I don't remember him saying that. Just because something isn't sexual doesn't mean it's not still creepy.

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Gortexfogg

I don't understand Micheal Jackson, and I don't try to. I have a feeling he's been up to all the things we think he has. I sure hope the courts rule fairly on him, not taking into account money or anything stupid the defense thinks up.

Liquor Dealer

Not trying to take away from Art's post but need to add this - Bail was just set at $3 million dollars - I think they're taking it seriously this time. This probably should have been done years ago.

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The_Dude

I always thought there was someting wrong w/ mj and the way he handled kids. they think he molested them (there are several counts).

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory...pstory/2233145

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ubertuber

I have a question - can you use an insanity defense when charged in a case like this? Meaning, could he be sentenced to a mental health facility instead of prison (in the event of a trial and conviction)?

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Liquor Dealer

Mark Geragos has become the attorney of choice for every high profile scum-bag case in California apparently. They are currently "negotiating with Mr Jackson for his surreneder" - why in hell are they negotiating - go get the asshole and drag him back to California in irons - he's damn sure no better than anyone else and should'nt be treated like he is - Take his passport and lock his ass up untill the 3 mil in cash shows up.

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GakFace

Do you have kids of your own? Have you ever slept with them? Get your mind out of the gutter, and this quote can make a lot of sense. Thats all I have to say about that.

Personally, I do not see him as a giant pedofile. If I had a kid that was molested.. why the FUCK would I settle? Please explain this to me.. how does money help here? The only thing I'd want is to see that person pay for what they did in Jail. Since the last "case," if that is what you wish to call it, ended with money and no one in jail and what not.. something just sounds a bit fishy to me.

I understand that there are a lot of issues behind all of this.. I prefer to keep an open mind about this. Some puzzle pieces just don't seem to belong to this one.. and without a complete puzzle.. I simply cannot read the facts.

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Batman976

True, but are these his own kids, or somebody else's? How old are his own children?

...and for the record, I still think it would be creepy to sleep with your own children if they were 12 or 13.

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bender

MJ a master of the media, guilty or not and my own feelings about him and the crimes that he is accused of he has enough
money to buy himself out of this little prob. once again.

numist

True, but where are their parents then, if this is going on, surely their parents know about it.

When I moved to the states from Canada with my dad fresh from my parents divorce, I stayed in a one bedroom with my dad, we slept in the same bed, there is nothing wrong with it.

What he has admitted is not really a big deal, its that people suspect that there is more beneath the surface, which there may or may not be - its all conjecture.

Jam

Gak, they werent his kids...

SecretMethod70

I'm going to be in the minority and say that I agree with numist and gakface.

I'm not saying he doesn't have issues - he certainly does. But whether he's a child molester, I don't know. There are plenty of things that seem fishy on both ends of the argument, and I do firmly believe in someone's innocence before they are proven guilty. As far as I'm aware, there is no proof of guilt yet, so I'm not about to metaphorically hang this person just because he's mentally ill and doesn't understand how the world views his actions.

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lordjeebus

I also agree.

I have seen no direct evidence of wrongdoing on his part. I cannot relish in the suffering of a man who may be a victim. The information that's out there is manipulated to attract attention and I can't trust it.

Given the rumors around MJ and what people have already decided about him, any kid could accuse him of sexual assault and be taken seriously. Given his fortune, there's a lot of incentive to do so also.

Regardless of who's the victim, either MJ or the kid has suffered extremely and I find it immensely depressing.

shileno

all i have to say is that as an artist he was the best...

YzermanS19

Oh well. Serves him right.

I still like the song "Don't stop till you get enough"

Hhaha....thinking back on it, this song makes more sense now

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Macheath

If the allegations are true, he will be institutionalised in some way. This is a good thing. If he is mentally ill, he will receive treatment. This is a good thing.

If the allegations were rigourously investigated and found false by an uncorrupted judge and/or jury I don't think society would believe it anyway. That scenario would be sad.

He should be held legally accountable only for what he has done- no more and no less. It's time for all the childish and tittering tabloid BS to end and the professionals to do their jobs. It has to end, one way or another.

clavus

Looks like MJ better invest in a white Ford Bronco...

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bundy

i agree.
i doubt he´ll see jail time... even if he does deserve it.
its quite obvious to see that he is one SERIOUSLY disturbed individual, but that is just no excuse for wanting to make other little childrens lives just as screwed up.

fucked up person.
i think his money and assets should be all donated to charity, and then he should be locked away in a quiet mental institution... which another screwed up Jackson can pay for.

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Batman976

Well just because you haven't seen the evidence doesn't mean it's not there. If they went to his house with a warrent, then they had to have had probable cause. If they arrest him after they search his house, then they probably found something that could further incriminate him.

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G_Whiz

First of all, I do not see this as a "very, very good thing". IF it is true, it is truly tragic.

Secondly, the majority of responses here prove a point that has been bothering me lately. Congratulations for your ability to judge, try and convict a man based on accusations and past unproven charges.

By the way, is this when we are supposed to accept the media's versions of things because they wouldn't lie about this? After all, this wouldn't do anything like sell newspapers or get people to drool over the news outlets. Would it? If you listened to the news conference, it definitely seemed that the DA was having a good time making sure the media got what they wanted.

Frankly, I'll wait for the case to get into court. I will wait for a jury to hear evidence and make a decision based on facts. Until that time, I will try to avoid the hysteria that will surround this "story". Unfortunately, as a news junkie, I won't be able to totally avoid this crap.

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