Commentary

Wacko Jacko - 'I'll never grow up'

THE PROSECUTION IS about to wrap up its case in the child molestation trial of mega-star Michael Jackson but I am not going to even suggest whether Jackson, perhaps the greatest entertainer of all time, is guilty or not.

No, I am not going to be like those talking heads on American television who want to influence public opinion by imposing their views on people. A recent poll taken in the United States suggested that most believe that the former king of pop is guilty, even though the trial is far from over and even though the case against him so far has more holes than a sieve.

In my opinion ­ and nobody has to agree with me ­ Michael Jackson is guilty, but not of child molestation or conspiracy. Michael Jackson is guilty of being either remarkably naïve or incredibly stupid, or both.

And it seems to me that the 46-year-old entertainer gets dumber with age.

In 1993, when he was still selling tens of millions of records, Jackson was slapped with a lawsuit in which he was accused of molesting a then 13-year-old boy. He eventually had to fork out more than US$20 million to make that case go away.

Now put yourself in his shoes here. You are an extremely wealthy entertainer who likes to have kids come over for weeks at a time. One of them decides to accuse you of molesting him. It's an accusation that costs you more than $20 million dollars. Here's the question: Would you be inviting any other kids over?

HELL, NO!!!!

Apparently, Michael Jackson thought otherwise because here he is 12 years later, on trial on similar accusations. What is also apparent is that he has a very slow learning curve. How many times does someone have to accuse you of something before you stop and go hmmm, I wonder...?

Bedfellows

Also, remember that interview with Martin Bashir when Jackson, in his whiny voice, said there is no greater show of love than sharing your bed with someone? Yeah, with your wife or girlfriend!

And even if that is what you truly believe, should you be saying that in response to a question about having little boys in your bedroom?

Now, I am not going to sit here and judge Michael Jackson. I was never inside that bedroom nor would I want to be, and I don't know what went on in there, but doesn't Michael realise that the world obviously doesn't see things quite the same way he does?

People are obviously going to see something wrong with an old grey-tone man sharing his bedroom with a whole bunch of little boys. If little girls were involved maybe the perception would be different, but it's all boys. If I were a parent, such a practice would set alarm bells off in my head.

And speaking of parents, why has the state of California not charged any of the parents who sent their children over to Neverland to spend time with Jackson? The way I see it, if Jackson is guilty then the parents of those boys are also as guilty because if what they have been saying is true, then what it is, is that they have prostituted their children and as their children's pimps, they should also be held accountable.