It’s been 10 years since Michael Jackson died, and Twitter commentary is very mixed
The ten-year anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death is proving more contemplative than complimentary.
One decade after the iconic artist died at age 50, his legacy is complicated at best, marred at worst. Although allegations of sexually abusing children first publicly emerged in 1993, Jackson remained widely beloved, with the majority of his devoted fans proclaiming his innocence. Indeed, when some of the claims made their way to court, Jackson was found not guilty on all counts.
It was “Leaving Neverland,” a documentary broadcast by HBO earlier this year, that revitalized the conversation about Jackson and his relationships with children. Two now-grown men recalled their experiences as Jackson’s friends, confidants — and unwitting sexual partners. Jackson was in his 30s when he allegedly engaged with the children in sexual acts, including oral sex and intercourse, and facilitated a faux wedding with one of the boys. Jackson’s estate has firmly denied the men’s harrowing claims.
As #10YearsWithoutMichaelJackson began trending on Twitter June 25, tweets honoring and applauding Jackson are numerous. His longtime drummer, Jonathan “Sugarfoot” Moffett, emotionally recalled hugging Jackson hours before his passing, while Florida reporter Nicole Rodriguez tweeted that Jackson is “the reason I believed in magic and the goodness of humanity.”
But many people are proceeding with more trepidation or, in many cases, full-on disgust.
“Not gonna lie, I cried when Michael Jackson died. At the time, he was one of the greats to me,” one user wrote. “But given what’s come to light recently — the abuse and gaslighting that he put those children through — it makes a little sick to see this surge of support for him.”
In response to one post mourning “one of the greatest entertainers/human beings on this earth,” one user wrote, “He molested children. What is wrong with you?”
Some reactions were blunt: “Michael Jackson raped children,” a Florida woman wrote. “May he forever be remembered as the monster he was.”
Others took the #10YearsWithout prompt literally: “Is it really 10 years since Michael Jackson stopped being a threat to children? Blimey,” one mused.
A statement from the Jackson estate on the 10-year anniversary makes no reference to the sexual abuse headlines that dominated much of his adult life, nor the ones that re-surfaced this year. Rather, it called Jackson “more important than ever,” emphasizing his profound influence on the music industry.
26 PHOTOSMichael Jackson through the yearsSee GalleryMichael Jackson through the years
CIRCA 1969:R&B quintet ‘Jackson 5’ pose for a portrait in circa 1969. Clockwise from bottom left: Michael Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jackie Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Marlon Jackson. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
American singer Michael Jackson poses at a hotel while on tour with Jackson 5, London, England, November 1972. (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
American pop singer Michael Jackson attends the opening of the stage musical ‘Dream Girls,’ In Los Angeles, 1983. (Photo by Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Getty Images)
Undated picture of US pop singer Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009 after suffering a cardiac arrest, sending shockwaves sweeping across the world and tributes pouring in on June 26 for the tortured music icon revered as the ‘King of Pop.’ AFP PHOTO(Photo credit should read /AFP/GettyImages)
(FILES) US pop star and entertainer Michael Jackson (R) and actress Brooke Shields arrive at the shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles where Jackson is expected to run away with a major part of the Grammy awards on Febuary 28, 1984. Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009 after suffering a cardiac arrest, sending shockwaves sweeping across the world and tributes pouring in on June 26 for the tortured music icon revered as the ‘King of Pop.’ AFP PHOTO/Alan ZANGER (Photo credit should read BERTRAND GUAY/AFP/Getty Images)
American singer Michael Jackson (1958 – 2009) performing on stage, circa 1987. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images)
American singer Michael Jackson performing, 1987. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, UNITED STATES: American pop music star Michael Jackson sings 13 October 1988 at the Capital Center in Landover, Maryland. AFP PHOTO/Luke FRAZZA (Photo credit should read LUKE FRAZZA/AFP/Getty Images)
(FILES) US pop star and entertainer Michael Jackson performs during the opening concert of the Asian leg of his ‘Dangerous’ world tour in National Stadium in Bangkok on August 24, 1993. Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009 after suffering a cardiac arrest, sending shockwaves sweeping across the world and tributes pouring in on June 26 for the tortured music icon revered as the ‘King of Pop.’ AFP PHOTO/Pongsak CHAIYANUWONG (Photo credit should read PONGSAK CHAIYANUWONG/AFP/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 7:Singer Michael Jackson (R) and guitarist Slash of ‘Guns and Roses’ perform the opening number at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards 07 September held at the Radio City Music Hall in New York. Jackson and sister Janet Jackson have been nominted for 11 awards for their video ‘Scream.’AFP PHOTO(Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images)
US pop star and entertainer Michael Jackson performs during a concert at Vincennes hypodrome on September 13, 1992. Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009 after suffering a cardiac arrest, sending shockwaves sweeping across the world and tributes pouring in on June 26 for the tortured music icon revered as the ‘King of Pop.’ AFP PHOTO/Bertrand GUAY(Photo credit should read BERTRAND GUAY/AFP/Getty Images)
(FILES) US pop star Michael Jackson waves to photographers during a press conference in Paris on March 19, 1996. Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009 after suffering a cardiac arrest, sending shockwaves sweeping across the world and tributes pouring in for the tortured music icon revered as the ‘King of Pop.’ AFP PHOTO / VINCENT AMALVY (Photo credit should read VINCENT AMALVY/AFP/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 7:Michael Jackson (C) performs at Madison Square Garden in New York 07 September, 2001. It was the first of two performances in New York as part of his ’30th Anniversary Celebration, the Solo Years.’ AFP PHOTO(Photo credit should read BETH A. KEISER/AFP/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES:(FILES) This 06 July, 2002, file photo shows pop singer Michael Jackson (L) waving from his limo to fans in the Harlem neighborhood of New York. The child molestation trial against Jackson is scheduled to start 31 January, 2005, in Santa Maria, California. The star has denied 10 charges, including child molestation, plying a child with alcohol to seduce him and of conspiring to kidnap and falsely imprison a child and his family at his Neverland Ranch. He is free on a three million USD bail. AFP PHOTO/Doug KANTER/FILES(Photo credit should read DOUG KANTER/AFP/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES:US pop singer Michael Jackson salutes the audience after recieving the Artist of the Century Award during the 29th Annual American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles 09 January 2002. AFP PHOTO/Hector MATA (Photo credit should read HECTOR MATA/AFP/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES:US singer Michael Jackson and guitarist Dave Navaro perform during the Democratic National Committee (DNC)benefit concert, ‘A Night at the Apollo’, at the world-famous Apollo Theater 24 April 2002 in New York. The concert was to kick off a nationwide voter registration drive. AFP PHOTO/TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
404248 10: Musician Michael Jackson performs at the taping of ‘American Bandstands 50th…A Celebration’ television special honoring the music show April 20, 2002 in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
BERLIN – NOVEMBER 19:Singer Michael Jackson holds his son eight-month-old son Prince Michael II over the balcony of the Adlon Hotel November 19, 2002 in Berlin, Germany. Jackson is in Berlin with his three children to accept a lifetime achievement award.(Photo by Olaf Selchow/Getty Images)
BERLIN – NOVEMBER 19:Singer Michael Jackson appears at the balcony of the Adlon Hotel with an unidentified child November 19, 2002 in Berlin, Germany. Jackson is in Berlin with his three children to accept a lifetime achievement award.(Photo by Olaf Selchow/Getty Images)
SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 18:US musician Michael Jackson holds a child 18 July in Soweto, South Africa, where he laid a wreath at the memorial for students who died in an uprising on 16 June. Jackson sang a happy birthday song to South African President Nelson Mandela at a surprise meeting with the president shortly after he arrived in the country.AFP PHOTO(Photo credit should read WALTER DHLADHLA/AFP/Getty Images)
SANTA MARIA, UNITED STATES:(FILES) This 13 November, 2002, file photo shows pop singer Michael Jackson arriving inside the Santa Maria Superior Court for a trial in which he is accused of canceling concert appearances and costing the promoter several million dollars. The child molestation trial against Jackson is scheduled to start 31 January, 2005, in Santa Maria, California. The star has denied 10 charges, including child molestation, plying a child with alcohol to seduce him and of conspiring to kidnap and falsely imprison a child and his family at his Neverland Ranch. He is free on a three million USD bail. POOL/SPENCER WEINER/FILES(Photo credit should read SPENCER WEINER/AFP/Getty Images)
SANTA MARIA, CA – NOVEMBER 14:Musician Michael Jackson signs autographs for fans as he arrives at his civil trial in Santa Maria Superior Court November 14, 2002 in Santa Maria, California. The artist is being sued for $21 million by his longtime promoter for backing out of two concerts. (Photo by Bryan Chan-Pool/Getty Images) 
SANTA MARIA, CA – NOVEMBER 15: Pop star MichaelJackson testifies during his civil trial in Santa Maria Superior Court on November 15, 2002 in Santa Maria, California. The pop star is being sued for $21 million by his longtime promoter for backing out of two concerts. (Photo by Ed Souza-Pool/Getty Images)
SANTA MARIA, CA – DECEMBER 4:Singer Michael Jackson testifies during the morning session of his civil trial in Santa Maria Superior Court on December 4, 2002 in Santa Maria, California. The artist is being sued for $21 million by his longtime promoter for backing out of two concerts. (Photo by Jim Ruyman-Pool/Getty Images) 
LAS VEGAS – OCTOBER 27: (TABLOIDS OUT)Singer Beyonce’ Knowles and singer Michael Jackson, winner of the 2003 Humanitarian Award, hug onstage at The 2003 Radio Music Awards at the Aladdin Casino Resort October 27, 2003 in Las Vegas, Neveda.For more information on Jackson’s humanitarian efforts, go to musicforgiving.org.(Photos by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
SANTA MARIA, CA – APRIL 30:Singer Michael Jackson gestures while departing the courthouse after his arraignment on April 30, 2004 in Santa Maria, California. Jackson plead not guilty to the grand jury indictment of numerous child molestation charges.(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)Up Next
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