Michael Jackson rushed to hospital

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I think that's fair enough, but I also can't blame people who remember the other side of him. He was a polarizing figure, and I think that came through pretty clearly, both in the bizarre stories that came out in his final years, as well as the tributes that have come out after his death.

I don't blame those people either--I see where they're coming from. After all, it's very easy to focus on the bad, or what's most apparent in your memory. For example, for all of the acting and singing successes Vanessa L. Williams has had, there will always be people who see her as nothing more than "Vanessa the Undresser," the girl who lost her Miss America crown after taking dirty pictures. For some people, it's easier to separate the entertainer from the scandal--especially if decades spanned between the fame and the scandal. (No, I'm not equating accusations of child molestation and general weirdness with Penthouse photos. I'm using that as an example of how the public will see what it wants to see. This clearly goes both ways.)

Like I said, I'm no "fan." I've just noticed a lot of animosity--not here, but in other places--directed at those people who have expressed anything other than apathy about his passing. I sent that e-mail to explain what other people for whom the "Wacko Jacko" image doesn't immediately pop up might be feeling.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I don't blame those people either--I see where they're coming from. After all, it's very easy to focus on the bad, or what's most apparent in your memory. For example, for all of the acting and singing successes Vanessa L. Williams has had, there will always be people who see her as nothing more than "Vanessa the Undresser," the girl who lost her Miss America crown after taking dirty pictures. For some people, it's easier to separate the entertainer from the scandal--especially if decades spanned between the fame and the scandal.

Yep and such overshadowing has happened to many celebs and noncelebs.

For some celebs who didn't win at life in other realms, people are more capable of separating the entertainer from the scandal. Maybe that's based on fanbase, the publicity behind the scandal, or how well the celeb balances it all out.

This is no pity party, but Michael Jackson was covered with some trace of scandal and dysfunction all of his life. I mean, hanging a baby from a balcony is just certifiably crazy and a lot of people were angry but really wanted MJ to get some serious help ASAP. They wanted to believe that he could get "fixed" so he wouldn't just be a talented basketcase.