Michael Jackson murder trial brings back bad memories
OPINION - We want the Michael that sang his song and danced his dance because he loved to see the smiles he invoked by doing so...
I have not watched a single second of coverage of Dr. Conrad Murray’s trial. I’ve ignored it in much the same way I ignored Amanda Knox and Casey Anthony. I don’t know any of the specifics, aside from what happens across my Twitter stream at any given moment, and even those are sparse. These public trials typically hold little interest for me and I do my best insulate myself from news updates. Except, this time around it has been much easier to remain ignorant to the sordid details of this case. No one else seems to be paying much attention either.
Murray, of course, is currently on trial for involuntary manslaughter in the case of the death of Michael Jackson. With that being the case, a man on trial for killing (even if inadvertently) the greatest entertainer of the 20th century and the most beloved pop star the world over, one would think it would warrant round the clock cable news coverage, analysis, and outrage.
Click here to view a Grio slideshow: The King of Pop’s musical influences
As much as the press stalked MJ during his life and turned his every move into cause for investigative reporting. Following and dissecting the controversy surrounding his death would seem to be right in line with the media’s approach of obsessing over even the most minute details of Jackson’s life. But there just isn’t a market for that right now.
WATCH ‘TODAY SHOW’ COVERAGE OF THE CONRAD MURRAY TRIAL:
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The culture is no less celebrity driven, but in the case of Michael Jackson, there are special considerations. In the two years since his death, there has been an active reclamation of the image of Jackson from the time before any huge scandals or allegations of illegal behavior occurred. His image is being rescued and restored so that he isn’t remembered solely for the allegations of child molestation. We are in a collective stage of grieving where we aren’t interested in discussing the darkest parts of his legacy, but exalting his accomplishments and sharing the joy his artistic contributions inspired.
After the death of any star there’s intense focus on their life and interest in their work among fans is renewed while others are introduced to them for the first time. Jackson’s music shot up the charts shortly after his death, but it hasn’t stopped there. His nationally televised funeral became an opportunity for friends and loved ones not only to pay their final respects but to once again humanize the man that had become little more than tabloid media fodder. NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson took the opportunity to share a story of eating KFC with Jackson, while Reverend Al Sharpton put the media on blast for their constant haranguing of the king of pop and quite forcefully told his children “Your daddy wasn’t crazy!”
Perhaps the biggest tearjerker moment came when Jackson’s daughter grabbed the microphone and lamented how she loved and would miss her father. The circus that has engulfed him during his life had fallen apart. Now there lay only a man who lived to entertain us all and love like any of other.
We are much more interested in following The Immortal World Tour, a special production by Cirque du Soleil, conceived in order to preserve the Michael Jackson legacy and share his genius with new generations.
That’s the Michael Jackson we want to hold on to. A criminal trial that reminds us of the demons that ultimately took his life is not what we want to be bothered with at the moment. It’s also why there was resistance Europe’s Discovery Channel planned to broadcast Michael Jackson’s autopsy, a television special that would re-enact the the singer’s autopsy. Not only was it invasive and tasteless, it reminds people of the heartbreak of MJ’s death rather than helping to celebrate his life and art. And we don’t want to see pictures of his corpse laid out on a hospital gurney, as TMZ had the audacity to publish.
No, we want our Michael, the one not corrupted by the world of celebrity. We want the Michael that sang his song and danced his dance because he loved to see the smiles he invoked by doing so.
When the verdict comes in, I’m sure millions will be tuned in find out whether the courts have found Murray to be responsible for the death of biggest pop star that ever lived. But until then, most are content with leaving that image of the King of Pop where it is and blasting “Rock With You” at levels the neighbors would disapprove of.
