Thursday, March 28, 2019

Leaving Neverland

I can no longer watch Bill Cosby. I grew up watching Fat Albert and The Cosby Show. I loved them. I shared one season of The Cosby Show with my daughter. I wanted her to watch all of it. Then it came out: Bill Cosby drugged and raped women. He is now sitting in jail. I can no longer watch Bill Cosby.
What is far more difficult for me is Michael Jackson. I was never a huge Jackson fan growing up, however he was the biggest pop star of my generation. Songs like Thriller are ingrained in the fabric of our Western culture. Thriller has been used in movies I like and it's a staple of every Halloween party soundtrack. I can hear it in my head and it's catchy. Michael Jackson sexually molested children for decades. I can no longer listen to Michael Jackson in the same way. Every song now has this baggage.
HBO's two part, four hour documentary, Leaving Neverland, focuses on Jackson's abuse of two boys, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who are now adults. Questions like: How could the parents allow this to happen? Why didn't anyone say anything? Are somewhat answered, at least for me. I found it to be riveting, shocking, and disturbing. I was glued to it. Catch it on HBO.

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