Stages of grief, step three: profit

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Billboard Magazine reports that yet another faction of the Michael Jackson hangers-on is advocating for a burial at Neverland, Jackson's Disneyland-knockoff ranch. The thought is that it could become another Graceland, a shrine.
Michael Jackson was a talented young man who was exploited shamelessly by an industry and a family who sought fame and fortune. The sad truth is that the man became a freak show. Spurred on by the lack of a normal childhood he retreated into a bizarre parody of childhood, acting as any 12 year old would with unlimited funds to spend. And as long as he brought in the cash, he was manipulated by those around him.
Now that he is dead, these same people are contemplating the opportunity his death provided - to exploit him in perpetuity without the messiness of the actual man and what further oddities he might have presented.
I truly believe that the people around Michael Jackson exploited him, squeezed him dry, and ruined his life. Now they want to ruin his death.
Just for once, leave him in peace.

---