In life, Michael Jackson's image was severely damaged by allegations of sexual abuse. In death, he has become a multi-billion dollar industry that continues to rewrite his history.
In December 1993, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles police conducted a body search of the singer after he was accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old, Jordan Chandler, who had traveled with Jackson during the "Dangerous" tour and had often slept in the same bed with him.
Chandler had drawn a drawing of the marks on Jackson's body that, according to authorities, matched photographs taken during the search. The case was later settled out of court for about $25 million, with Jackson always denying the charges.
Today, a new biopic about the singer is coming to theaters, but without including this case or other similar allegations.
The film, backed by Jackson's estate and with a budget of around $155 million, has been promoted as a tribute to his "music, life and legacy", following his path from childhood in Indiana to global success with the album "Thriller".
Critics say this is a clear project to rehabilitate his image. Although Jackson was acquitted in his 2005 trial, new allegations have continued to surface even after his death in 2009.
The documentary "Leaving Neverland" (2019) and a new lawsuit filed by several members of the Cascio family have reignited the debate. Lawyers for his estate have denied all allegations, calling them "untrue and financially motivated."
Director Dan Reed, of the documentary "Leaving Neverland," has stated that an early version of the film's script initially included a treatment of these allegations, but they were later removed. According to him, this t
The current film ends before the most controversial events in Jackson's life, completely avoiding the period when the most serious allegations emerged. This has raised questions about the balance between honoring the artist and fully confronting the controversies that surrounded him.
Meanwhile, his musical legacy continues to generate huge profits. Musicals, shows and other projects based on his repertoire have brought in hundreds of millions of dollars, turning Jackson's name into a highly profitable global brand.
For some critics, this is a business success story; for others, a clear example of how the entertainment industry can soften or gloss over the darker parts of the past when it comes to such a lucrative figure.
The new biography is expected to be a box office success, but the question that remains is the same: can such a film change the way the public sees Michael Jackson, or will it simply further strengthen the divide between adoration and suspicion that has accompanied his figure for decades? /GazetaExpress/
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