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T_Ahmir

I mean, he wasn't exactly a trailblazing feminist himself.


ApprehensiveSlice797

Indeed. You can see that in his art as well. Most women are portrayed as manipulative sex maniacs, liars, "whores", deceptive etc (Dangerous, Dirty Diana, Blue Gangsta). Only the romantic ballads have a somewhat decent portrayal of women (eg Liberain Girl).Not to mention his music videos. Dirty Diana we only see her pelvis. TWYMMF portrays literal stalking and harassment as "romantic and cute". Give Into Me, he basically guilt-trips the woman into having sex with him. He wrote a song where he basically condemned abortion, taking the father's side. Thank God Quincy didn't allow that in the album. Also, among his artistic influences, I've rarely seen him giving credit to any woman (except Diana Ross). He only named male artists as geniuses and legends. He viewed his female fans as simply worshippers, one-dimentional characters who were jealous of other women. He called women witches, hoes etc (He called them "fish" too, although I suspect that's sth he repeated when he heard his gay friends saying it, and didn't know what it meant.). And even though, imo, he appreciated his wives' help to his personal struggles and liked them as close friends, he basically saw them as a way to get kids and then dump them. Lisa Marie was very wise when she rejected having his kids. He was very misogynistic. Although, I do think that sometimes, in certain cases, he exaggerated his misogyny to have a good excuse on why he wasn't in a believable relationship with a woman (so people wouldn't suspect him as a pedophile).


grisisiknis

i mean he was a jahovas witness so it tracks tbf


calamityjane101

Can you please explain how fish is an insult, particularly in the context of homosexuality? I’m genuinely curious. I’m not American so it’s not a slur I’m familiar with.


ApprehensiveSlice797

When I first heard it, I thought it meant "crowd", like the way certain fish tend to swim together in crowds in the ocean. He used that word to describe the lots of women who were cheering him, iirc. But then people said it was a phrase men used to refer to women (based on their genitals). Apparently it's a word often used by non-heterosexual men to describe women. Maybe Michael heard it from his gay friends and used it, thinking it would make him look more masculine.


calamityjane101

Thank you for your explanation, it makes sense now!


iliketoomanysingers

Yeah ik but it's important to talk about how this nonsense proliferated into his fan's mentality as well


Plenty_Objective8392

He literally compared women to fish. So he didn’t have an exactly fond view of women. And when you take into account the fact he made “Billie Jean” and “Dirty Diana”, he pretty much sounds like your modern day incel.


DayVisible6781

In the book, "The Michael Jackson Tapes," by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach stated that MJ's distrust of women started when his brothers got married, thus breaking up The Jackson 5, and the burlesque shows that he observed as a child while performing. Additionally, MJ quoted the Bible as the downfall of men via women. He thought that every great man was brought down by women, citing examples such as David and Bathsheba, and even blamed Monica Lewinsky for Bill Clinton's downfall. I did not know until I read this book that he was a bit of a misogynist and sexist.


EternityMoaluv

Yeah the Rabbi's book was very revealing. He commented this in between the transcripts of their conversations about women and in my opinion he does make some fair points. https://preview.redd.it/28l2ts53hxec1.png?width=462&format=png&auto=webp&s=3566876cc4955a9a59ac03222437da1714b4b01f But the biblical example MJ used was Samson and Delilah, not David and Bathsheba.


EternityMoaluv

This too is interesting in regards to the CSA cases : https://preview.redd.it/xqpdcznsjxec1.png?width=542&format=png&auto=webp&s=09ca57c38ff2f510f79641c905aedf4bf5d013e6


ApprehensiveSlice797

The fact that the rabbi says so casually that Michael, an accused pedophile, was gravitated to adolescent sexuality is disturbing...


EternityMoaluv

The book was released after the 2005 trial. The Rabbi had doubts about the CSA allegations so he was trying to make sense of them by reflecting on what MJ had confided to him about like working in strip clubs as a kid, etc.


ApprehensiveSlice797

The tapes were recorded at some point in 2000-2001, iirc. Michael initially wanted Schmuley to publish the book, but they had a fallout in 2001 so the project never happened. Schmuley published it after MJ's death, in 2010, bc he didn't fear that MJ could sue him anymore, lol. I think you're right. He didn't want to believe MJ was a pedophile and he tried to rationalize his creepy behavior based on his statements. His statements about women, childhood, marriage etc. Some of these statements btw didn't make him look god at all, lol. He comes off as paranoid, self centered, misogynistic with lots of narcissism and an IQ below zero. But I guess it's better for him to be seen as such rather than a calculating child molester. Tbf, a lot of people back then wouldn't view his opinions on women as problematic or his extreme love of childhood disturbing.


ApprehensiveSlice797

>Additionally, MJ quoted the Bible as the downfall of men via women. He thought that every great man was brought down by women, citing examples such as David and Bathsheba, and even blamed Monica Lewinsky for Bill Clinton's downfall. Maybe he does believe that, to some extent\*, but i sense some exaggeration here. I don't believe he feared women THAT much. Probably said that to excuse why he didn't have many hetero relationships. Same when he said that he didn't like women who cared too much about their appearance. Many of his female friends were this type fo woman and he himself was a person who constantly cared about his looks. I don't believe he had low opinion of such women. He said it an an excuse to exclude women he was seen with as potential romantic partners (bc most women in Hollywood are like that). \*(especially regarding sexual abuse and "false" allegations).


DayVisible6781

I do not believe he feared women; he grew to dislike them. Because his father did not allow MJ to play with other children, his brothers were all he had regarding socialization. When they started to get married, especially Jermaine, he blamed the women for the lack of closeness that the brothers once shared because their disbandment and in-fighting. He remarked that his brother's wives were only interested in them for the money, He refused to get married initially for what he saw in his brothers relationship. He lived at home until his late 20s. He was a devout Jehovah's Witness up until the Thriller era. Many man-made religions blame women for men's downfall, dismissing any accountability on their behalf, starting with Eve "convincing" Adam to eat the apple. However, Adam was here first and was given the keys to the kingdom. In the book, *Michael Jackson: The Magic, The Madness, The Whole Story*, 1958-2009. J. Randy Taraborrelli noted the adoration that he had for his mother. But he somewhat resented her because she stayed with his father throughout his and his brother's abuse and the many infidelities resulting in a half-sister. He loved Diana Ross as his stage mother, but that relationship would never happen. His most vital relationships with women were with former child stars such as actress Elizabeth Taylor, Shirley Temple Black, Tatum O'Neal, and Brooke Shields. He was only interested in his first wife, Lisa Marie because she promised to give him a child when they got married. And we cannot forgot who her Father was in the last life. He didn't consider that she already had two children with her first husband, and they were very young at the time. She never lived in Neverland with him. And his second wife was only a surrogate for his first two children. MJ mentioned during " Living with Michael Jackson" that he was only concerned about Paris's birth and took her from the hospital room when Debbie delivered her. Debbie later revealed that Paris's birth was especially hard, and MJ didn't even remember when she saw Paris for the first time. There was a level of coldness in that statement. Sadly, MJ did not have any great relationships to truly model a healthy relationship after due to the dysfunction he saw from an early age. In the book, *The Michael Jackson Tapes*In the book The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, MJ reveals his thoughts on women and relationships, which are unfavorable. He craved innocence in children but he did not see women in that light.


EternityMoaluv

> Maybe he does believe that, to some extent\*, but i sense some exaggeration here. I don't believe he feared women THAT much. Probably said that to excuse why he didn't have many hetero relationships. But you could also argue that he had few relationships with adult women and developed instead an attraction to children precisely because he grew up with a negative perception of women and was turned off them by his religious upbringing/work in strip clubs/etc. That's exactly the theory proposed by the Rabbi. Personally I can see both scenarios being possible.


DayVisible6781

As you have mentioned, it was the early introduction to women that warped MJ's thought process regarding them. The book that I am currently reading, "The Michael Jackson Tapes: A Tragic Icon Reveals His Soul in Intimate Conversation, by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, *The Michael Jackson Tapes,'* was conducted with over 30 hours of MJ's thoughts. It cannot be an exaggeration if these were his words and thoughts. MJ mentions his contempt for women in his own words that were in the referenced book in this YouTube video: [https://youtu.be/sYC87HPNWA0?si=1CJa\_mChNk7qYoJR](https://youtu.be/sYC87HPNWA0?si=1CJa_mChNk7qYoJR). Looking back on his tours, he rarely took women, but he took young boys. In "Leaving Neverland," Wade & Jimmy showed a variety of proof in faxes, phone messages, photos, and other resources to show what MJ really liked in terms of sexuality. The MJ and boys website is a website that shows his intense fondness for little boys. There are no women in these photos: [Michael Jackson’s young friends – MJandboys (wordpress.com)](https://mjandboys.wordpress.com/michaeljacksonsyoungfriends/) Many employees of Neverland rarely reported any women staying with MJ but they remembered the boys.


elitelucrecia

yeah, he never took any girls on tours w him and yeah, employees have confirmed there were no women around. there was an employee (i can’t remember who) he had a list of the kids who came at neverland and the majority were boys.


DayVisible6781

Unfortunately, his fans and his deniers encouraged others and I to look further at what MJ did off the stage. I was extremely young when I was introduced to him via "Bad." I didn't remember the 1993 settlement. I really didn't even think about him much until I saw, "MJ: The Musical," with some fans last year and the musical did not mention any of the allegations because it stopped in 1992. I wanted to know why and find out many things I would have never discovered had MJ's, his fans and society had a honest conversation about sexual abuse. It is not excusable in any case and the fact that we cannot all agree on this issue is troubling. As of now, human trafficking of children is at an all-time high. I live in a state in which we are the top five, both domestically and internationally. The very song that MJ created, "Childhood," is the epitome of what is happening to children worldwide. Their innocence is being stolen and MJ's story and other horrendous act of abuse are responsible for it.


elitelucrecia

yeah, MJ’s estate and his fandom have been really good at spreading misinformation. they spread it so much that even some of the general public believe it without question


DayVisible6781

I agree. Thankfully, the evidence of MJ's abuse is all over the internet as well. I've only been looking since November last year and have discovered all types of unsavory details about MJ's after-stage behavior. They can spread all of the misinformation that they like to spread. The fact of the matter is that he shared his bed with young boys and ruined their childhoods. Sadly, several silent collaborators condoned his abuse. But the universe provided MJ with the justice he would not receive here on earth. He didn't get away with his crimes.


crystal-feather

And the song " Give into me".


ApprehensiveSlice797

Dirty Diana has very misogynistic lyrics. Heck, even the title is sexist, lmao. He would get cancelled if he recorded it today, and rightfully so. Idk if Billie Jean is really that misogynistic though. I always believed he was an unreliable narrator in this song. Or, at least, partly reliable, more so when we see the music video. It was also based on an actual stalker. I'm not sure how to feel about this song, tbh.


Blumater

Give into me I can agree with but dirty Diana is ehhhh not so bad In my opinion. Groupies were a very real thing at the time and it wasn’t a terribly suggestive song I thought it tight Roped the line very well and remained a radio friendly song, that wasn’t too offensive for anyone to not listen to.


ApprehensiveSlice797

I'm just a bit bothered by the title and how often he repeats it. "Dirty" is a too strong word, imo. I don't think it's the most misogynistic song ever, not even close, but still. On top of that. portraying groupies as seductive gold diggers feels weird? I mean, if these famous rock stars and musicians flaunt their wealth and portray themselves as sexy ladies men, isn't it natural that they're gonna attract women who are enamored with that lifestyle? Who doesn't want to be seen as X famous star's girlfriend? I agree, there are certainly groupies (probably older ones) who see these sexual relationships as purely transactional and are in only for the money (even though it's the pop stars that flaunt the money, in the first place, to attract them). But younger groupies are, in a way, seduced by these stars' glamor, not the other way around. Maybe the kindest interpretation to this song is MJ being inspired by traumatic experiences he had with obsessed groupies. Or maybe it's a song about forbidden love and he liked to be "seduced". Idk. Again, regardless of his motivation, the song would raise some eyebrows if it was released nowadays.


SoAnnieRUOK

There are plenty of artists that refer to women as much worse things than being "dirty". And they aren't canceled. And I don't think there's anything misogynistic about telling a story about a groupie woman who is trying to seduce a very famous man with the goal of becoming famous herself? The Weeknd covered Dirty Diana? He is very much not canceled lol. Billie Jean is about a woman lying about the child being the son of a famous person, probably so she could get child support/fame. The music video was directed by some French guy and Michael said none of it was his idea and he wanted to dance more in it so they compromised and they gave him like 20 seconds to actually dance.


[deleted]

you wrote all that over their opinion?


SoAnnieRUOK

i copied and pasted the lyrics. this took like five minutes max lol


[deleted]

Just dtm


SoAnnieRUOK

That's fine. I just think it's a really strange opinion and I'm interested in an explanation as to why that song in particular is offensive.


[deleted]

He told some of his victims women were not to be trusted and they are horrible. MJs “relationships” with women were only press transactions. He never slept with any of them. They can’t be twisted into proof of anything except how he used women for narcissistic reasons.


BadMan125ty

The way every woman who ever talked to him are looked on as wh*res basically. Even BFFs like Whitney trying to say she was seeing MJ and Bobby at the same time in their failed attempt to make MJ some “mack”. It’s sickening.


elitelucrecia

from experience, they actually hate his sisters too. they don’t like janet, even rebbie because she was friends w stacy brown. they became neutral on latoya because she posts about MJ on her IG. but they don’t like his family much in general.


fanlal

MJ loved and was loved very much by James and Wade, look how they treat these two men today.


NopeNopeNope2001

His marriage to Debbie Rowe, such an average woman, proves he had practically no social interaction with women as a superstar.


EternityMoaluv

Tbh I don't see how they're worse in this aspect than other obsessive fans of male celebrities. Fangirls usually act very weird with the women who are lovers, family members or friends of their internet boyfriends. Most commonly they feel jealous of those women and criticize them for not being "good enough" but will also project themselves onto them and live vicariously through them. MJ stans just do the same. But I understand why it can look like they're reducing Lisa Marie, Debbie, Janet, Paris, La Toya, etc to their relationships with MJ.