WomanSavers.com Forum / ASK SUSAN BARTELSTONE, CERTIFIED CRIME PREVENTION AND PERSONAL SAFETY SPECIALIST / Michael Jackson: Pop Icon or Child Molester

Upon the death of Michael Jackson, there‘s been an outpouring of love and sympathy and whitewashing of all his bizarre behavior:  sleepovers with young boys, sleeping in the same bed with them, and similar - proven - stories. 

Most disturbing to me, however, were the 2 cases of child molestation.  He was never convicted of this crime, but it cost him a FORTUNE to make them go away.  While many feel the fact he wasn‘t convicted as proof of his innocence; cynical folks like me feel he bought his "innocence."

Michael‘s been quoted many times as saying he‘d never hurt a child; but that‘s a classic response from almost all child abusers.  They almost NEVER see their actions as hurtful and always express great love for the child they abused.

WHAT SAY YOU ALL! LOVE YOUR OPINION.

I dont know what to think about MJ. He is definatly a talanted man. Part of me sees him as a child himself and is just trying to have the childhood he never had. He never really had a chance to grow up and learn who he is. Did someone see an opportunity to get money out of him. They saw an opportunity with an eccentric man who was really a child himself.  I dont understand whey after the first acusation any sane parent would allow there child to sleep over an adult mans house who was acused of this.  I had a babysitter as a small child who exposed himself to me and when I told my parents I can remember my dad flying down the street to the boys house.  I certainly know my parents wouldnt send me to sleep over his house after that. MJ has done so much for charity and children.  I just know that if he indeed did moleste those boys that his father most likely did it to him and maybe his other siblings too. It makes me nervous to think of his kids going to live with Joe Jackson in the house.  Then I feel bad if they go to live with Debbie Rowe the kids are devastated and the last thing they need is to leave people they know to go live with a stranger.

HI All,

I am disgusted by the outpouring of grief for Michael Jackson. How much more obvious must it be that he most likely molested children. I would like to read the evidence the DA had because knowing how court works, it was probably so much more extensive thant he media have access to.

It is wrong to blame the children for their parents failure to protect them, for getting caught up in the celebrity hype and even the "innocent until you are proven guilty" brush off. That is a criminal law standard. In civil court, just like with O J Simpson, the standards are more reasonable and look at the two stories and decide which is more likely true. That is just a brief way of describing the standards.

If you would not send your children to have spent time with Michael Jackson, good, this does not mean we can give such people a free pass if other adults either are misled, in denial or for any reason, any reason at all, decide to allow their child to visit adults in appropriately.

What I think in full cannot be printed, but some symbols may help.that‘s what I said when I heard he was gone.

Protecting children is our duty