Over the past two years, much hubbub has been made regarding entertainer Michael Jackson and his propensity of having children unrelated to him sleep in his bedroom. This is not meant to be a debate as to the perceived appropriateness or inappropriateness of the practice, nor is it an examination per se of the mechanics surrounding it. This is instead a look at the role the media has played in assisting with the creation of the molestation charges for which Jackson is currently on trial.
Recalling the firestorm of negative publicity that the documentary "Living with Michael Jackson" generated in February 2003, one is almost left to wonder if the over-the-top reaction to the program was at all intentionally calculated. Of course, this is all merely speculation at this point. However, in retrospect, was the "storm" intentional?
Although the documentary was largely sympathetic towards Jackson, and many felt the pop star had been exploited by its brooding creator Martin Bashir, very little discussion went into the disingenuous tactics used by the interviewer to get Jackson to open up and speak candidly. The unexpected dark turn of the program was signaled by way of dramatic music and voiceovers by Bashir, who said he found aspects of the entertainer and his life to be "disturbing," particularly Jackson's fondness for children.
Before the program had made its westward cross over the Atlantic, the media was already abuzz over statements Jackson had made in regards to sharing his bed with children unrelated to him. As if on cue, self-described "civil rights/victim's rights advocate" Gloria Allred called a press conference, as usual, to ask Santa Barbara authorities to look into Jackson's fitness as a parent and investigate statements he made about having children in his bedroom.
Looking to capitalize on the furor that had erupted, VH-1 and ABC secured the rights to air the scandalous U.K.-produced piece for America's consumption. Thanks in large part to the likes of Allred and her cohorts, ABC, who managed to get VH-1 to hold off on broadcasting the program first, didn't need to do much by way of promotion. The publicity was already there.
That's not to say the network did nothing to promote the highly anticipated program. The day before and day of the special's broadcast, "Good Morning America" placed an inordinate amount of emphasis on Jackson's children, whether his behavior around them constituted child abuse, his finances and spending habits, and how the Bashir program could impact his music career.
On February 6, 2003, the day of the broadcast, the Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office put out a release in response to what they called "widespread public interest" relating to the Bashir special. Recalling the 1993 investigation into abuse allegations against the music legend, the District Attorney stated that the Sheriff's Department would record the broadcast, and review it.
It was further stated that though Jackson's admission was disconcerting, "mental leaps of misbehavior" by the media "are not acceptable as legal substitutes for credible, cooperative victims or percipient witnesses." This statement was immediately followed by a call out for any potential "victims" or "anyone who...has credible evidence" of a crime committed by Jackson.
District Attorney Thomas Sneddon was watching and so was the rest of America.
Bashir's program featured the "journalist" finding his interview of Jackson and his future accuser to be "the most disturbing moment" of the eight months he spent filming Jackson on and off. Though Jackson emphasized twice within the heavily condensed program that he allowed the cancer-survivor and his brother to have his bed while he stayed on the floor, it did absolutely nothing to quell the media onslaught.
Meanwhile, the Jackson camp struggled to derail the runaway train that was dragging the singer's name across hot coals and broken glass. Statement after statement was released to counteract the innuendo and speculation regarding Jackson and the boy in the special, but it seemed as though they were light years away from balancing out the coverage.
A 1993 affidavit of Jackson's first accuser was soon leaked to the Internet. A cast of familiar characters from that situation suddenly reappeared, Diane Dimond included. ABC's Charles Gibson asked if authorities should be talking to the boy, who was seen clutching onto Jackson's hand in the program.
Along the way came "media psychiatrist" Dr. Carole Lieberman, who lodged a complaint against Jackson with both Los Angeles and Santa Barbara County child protection agencies on February 11, 2003. Like Allred, her request to have Jackson's three young children removed from his custody following the balcony incident in Germany had been "closed" with no action taken against the superstar.
Her latest complaint included a "psychological analysis" of the Bashir documentary, which was to serve as evidence as to why Jackson should be investigated. Among several matters subjected to her psychobabble, Lieberman wrote that in her estimation, "there was an unmistakable sense that something ual had occurred with [the boy], as evidenced by his body language and submissive demeanor towards Michael." This letter would turn out to be one among others that would launch probes into accusations of purported misconduct.
On the money side, Jackson proved to be a ratings and sweeps bonanza. The major networks subsequently sought to capitalize off the wave. ABC rebroadcast the infamous program and dedicated a special to Jackson's plastic surgeries, while FOX showed Jackson's rebuttal to the Bashir piece. NBC, who lost its bid to showcase the rebuttal, also dedicated an expanded "Dateline" to Jackson's face. CBS was the only network without a special, the interview they were to have of the singer scrapped at the last minute.
The scandal eventually subsided only to return in November 2003, when Santa Barbara law enforcement raided Jackson's Neverland Valley Ranch. Within hours, it was learned that the boy included in the controversial program nine months earlier was at the center of new child molestation allegations against Jackson.
Source: MJJF/eMJey