By Tessa Nolan
The recent opening of the Michael Jackson musical – without mentioning the sexual allegations – and an upcoming biographical film raise questions about why some celebrities seem immune to cancel culture. We delve into who faces ostracism and who does not.
Was the musical featuring Michael Jackson’s music really such a good idea? When MJ the Musical opened in London last week, it was praised for its gravity-defying dances and a plethora of mega-hits. However, one glaring oversight was consistently noted. “In MJ,” as the New York Times headline read, “no one is looking at ‘Man in the Mirror.’ The show, he added, told Jackson’s story “except for the big story.” As expressed by Anya Ryan in a two-star review for The Guardian: “It’s hard to ignore the repeated allegations of sexual abuse of children. Nevertheless, Lynn Nottage’s script does just that.”
Nearly five years after Leaving Neverland, in which two men accused Jackson of sexually abusing them when they were children, it seems not everyone got the memo that the star has been “cancelled.” In fact, in all senses and purposes, Jackson is far from being cancelled. This is certainly what the money suggests, with Sony recently purchasing half of his back catalog for a figure believed to be around £500 million. There is also an upcoming biographical film with Jackson’s nephew Jaafar in the lead role. According to Billboard, Jackson’s estate earns around £60 million per year from his music, royalties, theatrical shows, and merchandise.
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How did this happen? Why do some artists seem impervious to presumed seismic shifts in public opinion following #MeToo and Black Lives Matter? David Bowie is a prime example. Allegations made by Lori Maddox and Dana Gillespie after his death that he engaged in sexual activities with them when they were under the age of 14 (15 and 14, respectively) were largely brushed aside, dismissed, or at least treated very differently from other male stars accused similarly. This is because the women in question did not harbor ill will towards Bowie, with Maddox stating their encounter was “so beautiful… Who wouldn’t want to lose their virginity to David Bowie?” If, as we are led to believe, cancel culture is so prevalent, why does Bowie remain a hero? Are there artists whose reputation will survive anything simply because they are adored? Or is there something else at play?