"It was the times," Is not an excuse and nothing really is.
I recently came across a TikTok video that critiqued the enabling of racism. Not "outright" racism, but the enabling of racism when it comes to our founding fathers, who are endorsed and praised through patriotism. And they have been for centuries. The creator pointed out that even though racism was normalized in those years, that the slaves were against it. The measurement of the heat has never pulled anyone from the furnace.
This weirdly reminded me of Michael Jackson and Tatum O'Neal's disgusting relationship.
One the fans actually platform as genuine when defending allegations that accuse him of being gay or a pedophile. When the age gap is questioned (21 and 15), they point to "It was just the times." The actuality of Michael and Tatum's relationship history is murky. Some say MJ and Tatum met as children. Some say they met in Studio 54. MJ claimed Tatum as his first sexual experience that backfired. The fans claim that Tatum seduced MJ into that relationship, causing MJ to go tattletale to her father about his daughter's provocative ways. I do not know but fans still count this "our grandfathers were doing this" ass relationship as MJ's first. By the way, my grandfather and my grandmother were the same age.
What I have concluded is that excuses are used when MJ's disgusting relationships with young boys are questioned. Not necessarily "time" and decade excuses, but excuses surrounding the time in MJ's own life. Excuses of naivety and seeking childhood. Something that is often brought up is that MJ couldn't actually see the inappropriate relationships he had with young boys in retrospect. Fans claim this is why the settlement between MJ and the Chandlers happened. MJ was "horrified by the claims" and sought to get them out of the public eye so that he could refocus on his music.
That's a lie.
I'm not here to discuss the allegations in depth. I'm here to discuss the lack of empathy that many people have. They endorse and support abusers time.. And time.. And time.. And time… And time..
Again.
It is a massive privilege to only experience someone through the consumption of art. But it is important to know that it isn't a reflection of true character most times. It's simply a reflection of artistic talent. There's no reason for me to point out that MJ was talented. Contrary to the cognitive dissonance of many, it doesn't matter concerning his CSA allegations. Music doesn't give proximity and neither does passive interaction.
When we went to grade school, we consumed education through our teachers. When we go to the grocery store, we consume customer service through cashiers. To all the defenders who have met MJ once or in passing, you consumed MJ the artist. It can be compared to shaking someone's hand at church. None of that grants closeness or introspection.
You didn't know MJ and neither do I.
But I don't doubt people who have experienced inhabited relationships with him. I'm referring to young boys who were pulled out of school to tour with him in multiple continents as he cleared the conscience of their parents with beach houses. Young boys who have later spoken out about being molested. Young boys that MJ has admitted to sharing a bed with. Young boys that can be found in archive media surrounding MJ. Such as magazines, newly released photos, and news segments of MJ in a grocery store, browsing rings with an accuser.
MJ and his fans constantly push this narrative of a childhood being lost or stolen. I'm not a child prodigy but MJ.. join the club. Nearly 60% to 64% of American adults report experiencing at least one, and often multiple, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)—such as abuse, neglect, or severe family dysfunction. Jordan Chandler, Gavin Arvizo, Wade Robson, James Safechuck, etc are also a part of this "club". And if it can be argued that MJ experienced childhood trauma at a much greater scale, wouldn't that greater scale translate right to the harassment his victims receive daily?
His defenders should acknowledge their privilege of being entitled to the sweet and nurturing Michael. As well as other young children that he had close relationships with who claim no abuse occurred, industry friends, his nephews and nieces that he didn't give a fuck about, and after divorcing Jack Gordon.. Latoya Jackson.
This does not inherently disprove MJ's other relationships where some type of abuse occurred. The music does not disprove anything. Because of his contribution to music, a lot of people like to condense the allegations to 'tales of that time' and support his legacy that he himself tarnished. A lot of people feel like the new biopic had the right to come out because MJ is a muse in today's music and pop culture. They feel as though he had a positive impact on the world, even surfacing claims that he was superman adjacent to Epstein's island. Although this claim and many others like it is ridiculous, even the bigger and truer picture that MJ had a musical impact on millions of people doesn't matter. Is that something his victims can use to excuse the immense physical and psychological abuse they suffered?
Should Native Americans and Black Americans from the early centuries of this nation suspend the systems they suffered under because the rest of us Americans exist in a much more comfortable aspect of this nation? No, they should not.
Should MJ fans, Stans, Defenders, and his family that uses him as a cash cow even in death, continue to ignore decades-worth of valid evidence of multiple children being at least psychologically abused because there is some part of him that they comfortably bask in? All because they benefit in some way.. either directly, through inspiration, artistically, or vicariously? NO. They shouldn't.
Posted May 1, 2026, 5:54 PM UTC