Let me preface this by saying that I do not believe Michael Jackson is guilty of child molestation. I have written in support of his innocence on this site several times over the past few years. I think Michael Jackson is a good person who has been tragically altered over the years by fame and having enough money to remove any semblance of boundaries or personal responsibility.
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Michael Jackson is arguably one of the greatest entertainers that has ever graced the planet, but a never-ending cycle of controversy and strange behavior has dramatically dimmed his star. A list of events ranging from dangling a baby over a balcony to charges of child molestation have taken their toll on his public perception, twisting his image into that of a disfigured and perverted monster. While Michael often plays the victim, it is easy to recognize that at least some of his problems are self-created. The man who was once referred to as the “King of Pop” could now be called the “King of Poor Judgment.”
After being acquitted of child molestation in June of 2005, Michael was given a remarkable opportunity to try to repair some of the damage wrought by months of bad publicity on his image. He fled the limelight by seeking refuge in places like Bahrain and Ireland, where he was eternally rumored to be hard at work on new music that would resurrect, or at least revitalize, his flagging career.
A few days ago, we got our first opportunity to hear some of what Michael had spent almost three years working on when a duet with hip-hop musician, Akon, was leaked online. The song, entitled “Hold My Hand,” is actually rather catchy and listenable, but I can’t help but wonder why Michael would choose someone like Akon for a musical partnership. After all, Akon doesn’t have a spotless past when it comes to inappropriate behavior with young people.
I remember when the infamous video of Akon simulating sex with a fifteen year old concert-goer made it’s way onto YouTube. I remember thinking not much more of him than an animal and being sick to my stomach. It wasn’t long afterwards that another video surfaced of him having an audience member brought on stage, hoisting him over his shoulders and throwing him back into the crowd. Both incidents created a furor in the press and even though Akon eventually apologized for the first one (blaming the venue for letting in an underaged girl), the events speak to the respect this man has for others.
So, here we have a song by two men - both having been accused of sexual impropriety with children. One of the first things we hear in the song is Akon saying “Konvict Music” - a reference to his music label. It’s hard to listen to the line “Hold my hand” without remembering Michael being interviewed hand-in-hand with a young boy as he explains why sharing one’s bed is a beautiful thing. It’s hard not to replay the images of Akon dry-humping a young girl before having her dragged offstage by bodyguards.
And it’s hard to figure out why Michael Jackson chose this path for his return to the spotlight.
