16 ARAB NEWS Saturday, June 29, 2019

I don’t think MJ knew how his music shaped a whole generation of Arabs. We might not have heard of The Beatles, but we sure knew Michael Jackson. Rym Ghazal Weekend Journalist and artist

KING OF POP: 10 years on Wanted dead or alive Michael Jackson’s star seems undiminished in the region, despite the allegations of ‘Leaving Neverland’

not have heard of The Beatles or didn’t have a chance at a normal, Adam Grundey Dubai Elvis Presley, but we sure knew healthy life,” says Emirati banker This week marked 10 years Michael Jackson.” I think it just hurts Mohammed Murashi. “I don’t know since the death of Michael Ghazal is, she admits, a huge if the allegations against him are Jackson. As Saudi fan. She even named one of her harder, with Michael true, and if they are it’s inexcusable, Arabia prepares childhood pets MJ. Jackson. He means so but I’m certain the abuse he to welcome “His music and his songs remain much to us. He feels supposedly faced and unusual life “Thriller Live,” timeless,” she says. “He truly put almost like family. left him with numerous issues, and an international his heart into each song and they could have contributed to his lack tribute show touched on universal issues that I of social norms.” dedicated to the could identify with. Mawaddah, former King of Pop a young lady which has toured the from UAE earlier this year, it Jeddah, seems Jackson’s stardom says that — at least in the Middle East “Leaving — is not fading away. Many Neverland” has not affected her fans can’t believe it has been opinion of Jackson’s music, but already 10 years since the that it has made her relationship passing of this megastar; He sang for with the singer more complicated. a man who’d spent pretty the world, for the “I am still a fan of his music. much his entire life in the environment and about Before, I liked him as a person spotlight, in all senses; a healing and kindness at a time too. I thought he was a nice, very man who wrote and sang when no one even gave nature liberated guy. And then I watched some of the finest pop songs a second thought. He also sang the documentary,” she tells Arab ever, and who became the about accepting others as they News. “Right now, every time I go first (and so far the only) are and topics that hit a chord to my playlist on my phone or my pop star to enter the Dance with the public. He was ahead of computer, I just get that image in Hall of Fame. his time and an enigma.” my head. I still like his music, but Regarding “Leaving I just leave, most of the time.” His undeniable talent was Neverland,” she says she has In Dubai, “Leaving Neverland” otherworldly. As was Jackson “doubts about its validity” was shown at Cinema Akil. There himself. That was thanks in part because of the element were plenty opposed to the film to his odd mannerisms — his of “massive financial being shown. Journalist William air of childhood innocence, his compensation sought” and Mullally, who moderated a panel tremulous speaking voice — and in because it is “one-sided.” But discussion that followed one of the part the fact that his skin color and she also makes a point that screenings, tells Arab News there appearance changed so markedly many others have echoed: were “a lot of people who were very throughout his life. That art should be assessed against it being shown in the first As a performer and musician, separately to its maker. place, and a lot of people who felt it Jackson was idolized around the “Regardless of whatever needed to be shown.” The cinema world. He became an enormous part happened in Michael and Mullally himself received of people’s lives — and arguably the Jackson’s personal life, “hundreds of messages” from most recognizable person in history, that doesn’t take away the people saying that the film should despite all the surgery. powerful messages and the not be screened. “It really did feel He was also, it is alleged, a serial beautiful music he created,” like the pressure was on in order to pedophile. she says. downplay any accusations.” Those allegations date back. Others also say that He continues: “At the discussion In 1993, Evan Chandler accused The allegations made Jackson’s personal life should itself, it felt like a lot of the room Jackson of sexually abusing his in the documentary have not affect appreciation of his was pro-Michael Jackson, and two 13-year-old son Jordan. In January been rebuffed by Jackson’s music. Ahmed Haram, a student of the four panelists were very 1994, Jackson reportedly reached estate, which is suing at the American University of skeptical of the allegations and a financial settlement of $23 HBO (which screened the Sharjah, counts Jackson among his pushed back very hard against million with the Chandlers and in documentary in the US) for “top artists, very talented,” and says anything the film had to say.” September that year the criminal $100 million. Both Safechuck the documentary’s allegations “just The arguments in support of investigation was closed. and Robson are currently made me lose a little respect for Jackson in the room that night, In the early 2000s, similar appealing against judgments him, that’s all.” Mullally says, felt very much like allegations were made. This time, in their own lawsuits against Dubai-based Saudi Arabian radio “the kitchen-sink defense,” with the case went to trial and Jackson Jackson, which were dismissed host Hassan Dennaoui (aka Big audience members claiming that was found not guilty in 2005. in 2017. Hass) says he does not believe the the documentary was suspect Former child actor Macaulay Culkin, “Leaving Neverland” is perhaps allegations against Jackson, and because it failed to mention that star of the “Home Alone” films the strongest blow yet to Jackson’s suspects there may be a conspiracy one of the accusers had dated and a frequent visitor to Jackson’s legacy. But it has also served as a behind them. Jackson’s niece when he was Neverland ranch (along with several rallying point for his supporters, “MJ was a pioneer, a music younger. Others said there just other young boys), testified in who fervently refuse to believe genius, an entertainer at heart, wasn’t enough proof presented for support of the pop singer at that their idol could have been guilty of with the most humble intentions them to believe that Jackson was a trial. As did another of Jackson’s child abuse. to make people happy and just pedophile. former child friends, Wade Robson. Jackson has a huge fanbase in the dance. In my opinion his legacy will “But when they were questioned Robson is one of two men Middle East. For many, he was the prevail, even with all the ridiculous on what exactly they would featured in the documentary, first superstar they heard on heavy allegations that targeted him when require in terms of proof, it got “Leaving Neverland,” released rotation in the region, as radio only he was still alive and recently with a bit hazy,” says Mullally. “It did earlier this year. Along with James really took hold in the Gulf in the the lame excuse of a documentary,” seem like there was some kind of Safechuck (who, when he was 1980s. As Saudi Arabian journalist he says. “The world is drenched in dissonance in their ability to talk younger, also told investigators and artist Rym Ghazal explained to the will to cause harm regardless of about allegations in general, and that he had not been sexually Arab News: “I don’t think MJ knew consequences. Personal interests, the way that predators operate in abused by Jackson), Robson now just how much his music shaped a money and bigger agendas are general, and then apply that same alleges that Jackson did sexually whole generation of Arabs — just brought forward and prioritized logic to the Michael Jackson story.” abuse him as a child, and provides how many fans he had here and over the reputation of artists such as Mullally understands that graphic descriptions of the acts they just how devoted they remained MJ. My convictions about him have impulse though, even if he engaged in. throughout his ordeals. We might never changed: the artist and the doesn’t share it. “I grew up as a human being he was show a fragile Michael Jackson fan myself. And Web banner for “Who’s Bad,” a — sometimes misunderstood for a long time I was skeptical of Michael Jackson — individual who was put into these allegations when they were tribute show stardom too early but succeeded. coming out in the Nineties and the which was held in Saudi Arabia “He was also planning to convert 2000s. I think it just hurts harder last year. to Islam, which I am sure many with Michael Jackson. He means parties in power wouldn’t want so much to us. He’s been a part to happen, as they knew MJ’s of the best moments of our lives: positive influence,” he continues. playing at our weddings, becoming “Or else they wouldn’t have closer to our family members, and tried to sabotage his reputation discovering ourselves through and discredit his entire career.” music. And I think because of that Others suggest that Jackson’s — because he feels almost like a own well-documented member of the family — people troubled childhood could lie have a knee-jerk reaction to defend at the root of the allegations him as if he is a member of the against the star. “He was family,” he says. “They don’t want a talented musician who to let Michael go.”