Isn’t it getting old? …
I suppose it was, well, only a matter of time before somebody did a film about the late, great Marvin Gaye. But reportedly his son Marvin III is not happy with filmaker Julien Temple and Lenny Kravitz whom has been asked to play Marvin Gaye in the flick “Sexual Healing.”
Marvin III is upset because the film will focus on Gaye’s human weaknesses and troubles that marred his last few years. He claims that the film will be cheap: cheaply made with cheap shots at an American icon. Gaye III feels “the producers and directors of this film are very wrong and shameful,” Marvin Gaye III told TMZ. “[They’re] trying to do a film about a low period in his life. They don’t even know the whole story.”
Sound familiar? And the title “Sexual Healing” is, of course, the title of Marvin Gaye’s song by the same name. Do you suppose the average person knows that is a song title? Or do you think the filmaker is using the title to suggest the movie is salacious just as Marvin III complains? Just in case you think it might be a coincidence, here are a couple more titles of Julien films: “The Sex Pistols: The Filth and the Fury;” “Earth Girls are Easy.” Spike Lee or Steven Spielberg it’s not.
“Grab the eyeballs” titles and jaw dropping drop lines are typical of tabloid journalism. It’s so insidious that even well meaning or ethical biographers are encouraged (read: threatened) to spice it up with enough dirt and gossip to make it interesting. And, of course, featuring the most turbulent times, a fraction of the life in a documentary, is tabloid journalism at its best. Marvin III is asking Lenny Kravitz why he has agreed to do this film about his father. He is dismayed that such a slanted film is making its way into the pop culture mainstream.
You can bet that if there wasn’t any footage from the “This Is It” rehearsals, there would have been a race to the box office to see who could get there first with a “Michael Jackson documentary” and you would have seen salacious titles and a regurgitation of the tabloid farce that masquerades as his life. The trashy stuff sells. Until we start getting some compassion and humanity and stop buying it.
And the excuse always is” We are just doing our job giving the people what they want, what they clamor for. At least that’s what “they” tell us– to reinforce our belief that it IS what we want. On and on ad nauseum we hear journalists hide behind the first amendment as if to say “The Constitution made me do it!” Who is Constitution and what kind of cad is he?
This Just in: It’s Official Now- Justin Bieber is a Diva
It’s been reported that Justin Bieber threw a water bottle at a paparazzi as he left a clothing shop in Miami. The last altercation Bieber had with Paparazzi was in a parking lot with Selena Gomez at the mall in Calabasas. The paparazzi called it an “assault” and called 911. Now the tabloids have dubbed Bieber a “Diva.” It’s just a matter of time before they find a salacious word that rhymes with “Beiber” or “Justin” just as they did with “Wacko Jacko.” Wait for it…
Now, why would you call 911 if you’re a paparazzi and your making a living depends on getting the “money shot” of a hotly trending celebrity? Isn’t that kind of shooting your career in the foot? The paparrazi are not stupid; they have managed stake outs and invasions for decades. They provoke the target celebrity with taunts designed to make them angry in the hopes they can cause them to act out because it makes for much better photographs and much better stories. Don’t be fooled by what you see or what you read and request they stop while you stop buying the magazines, visiting the gossip sites and REACTING.
It’s all a set up and if you engage, you take the bait that continues to manipulate and control you. Taking the bait often results in becoming an ugly swarm and unleashing venom on a target and then applauding the damage while the media continues to call Michael Jackson fans crazy. Tom Mesereau has been trying to tell fans that this is all orchestrated, and the swarm just turned on him. The media conscripted you to nullify the Jacksons and now Tom Mesereau is in their sites? How convenient for the tabloid writers.
Piers Morgan Weighs In:
Yesterday on “The Talk” a daytime show with a female panel mirroring Barbara Walter’s “The View,” they introduced visiting Piers Morgan who, of course, weighed in on celebrities. Morgan who has managed to legitimize himself as Larry King’s successor with his nightime show on CNN, was once the editor of three tabloids in Britain. He published the “Wacko Jacko” moniker. Along with a lot of other hurtful headlines and salacious stories. In his view, the celebrities and the tabloid industry complete with its paparazzi, are bonded in a necessary symbiosis. So are leeches symbiotic– bloodsucking their random host.
You may remember Morgan’s Tweets of: “Yes, I smoked pot but never inhaled” defense for himself during the Murdoch scandal that exposed widespread phone hacking. “Yes, I worked for the tabloids, but I never hacked.” Yeah, right. It has been revealed that hacking was a business-as-usual part of the tabloid culture. It was commonplace and expected.
On yesterday’s “The Talk” Morgan publicly stated that celebrities must necessarily have a symbiotic relationship with the paparazzi, that the paparazzi make them famous and that it’s part of the deal they sign up for when they become famous. According to Morgan, it’s no
t about the art nor the talent, but it’s all about the photos, invasion of privacy and bullying. (The definition of bullying is suffering repeated, aggressive, unwanted behavior intended to harm.) So, Piers Morgan says that celebrities must get used to it and tolerate paparazzi stalking and insulting them.
Tell that to Lady Diana, Piers.
It’s bigger than that and the bigger picture is MIA
My point here is that this is much bigger than Michael Jackson and Michael knew it. There’s a vibe in this culture that isn’t pretty and isn’t worthy of humanity. It make slicing and dicing people acceptable. (And isn’t that the same thing the tabloids do, really?) It allows people with short attention spans to conveniently forget the ethics and history of admirable people like Tom Mesereau. It helps people who claim to love a superstar to publicly nullify his family, something the media has been attempting for decades but couldn’t completely accomplish until “fans” did it for them. The same “fans” who purport to espouse “L.O.V.E.” yet engage in chopping people up with their remarks (tabloid covers dismember people publicly) name calling and airing dirty laundry in public, jealous tirades and cat fights that reflect badly on their contemporaries and by reflection, the very one they claim to miss and love.
I recently read an article written in a well known advocacy magazine encouraging Michael fans to show love and temperence to others by someone whom I happen to know is resentfully badmouthing and libeling me behind the scenes based on a fantasy (people and my editors do send me these things) while at the same time quoting me without attrition and echoing everything I have been saying for three years. Michael knew too, how good the aim is when they decide to shoot the messenger. “Human Nature?” he asked.
No. it’s called hypocrisy. It’s when you don’t walk your talk. And it’s effectively role modeling hypocrisy and bullying to youth. The children are watching! And it’s harming the very children that Michael loved and his fans claim to love in his name. It’s demonstrating in public for all to see and for the children to witness– how to be mean-spirited and to bully.
In conversations yesterday, two more key people who are disgusted told me they have backed away from the ugliness. Here’s what I have to say about that: Do you remember when a certain nasty and ambitious figure responsible for most of Michael Jackson’s misery trumpeted this alarm: “OMG Michael Jackson fans are organizing! They’re ORGANIZING! Well, there is now a focused effort to de-organize and nullify them. Those who could accomlish the most in vindication and enlightening humanity are fighting with each other and ATTACKING sometimes for no other reason that they are jealous of someone else’s work or posessive of their “idol” or they get a charge out of discharging their dark brand of venom on others. It’s both sad and sadistic. It’s a set up folks and it’s so sophisticated that it is all but invisible.
“Is it scary for you?” Never one to be a conspiracy theorist, I find it scary. “Are you scared yet?” What are you doing about it? And does what you’re doing make the world better or bitter?
Did I make my point? It’s hard to hold out hope here. Some who have worked hard to make an impact and had incredible influence are backing away because they can’t find the L.O.V. E. anymore. That’s a sad development for it means good people have migrated. It means fewer lights to shame the darkness. And it plays right into the hands of those who have a stake in the failure to reveal the truth and true legacy.
And it’s tragic because there are other more lofty ways to make your point all for love with the L.O.V.E., with the L.O.V.E….
Man in the Music from Walking Moon Studios on Vimeo.
20 Comments
Hi Barbara, first time commenting here 🙂
I couldn’t agree with more about the hypocricy of some of the fans. It is astounding how much hatred and unfair poorly informed judgements there are in MJ fan community – and we of all people have eye witnessed how these exact things have destroyed the person we love. I find it really upsetting actually when the fans treat other people in exactly same way Michael was treated. It really must be human nature somehow since logically its completely backwards.
I believe Michael had made me a better person because he walked the talk, he showed with his life long example that he really believed what he said and what he sang. That made an impact on me. I guess its naive to think that people who claim to love Michael, happen to agree with his value and beliefs.
Then again its just like all those Chistians who are openly pro-violence and wouldn’t hesitate a second before throwing that stone.
Welcome Gennie. It’s the shadow part of the ego that creates the meanie in us. We either don’t know or forget the only way to heal that– is embrace it with compassion and love– for self and others. Michael knew.
Gennie and Barbara, I agree with you both wholeheartedly. What can we do but “walk our talk” and embrace our wounded world with as much love and compassion as we are able.The tragedy in America has me reeling. But I intend to ground myself and move on, so as not to be distracted from ‘my mission”. As I write, the words running through my mind are, ” maybe the walls will crumble, the sun refuse to shine.” I have no doubt that Michael will be one of those loving and consoling these bright sparks that have left us. As for the Michael fans that have forgotten the L.O.V.E and enmeshed themselves in shadowy endeavours, I say “Come Back”, Michael’s Love will wait for you all.
Two things that have warmed my heart this week. President Obama flying the flags at half-mast and NZ news pictures from Christchurch (our city devasted by earthquakes) of their churches overflowing with worshippers, against the national trend. God Bless them all.
Namaste and Merry Xmas.
Lynaire
This tragedy here has paralyzed me. I have grandchildren who must grow up in this world.
Oh, Barbara,you have been fighting so long and so hard. From a young girl.
While I lived in paradise really. In those days, good and not so good changes to American and European culture took years to reach our shores. My heart is with you as you struggle with this. This time though Barbara, it is different,I can feel that from here. People the world over are crying for these children,and their own. I believe that it will result in a movement such as the world has never known. One that will never be judged or torn apart and Michael will be there, smiling, right in the middle of it. It was all he ever wanted, children the centre of our world.
Today, I turned on TV to find a church service in progress in the affected town. Three at a time, representatives from many different religions came on the dais and honoured the children in their own way.It was beautiful and unifying and to me cause for hope.
Love and Light be with you Barbara.
Lynaire.
Thank you, Lynaire. A litany of funerals for children are about to begin here. I am reeling not just from the tragedy but from the questions that haunt me:
In what kind of world do family parents bury their six year old child? How do twenty of them do it? How do we witness it?
In what kind of world does a “minister” plan to picket the funerals of these children calling their killing “just retribution from God?”
In what kind of world do we place “the right to bear arms” above the safety of our most precious human resource- our children?
In what kind of world do we have to sit down and explain to our children about “school violence?” “School violence” is an unthinkable oxymoron.
In what kind of world does a tiny girl covered in blood run from a school into the arms of her parent announcing “I’m OK but all my friends are dead?”
In what kind of world do we deal with the mass murder of children by rehearsing teacher intruder-response, disaster training and additional security?
My god, this is a world where only recently arrived new human beings are asked to adapt to a reality where they must surrender their innocence in order to accomodate adults who do not place their best interests above all else.
Above things like:
A daily TV habit of consuming violence as entertainment.
Tolerance of “reality” TV that pits people against one another and mocks their humanity.
Media, Internet, TV and mainstream bullying that role models violence and bullying to any child within earshot or reach.
Magazine racks with rows and rows of front pages that ridicule, humiliate and condemn or worse, dismember live people.
The sacrifice of values, standards and ethics in order to perpetuate a consumerist society.
Gamers who makes games for children that depict violence as normalcy.
A music industry that reduces women to sex objects and men to insensitive and predatory brutes.
Partisan politics and cynical grandstanding instead of conducting the peoples’ business.
Tolerating dictators and governments that oppress, bullly and murder their own people including children.
Looking the other way when children or nations are kidnapped and trained to be killers in armies that protect despots.
A culture of drugs and drug dealers who groom children in order to anesthetize them, kill them with chemicals and/or create adults who favor anethesia over real reform.
Condoning or even encouraging inadequate health care to address the social, mental, emotional and societal illnesses that infect culture and create the toxic climate that continues to breed these kinds of tragedies.
America is supposed to be a leader in the world, a role model for democracy and we are a nation of violence that places its adult hedonistic desires above the welfare of our children. We are a pathetic example.
I don’t feel anger, outrage or even sorrow as much as I feel paralyzing shame. That shame is deserved. And it’s more authentic than all of the inevitable “noise” that will follow this tragedy and the inadequate, infuriating and empty lip service we will give to “change.”
In my tiny country on the edge of Europe, we have two names that instantly conjure up images of man`s inhumanity to man. Lockerbie and Dunblane. One a testament to raw hatred of another race, another culture that was target for utter madness in the bringing down of an aeroplane full of innocent lives, and the little town of Lockerbie, forever scarred with the memory of such appalling loss of life, including their own.
Then Dunblane….where a lone gunman went into a school and mowed down children and teachers, in an orgy of violence. Go to Dunblane Cathedral, see the memorial to the little ones and weep…..History repeating itself over and over again. There is a place in the heavens I know of,[ oh yes I do!] called Neverland. In this place of healing there is a hospice, the one that never got built on Earth, where the children find comfort, and peace, healing and love. Pray for the children, but pray more for the blindness of humanity that constantly makes them suffer, that makes places like Neverland necessary. Love and blessings from Scotland.
I remember Lockerbie vividly. Dunblane not as vividly. Lockerbie was a horror but I can’t wrap my head around any mind that thinks murdering children is a statement or solution to anything. Taking rage out on adults, maybe; they contribute to the creation of a cynical world. But children? Why children? Is it because they represent the innocence one must surrender in a world that doesn’t know how to reclaim it? In a world sadly void of the magic that children come by naturally?
It’s debilitating. The mind that tries to scale this sheer madness reels from countless attempts and freefalling failures to summit it. The mind numbs, the body hurts and the marrow of the bones holds a deep screaming ache for change and something other.
Change will come….when…I don`t know. There is a continual interaction going on between the Heavenly spheres and the Earthly one whether humanity is aware of it or not. There are souls growing into their roles as bringers of Enlightenment. Michael is one of them, his soulmate another. The times are changing…. rest assured the work you are doing is vital and invaluable. All people of the light are needed. When the pain is fierce it is sometimes hard to see the way, but you will be guided just as you always have been. God bless you Rev. Barbara, light bringer, light giver! Love and blessings from Scotland
Thanks Robbie. Right back attcha.
Robbie M.
May I say it is lovely to hear your voice again. At this moment I am filled with the wonderful images you have created for us. Yes, I am a believer of Neverland too. I thank you for reminding me at this sad time.
Namaste, Xmas and New Year blessings to you.
Lynaire
Lynaire
Thank you so very much for your kind words! Well….who would have thought one wee voice would be missed! To all in the Inner Michael family, may you be blessed with a wonderful New Year full of bright possibility and the eternal flame of hope burning in your hearts. Love and blessings from Scotland.
“Who would have thought one wee voice would be missed?” The world misses it. When one wee voice does not join a sincere cry for change, the call is not loud enough to be heard round the world and the world never changes. You all were asked to “make that change.”
Dear Barbara,
I would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a better new year. My heart and prayers goes to the family of the CT tragedy. I am sure if Michael was here, he would walk the talk. After 911 he wrote,”What More Can I Give” and dedicated it to the 911 tragedy. He certainly walked the talk; we can all learn from him. I will try my best to do something kind to someone else, or send a contribution to a charity. I’ve learned so much from him and from what the Bible tells us. We become richer when we think of others and their needs.
Thank you Poca. Indeed we become richer and the world becomes richer too.
Morgan Freeman made a comment about the killings in the United States, saying that the media plays an important role in the problem by treating the murderer and his family as a movie star … mentioning his name and giving him notoriety while the victim’s remain anonymous. So, the murderer realizes how he could be a celebrity too if he surpasses the previous incident and does something more impactful. He knows that he will go from being anonymous to being a celebrity after death. That may be why the dusturbed who used to suicide in the darkness of a basement, now go to schools, or theaters to exceed previous records.
About fans’ behavior– it is difficult and complex problem that involves levels of consciousness . Do you remember that I was a very negative person, without realizing it? I learned a lot from you, but not everyone has a Barbara Kaufmann in his life. I appreciate and admire you.
Then there are the young fans who are dedicated to buylling other celebrities’ fans like Bieber and Lady Gaga and relish fighting in forums. But these kinds of people, when you interact with them you realize they do not know who was Michael and the are ignorant about his feelings. They call themselves ‘Jackson fans’ just because they saw the video “Thriller” or “BAD.” They don’t read about Michael’s life and they are not interested either. I know this because I have shared some of your interesting posts at Inner Michael in my MJ Facebook groups and they don’t read it. Their ages range between 12 and 23 years old. Is kind of brainless “fan” behavior hurts Michael’s memory as well as his true fans.
That photo of Michael from This Is IT. Look at his face. So “pure” and without guile. I have never, ever, Barbara, see a face in all stages of his life that had such purity. I am not implying that he was perfect or without flaws and that he didn’t make mistakes, namely trusting people, families and bringing them into his life. But I am always amazed that even at that state in his life….he remained as Brooke Shields said “non-jaded”. You are so correct by what you said. So what are we to do? Honestly? I’ve written twice to Vanity Fair, to the National Enquirer (before the Murray trial) and received a response from “MIKE” the guy who actually invites regular folk to email him gossip. So basically you or I can email him and say such and such and he prints it. I asked him if he verifies “sources” and how could he if I myself could be a source. He said all sources are verified. He actually was a “SOURCE” on Nancy Grace on one of the criminal cases Grace was reporting on her HLN program. Such is truth in media.
Katie, it is important that you and we (all o f us) hold space that things can and will change. And it is important that we look for evidence that things are changing and that we share that evidence with each other. Human nature is such that when a paradigm is full and we have had “enough,” we will demand change. We saw the tide of public opinion shift with the SandyHook shootings. Even Greta Van Susteren was calling for a close examination of our culture– “a culture that has far too much violence,” she said; “we have to look at ourselves.”
I am doing some research that I will eventually share with you all that convinces me that it is a lack of empathy that allows violence and drives ignorance and hatred. We need to “get” that we are all one and a part of an interconnected whole and that whatever one of us does affects the whole. That is the key. So anything we can do to increase empathy elevates the whole race. I have some ideas I have been tossing around with artist friends and collaborators. How about we all come up with 7 ideas on what we can do to increase empathy?
Now get to work, everybody I will publish the list of ideas. ~Rev B
By the way, Barbara. In one of your threads (do not recall) earlier, though, you mentioned that there is a “documentary” in the works. Did I misunderstand? If there is, and I feel so strongly about it, I hope it happens in my lifetime and I am well into middle age. I have stopped glancing at the tabloids at the supermarket counter. I truly avoid them like the plague. They disgust me.
The documentary should focus on Michel, of course, and the years he was “bullied” by the media. His humanitarian efforts which has gotten lost and should then focus on bulllying in general. If this is done…the right way…my God, what an amazing feat that would be. There is such ignorance out there about who Michael was (YouTube posters, blogs) that it enrages me. The thing is one doesn’t know if someone is a pretender MJ fan or a genuine fan. Unfortunately, many Lisa Marie Presley fans have come on MJ forums spewing hate and vice versa. It is almost a contest of who will win. So sad.
Not sure what you are speaking of. There are several people interested in making a documentary. It is hard to predict what quality we will see if someone takes this on. You may be referencing “Man Behind the Myth” but I am not sure.
The Jackson/Presley fan feud makes no sense at all. because the two of them were linked for a long time and by all reports they were in love. I think there was a soul connection. The problem with a divorce is that people re-invent the circumstances as they traverse the death and healing process. Yes, the loss of a relationship is a death with all the same emotional turmoil. A divorce involves blaming and all the stages and emotions of death- denial, bargaining, guilt, sadness, regret, fear, anger, resentment– the whole spectrum. Lisa Marie and Michael were both creative artists in a world that is demanding and unforgiving. They both grew up with a kind of privilege and with the means to support their talent. Lisa Marie was born into privilege and Michael entered that world early in his life. Artists are sensitive people, emotionally volatile and convicted (sometimes stubborn.) Michael was successful in an area Lisa Marie wanted to be and Lisa Marie understood celebrity and the creative process.
A normal marriage with independent artists with strong egos would be difficult. This couple would have made it impossible. Michael fans should keep in mind that Lisa Marie was his choice, he loved her and he wanted it to work. Lisa Marie had trouble coping with Michael Jackson’s world (who wouldn’t?) which was even more intense than her own. Relationships and breakups are complicated and a relationship with two very complex people would be nearly impossible to navigate. Lisa Marie came into it being used to getting attention and Michael got all the attention. That would rattle anyone.
Both Michael and Lisa Marie were angry, resentful and quite devastated by the split. They continued to see each other after the breakup and were intimate for a long time. Divorce is not usually pretty and most couples have anger and resentment and hurl insults back and forth but most are not in the public eye or closely watched by tabloids looking for the juicy story. Michael was more circumspect than Lisa Marie but just as emotional. Whatever happened to Lisa Marie was personal and she experienced it in the only way she uniquely could. And nobody here was in that relationship. People usually do the best they can at their unique level of mental, emotional and spiritual maturity. Blaming people for their emotions is bullying. Each in that relationship did the best they could given their circumstances and life experience. It wasn’t enough to hold it together.
Lisa Marie felt Michael’s death before she learned of it. She was haunted the whole day by an overwhelming sadness and Michael’s death rattled her and it appears, brought back or brought up feelings she didn’t realize she had. Her recovery from being hurt a second time could not have been easy. There is nothing like death to bring up our shortcomings and regrets. Lisa Marie knows very well what they are for her. She doesn’t need any help beating herself up. You can be assured that Lisa Marie has suffered terribly. I believe she would do it quite differently given another chance but the thing about life is that there are very few do-overs. Michael would do it differently too because he voiced some of his regrets to her.
Hating someone who was Michael’s choice in a partner- no matter who that is, is pretty arrogant. Those were his choices and all in the family album, whether chosen by birth, default, accident or deliberation in Michael Jackson’s life– blood or not– was a human being– fallible, vulnerable, flawed and not loved enough. We need to remember that people do not, most of the time, share their complete, innermost and most personal feelings. It’s just too vulnerable because we (the collective) are not ready to embrace their humanity before and above all else and love them through their wounds warts and all. Not with anyone; and we are particularly harsh and judgmental of celebrities. We somehow think it’s our “right.” It’s not.