A film about Michael Jackson should be box office poison, given the accusations of pedophilia that trailed him in his last decades. Yet the film’s strong opening weekend suggests that audiences are willing to separate the art from the artist.
“Michael,” the King of Pop’s glossy biopic, was expeected to makenorth of $70 million stateside. It did so well thatestimates are now as highas nearly $100 million in the U.S., and $200 million worldwide.
Critics complain the film avoids the damning sexual abuse allegations that haunted Michael Jackson for much of his adult career. That’s true, but audiences are ready to bob their heads to “Billie Jean,” “Thriller” and more monster hits all the same.
Jackson facedinvestigations and civil lawsuits for decadesafter he faced allegations that he shared his bed with children. He was acquitted in a closely-watched criminal trial in 2005. He reached settlements with some victims, though he denied all of the allegations of wrongdoing, as does his estate.
Guilty? Innocent? Jackson was a once-in-a-generation talent, and that’s apparently enough even for those disturbed by the allegations.
“Cancel culture” told us we couldn’t, and shouldn’t, forgive artists for personal flaws, or even crimes. And, for the most part, we listened.
Woody Allen. Roman Polanski. Morgan Wallen. Johnny Depp. Gina Carano. Roseanne Barr. Louis C.K. All were banished for sins considered so heinous that we couldn’t enjoy their art moving forward.
Now, the culture is abandoning that rigid stance.
The proof is playing in theaters near you.
“Michael” is hardly the only example of consumers overlooking a flawed star’s sins. Take C.K., the comedic juggernaut behind FX’s “Louie” TV series. A 2017 New York Times report alleged thathe exposed himselfto several women.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
