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An Open Letter to the Media

Dear Media,

I'm completely vexed with your coverage of Michael Jackson. Don't get me wrong, I understand that the King of Pop was a person of interest whose every move was scrutinized both in life and now in death. I get that his very existence is going to be picked apart and exposed for all the world to see. After all, this is the information age, and that's how we do it.

However, I would implore you to remember that for all Jackson was or was not, he was still a human being. Even though he had millions of dollars, he still had to put on his clothes like everyone else. He cracked jokes, played with his kids, and loved his mother. His family and his friends loved him before he was ever moonwalked across a stage. And they're hurting right now. As Janet put it on the BET Awards, "To you he was an icon, but to us, he was family."

How would you feel if every bad thing your brother had done was on the front page of every newspaper? As a mother, could you really handle having someone call your baby "Wacko Jacko?" And would you really want your children to have to hear someone talk about every strange habit you ever had?

I'm not trying to prohibit free speech. On the contrary -- I want to know what happened to Michael Jackson just like everyone else. But I think we need to give this family time to grieve. Remember, their loss came without warning. While the family and friends of Farrah Fawcett* had time to come to grips with her impending death, the Jacksons had no clue that they'd be facing a world without their loved one.

All I'm asking is that we remember our own humanity and let these people have their moment to celebrate the life of their brother, uncle, nephew, son, cousin, and friend, Michael Joseph Jackson. There will always be time to take his legacy to task, but this isn't that time. Thank you.

Sincerely,

MackDiva

*Even though Farrah was sick, I know their loss is just as great. I didn't mean to diminish their pain in any way, and if it came off that way, I want to apologize.

Comments

LISA VAZQUEZ said…
I absolutely agree with you!!!
July 1, 2009 at 1:14:00 PM EDT
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