If you've ever listened to the radio program Lovelines, Dr. Drew has said specifically that psychological maturation stops at the age the child was molested. I've heard him take calls and predict with frightening accuracy A.) that the caller was molested, and B.) at precisely what age.

I guess we'll never get to see his tit at the Superbowl, now. :headshake

I was surprised. had a really busy day today, and heard about it at around 6pm.

i am NOT a fan....but still.....it IS a bummer. it's like ......it's like, in my memory, he represents a period of my childhood.....but not one i identified with....one i loathed. as a Jr High kid, I HATED him. all the sycophantic minions that adored him made me ill. the height of his fame coincided with my darkest Black Sabbath/Ozzy/Metal Phase.

I grew out of that, and have recently developed a certain appreciation for the talent that he surely possessed....

And now he's gone. It's like some one else defeated your former worst enemy. Like somebody dumped your ex wife.

and yet....eh, fuck it.

I went with other. I understand his music's draw but there wasn't anything he did after childhood that particularly resonated with me. My gut reaction was one less abuser in the world. I see the effects of child abuse every day at work but as noted he was a victim as well. Bottom line it was an early end to a sad life, unfortunately the abuse doesn't stop with him. Lil' Pete had the best line, "Good riddance, God rest his soul."

I know a large portion of folks think he was guilty. I don't know. I really don't. For one thing, I've always wondered about the parents who allowed sleepovers when his urges, for want of a better word, were in question. That seems suspicious to me, not because of that starstruck mentality, but were there almost hopes for unpleasantries which could later bring large cash settlements? More specifically, did abuses actually occur? Signs point to yes, but I don't convict in my head based on what I hear in my little corner of the world.

Regardless, when I see old video of Michael when he was a little kid, belting out I'll Be There, I am just floored at his talent. Thriller was released in late 82, and during my freshman year of college in 83, you couldn't go anywhere without hearing it. He was an amazing entertainer, with the pop music and his dancing.

I think it's always sad when a pop culture icon dies. No, I didn't know him, it's not the same as losing a loved one, but part of them was part of our lives.

As was pointed out, I think he had a miserable existence too. It's just sad.

I wasn't into his music either, and can't say his death has exactly rocke dmy world, but ... yeah, it is always sad when an icon dies. There are one or two fond childhood memories that I woldnt have had he not been around: I'm thinking in particular of staying up late the night they aired the Thriller video for the first time over here. That kind of thing stays with you.

Sad chap all in all. A walking tragedy.

I was shocked, SHOCKED!, when I turned on the tv at like 8:30 and they had a teaser about an upcoming special for Farrah, which I knew about, and Michael Jackson. Then they came back to the live coverage at the hospital.

I never owned any of his music, except the duets he did on McCartney's Pipes of Peace album. I wasn't a fan, but his music was everywhere and was catchy. So I know most of it note for note. He had a hell of a lot of talent. When I hear his more popular stuff now on the radio, or wherever, I like it.

The dude was a freak. I never really thought he was guilty of being an abuser. None of the charges ever stuck, and his civil payoffs were probably just to make the accusations go away. But it's very possible I'm wrong.

I don't care that he's dead. It's just shocking.

Hahahaha! :D

I blame senility.

It was reported (FWIW) that he may have been trying to change his appearance from looking more like his father whom he despised. Does the reason someone has 500000000 facial plastic surgeries really matter? Guess not, but I just thought I'd throw it out there.


Spot on! great post.

Thats about where I am with this. I was glued to the tv for about an hour switching channels ... then I realized he was just another torn soul who, hopefully, is finally at peace.

I think it's sad that he didn't get help when he needed it. I wonder if his siblings did anything to get him some counseling.

The guy said that the Anna Nicole Smith situation was nothing compared to this. I was shocked that someone from MJ's "inner circle" came out with this the very same day he died.

I grew up listening to his music. He went from icon to traggic circus clown. I am quite surprised he lasted this long. It has been a long time coming.

I saw a special on him a few years ago, I think it was 20/20. I remember all the family members they interviewed that there was ever any abuse, or anything wrong with MJ. I also remember one point were the interviewer (barbara walters mebbe) and him were in front of a mirror, he was all distressed because he didn't want to look at himself.
He lived a very sad life.

Wasn't into his music, so I don't feel much impact.

Annoyed that the "news" is going to ignore important world events for the next 96 hours and is pretty much going to be showing nothing but tributes and inane interviews with his crying fanbase. Last night I watched as no less than a dozen fully grown men stared slack-jawed for several hours at the TV above the bar showing looping cellphone camera footage of the ambulance pulling away. Even the scrolling 9/11 ticker at the bottom of the screen had aborted normal functions to switch into Celebrity Death Mode.

CNN continues to earn #CNNFail.

don't really care.

I was gutted by the death of Nicholas Hughes.

ETA-- now they're saying MJ got a shot of Demerol at noon and it was "too much," - he got a daily shot of Demerol it seems. Was on lots of drugs...autopsy will out.