I know I am a rarity in this, but I never believed he molested children.

Not a rarity. He was very odd, but I don't think he was a criminal. I think he was a victim of parents who see kids as a money-making commodity--both his own parents and the parents of the kids he tried to help.

I don't think he actually molested children. I do think there was probably some shenanigans. I don't think anything he did or anything that happened to him excuses anything he may have done, but I do think that his life was so screwed up and so far from normal, it renders any outside judgment about him pretty much impossible.

I do think he molested kids, because he exhibits all the traits of molesters--no real adult sexual or social life, fetishizing childhood, spending all his money/time to ensure he was surrounded by young boys, etc. The molester I taught with did ALL those things. He had comic books and Playboys and videogames and that kind of stuff at his house to make sure boys wanted to hang out with him. If he could have afforded Neverland, it's EXACTLY what he would have built. He had the exact same boy/man feel that MJ had as well.

He may never have had sex with the boys, but I will bet there was sexuality like mutual masturbation going on. It's sad for him and for them.

And I know he had a truly terrible childhood, but that is not a plausible reason for his fixation with young boys. His brothers and sisters had the exact same childhood and awful parents, and all of them have managed to have adult lives. They are also damaged, but not child-fixated the way Michael was.

I concur with Scrappy. I can't dismiss his behavior as shenanigans. I think he fucked up other kids the way he was fucked up. He perpetuated it, which is something I can judge him for.

Michael's childhood was different from that of his siblings. Because he was the "star", he worked far more than they did. He had to record the lead vocals for all of the songs, it's a lot easier to get the backing tracks down, so the siblings were finished. He also had to rehearse dancing a lot more, since they were all playing instruments, their dance moves were limited. Micheal had to be in the front,and "on" 24-7.

And again, I find myself pointing fingers at the parents.

< /judgy pants>

He reminds me of JM Barrie, who I also have really mixed feelings about whether he molested the boys he was friends with.

Also, I think that the parents of those kids have to take some responsibility. Even though I don't think that he molested kids, I would not have let my children sleep in the same bed or sleep over with an adult.

I agree, those parents do have to take responsibility as well.

And as for him being a child molester--even though I feel that he is, I hope to god I'm wrong.

I'm all judgy pants on the parents too. I didn't believe that he was molesting kids, but I wouldn't allow my kids to be best buddies and sleep over pals with grown men either.