Why Do Fans Protest Oprah Winfrey?

The wave of protests and dissatisfaction from fans over Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Katherine Jackson, Michael’s mother, continues. Winfrey visited the Jackson home in Encino last month and recorded three hours of footage. A one-hour interview with her featuring Katherine Jackson, Joe, Michael’s father, and Michael’s children is scheduled to be shown on next Monday on television.

But why are Michael’s fans protesting?

1. One day after the February 2003 documentary “Living with Michael Jackson” by Martin Bashir aired, Oprah Winfrey—on a program not related to the topic—sent a message to the camera to Michael, saying that if she were in his position, she would tell him that sharing a bed with children isn’t the right thing to do.

In the interview, recorded at his home in Neverland, Michael had said that sharing a bed with children is not a problem. He also pointed out that sometimes he would let his bed be used by children who came to Neverland, while he himself would sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag.

After this interview aired, a wave of criticism against Michael began. Some time later, accusations were made against Michael, and then in November of that same year, police put handcuffs on Michael. After that, Michael showed his injured wrists in a television interview—injuries caused by the police handcuffs—and said that before he would harm a child, he would cut his own wrist. Michael said he still believes that sharing a bed with children isn’t wrong, because he doesn’t see it as sexual—rather, it’s people who have that kind of mindset, but it isn’t even in his mind.

Note: The prosecutor initially claimed that before the interview with Martin Bashir, Michael had sexually abused a boy at Neverland. But later, in court, he changed his story and said that Michael committed the crime after the Martin Bashir documentary aired—meaning right at the time when Michael was the target of the harshest attacks and media criticism! But why did the date of the alleged crime have to be changed? Due to the time and location conditions, it was not possible that Michael had done this before the Martin Bashir documentary. That’s why the accusation was automatically removed. However, the prosecutor wanted Michael in jail, and by changing the time of the alleged crime, he made every effort to achieve that.

2. The sexual accusation case against Michael made no sense in every way. But not for the media. Oprah, of course, definitely joined the lineup of hosts who benefited from the news storm. During the 2005 trial (in which Michael was acquitted in June of that year), she invited people onto her show to smear Michael or mock him. While the jury was busy deciding on the verdict, she aired a segment about sexual abuse of children, which Randy—Michael’s brother—believes was intentional. Her recent interviews with Lisa Marie Presley, Michael’s former wife, were also included amid programs centered on sexual abuse.

3. Oprah Winfrey had prepared a program about a very close relationship between men without sex. One of the guests said that he shares his bed with his friend, and that doesn’t mean there is a sexual relationship between them. Oprah laughed and said it makes her think of Michael Jackson.

4. Larry King once asked Oprah on his show whether she felt sorry for Michael Jackson. Before she said “no,” she gave a meaningful smile.

5. In various programs, she encouraged her guests to tell jokes about Michael and mock him.

6. In her interviews with Lisa Marie Presley, Michael’s former wife, she framed the conversation in a way that made Lisa feel embarrassed about marrying Michael, and to join the ranks of those who criticized her marriage. She asked Lisa whether Michael exploited her socially, and then suggested the idea that Michael had asked Lisa for help under the pretext that he wasn’t understood by the public and the media—and that their marriage was also a social exploitation of her.

7. In a special program for parents whose children have become drawn to the entertainment industry, one father said he admires the Jackson family and wants his children to follow their path. Oprah looked horrified and turned toward the therapist who was another guest. The therapist said that this father is definitely wrong because one of the Jacksons is in serious trouble, and he shouldn’t wish such an outcome for his children.

8. At the same time, Oprah had arranged a party for little girls at her home, and in her shows she kept talking about it as the best thing in the world. She had previously said she would never put herself in a situation like the one Michael Jackson was involved in by having children in her room. The bouncing of the little girls on Oprah’s bed and furniture didn’t bother her at all.

9. Michael entered court on January 16, 2004 and pleaded not guilty. On that same day, he went up on the roof of his SUV and danced a bit for fans. Oprah’s show guest, Jon Stewart, called Michael an idiot for doing so. Oprah said she had heard that Michael compared himself—socially—to Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, and she didn’t agree with such thinking. But Oprah didn’t say where she heard that statement.

Of course, Michael Jackson’s impact on eliminating racism is certainly not less than theirs—if not more—but such claims definitely don’t match Michael Jackson’s humble character!… Still, did Oprah Winfrey ever think to herself how difficult it would have been for her to reach the position of a powerful woman on television as a Black person, if Michael Jackson hadn’t existed? Before Michael Jackson, had any Black person ever been turned into a “idol” for white people?

Source: eMJey