Feiler's Files
Tell ‘Em That It’s Human Nature
Someone asked me the other day, “So, pray tell, what’s the Jewish angle on Michael Jackson?” Then, they chuckled.
Of course, there is a Jewish angle on the late, great King of Pop. (Isn’t there always?) Supposedly, his ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, is Jewish, and thus two of his three kids are members of the tribe (well, at least from a halachic point of view). And then there was one of his best pals, Liz Taylor, who’s among the most famous converts to Judaism in history (after she snatched Eddie Fisher from under Debbie Reynolds’ nose back in the late ‘50s).
But there really isn’t much of a Jewish angle to Jacko, who will be memorialized in Los Angeles today at a service unlike any other in history that’s expected to be viewed by an estimated billion or so. He was raised a Jehovah’s Witness and reportedly dabbled in Islam and perhaps even kabbalah.
But as I watched the mayhem beginning to unfold in L.A. this morning on the TV talk shows—all covering Michael’s farewell service while giving short shrift to President Obama’s work with the Russians on nuclear disarmament (after all, what’s the planet’s safety next to whether the Gloved One’s children are really his, or whatever happened to Bubbles the Chimp?)—I couldn’t help but be struck by a few words from the Rev. Al Sharpton.
In footage from his sermon last Sunday morning, Rev. Sharpton, who seems to be quite ubiquitous right now, condemned the media for examining some of Michael Jackson’s controversies (drugs, his manner of death, the molestation case, the plastic surgeries, etc.) and infamously odd habits and eccentricities. Right now, he said, is a time to focus on the brilliant entertainer’s positives and not the negatives.
Fair enough, even though I don’t necessarily agree.
But then, Rev. Sharpton spoke of a double-standard regarding coverage of Michael’s passing, strongly intimating that the racist media don’t go after white dead celebrities in the same vicious and no-holds-barred manner.
“I’m here because of the disgraceful and the despicable way [the media are] trying to destroy the legacy [of Jackson],” he said. “You have had other entertainers that have had issues in their life. [The media] did not degrade and denigrate them.”
Rev. Sharpton and I must watch different TV channels. Because from what I can tell, dissecting and beating up celebrities – white or black, dead or living – has become blood sport in this country. Where do you start? Elvis, Heath Ledger, Farrah, even poor Ed McMahon, etc. Celebrity-bashing, especially the deceased ones and particularly before they’re put into the ground, has become an American media tradition. I’m not saying it is right, it just is the way it is. That’s now the big business of our media in a celebrity-obsessed culture. This is what people are talking about at the water cooler.
For Rev. Sharpton to bring up race in this situation is inappropriate and does a disservice to the times when racism actually is a factor (which is plenty) in society. Let’s face it, Michael Jackson is just as fascinating in death as he was in life, and his sudden exit from this cacky coil leaves us (once again) with more questions than answers.
Rev. Al should know better. There are plenty of other times when he can play the race card. A celebrity of Michael Jackson’s stature and caliber has died, and no mention of the weirdness or controversies? Just that he had great moves and an amazing ear for hooks and riffs? To loosely paraphrase Michael himself, expect a full-court media circus and post-mortem, it don’t matter if you’re black or white.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/07/09 at 09:40 AM | Comments (1)
