Wacko

I can't ignore it, so an oblique look at the end of the Michael Jackson story........This is rather odd as I spoke about him in passing last week, and he passes away unexpectedly the next - its strange how fate works.

I am not going to waste too much time on an obituary, there will be millions of bloggers who have something to say (either good or bad), so I will simply say this..... There are times when too much money and fame are actually a hindrance to good health.

This is particularly so when the rich and powerful are surrounded by "My people" (a peculiarly American driven celebrity phenomenon). Lackeys and flunkies, who run around, ensuring that the centre of their little universe, "the star" has their every whim, no matter how childish, met.

I have often wondered when these flunkies collide with another 'stars' people in the same venue, whilst each trying to achieve the same goals for their 'star'. Is there a battle royal, or is there some internal and subtle weighing of "Stardom levels" e.g. Madonna vs Liam Gallagher (home win) and the lower flunkies back off (knowing that they can't win). Whereas ‘Madonna vs Bono’, might turn out to be more of a clash of the celebrity titans?

Anyway I digress, the point I was making was that these flunkies are not paid to say 'No' or in anyway gainsay their masters or mistresses wishes. They are simply paid to "make it so". This can easily lead to the Howard Hughes syndrome, whereby a mentally and physically sick man, who could very easily have been treated in the early days, was allowed to retreat into a twilight world of power and delusion, where treatment was no longer possible, and who ended up surrounded by minions whose best interests were best served by fuelling his phobias and delusions.

So it went with others such as 'Jacko', whose indiscretions are well documented, but whose ever more bizarre medical interventions and morally dubious activities, were aided (or at least not objected to), by staff who should certainly have pointed out how wrong it was for children to be 'sleeping over' with him, but whose livelihoods were based upon never saying no.

As a calendar (not anyone else) said "Money isn’t everything, but it certainly keeps the children in touch' ...... a joke that is amongst the kinder ones that have circulated around Mr. Jackson, since he started paying parents to remain silent about any alleged activities between himself and their offspring.

This ability to buy off complaints in the US, doesn't compare well with the UK, where Paul Gadd (aka "Gary Glitter"), a now minor 1980's celebrity singer has been imprisoned and put on the sex offenders register for similar accusations (with little girls), but contributes greatly towards the 'look the other way' mentality and culture amongst the lackeys who know whats going on.

If 'wacko' had been challenged before his behaviour had overstepped the mark, then his reputation may have been better, and a line would have been drawn about where 'celebrity behavior' ends, and common decency and legality begins. It's also possible that all the medical interventions he's alleged to have undertaken (many of which seem to have been totally unnecessary), may have contributed to his demise at the age of 50.

Undoubtedly he was talented, but he was a deeply flawed man.