When Abusers are Icons

Image from Variety

When Michael Jackson died, the world mourned him like he was an icon. Which in the world of popular culture he most certainly was.  I was not among them. I do agree that his contribution to music was unique and that he was an amazing performer. His impact on the music industry was matched by few. I didn’t mourn him because I believed he was a pedophile. And he got away with it. 

He was accused of molesting a child in his home. (which he labeled ‘Neverland’. Now there’s an appropriate name for the house of a pedophile if there ever was one). He was however exonerated during his trial. He admitted spending time in bed with children. But he claimed that it was not in any way sexual. There were other children who spent time in his home that testified he never did anything like that to them. He was only nice to them. That seemed to end the speculation about molestation – leaving only what he admitted to: innocent time spent with children albeit in his bed.

My view at the time was that anyone that believed that getting into a bed with young children is innocent of abuse is living in Fantasyland (to use yet another Disney term). None the less his reputation was restored and a lot of people criticized me for not presuming his innocence and remaining with my belief that he was a pedophile.

This morning CBS reported about a 4 hour documentary (viewed at the Sundance Film Festival but not yet released) called Leaving Neverland. 2 survivors of his abuse testified that when they were in the Jackson home – they were molested every single night. They apparently revealed all the gory details of his molestation. Some of those who saw the film must have left disturbed by what they saw (and heard). I doubt they will ever be playing any of Jackson’s music again.

And yet as Variety reports -not everyone feels that way. Even after seeing that documentary. The Jackson family is obviously very upset by this and are saying it is all a bunch of lies by the people that produced this film for purposes of cashing in on the notoriety. But the survivors featured in it said they took no money for their participation.

What will the public response be? Will the public believe it? Or even if they do will they stop listening to his music? Will Jackson ever get anymore airplay by radio stations? I don’t know the answers to those questions. But it raises some serious questions for Orthodox Jewry who have a musical icon of their own. One that has had a greater impact on Jewish music than Jackson had on popular music. How do we respond to a sexual abuser whose musical genius changed the world of Jewish music forever? Whose music is so widely used by every possible Hashkafa in Orthodoxy; as well as other Jewish denominations including Reform.

Shlomo Carelebach

This was the question I asked when Shlomo Carlebach’s sexual transgressions came to light. Survivors of his abuse came forward a long time ago to reveal what he did to them. The response was not what you might expect from most people. Who I believe are sensitive to the plight of survivors of abuse. They almost always side with the survivors. But in case of Carlebach they were not so quick to do so - if at all in many cases. Just like Jackson's fans

I will never forget the response I got from people that saw Carlebech - as an icon so holy that they did not believe any such accusations were possible. But perhaps his biggest fan - his daughter, Neshama eventually came around to believing it. She only hoped he would be remembered by the entirety of his life and his contributions. Not just for his sexual abuse.

Is this how we should see sexual abusers? Should Jackson be given a pass because of his contributions? I wonder how his victims would feel abut that? ...and their families?

The fact is that Carlebach is still seen as an icon. He is still revered by all Orthodox Jewish entertainers. His contribution to Jewish music cannot be underestimated. As I have said many times, Carlebach was to Jewish Music what Beethoven was to classical music and the Beatles were to pop music. In each case their contributions were so unique and has so much impact, that it is almost impossible to overstate it.

Carlebach lives on through his music. His daughter seems to be getting her wish. There is probably not a Shaliach Tzibur in the world that doesn’t adapt his music to the liturgy - sometimes not even realizing it is his composition. That is how pervasive Carlebach’s influence is. 

And yet if one thinks about his abuse of female fans - just like if one thinks about what Jackson did to children, shouldn’t that revile us enough to never want to hear the music of either one of them again?

Just some of my thoughts after hearing the news this morning