Be part of the solution, not the problem!

Michael Jackson fans are full of resources and talents, there is no deny in that! From the beginning, fans have been resourceful to create fanclubs around the world, events, magazines and arts, We all remember the different magazines from “Off The Wall” to “Black and White” dedicated to the King of Pop. Some members of our community have also be able to work with Michael directly like Adrian Grant or Christophe Boulme.

Back in the days, phone lines, minitel pages and magazines were the main and only source of information on our favourite artist and with the arrival of internet, the format expended to forums and websites.

Internet changed the world and the way to be a fan! Not only information came quicker to the fans but Social Media started to be a great way to live your fandom the way you want.

Fans created pages on myspace, facebook and twitter to showcase their passion of the King of Pop. And boy, this is amazing to see! We all discover talented fans, in tattoos, paintings, photography, drawings, dancing, singing, collections… any type of artistry is now represented in our community and again, some fans are sooooo talented!

Since Michael passed away, sharing our fandom and love for the King of Pop has been easier than ever thanks to internet and social media but we also get information so much quicker! New releases of music or merchandise is spreading on the web like a fire ball!

But with great power comes great responsibility!

Sharing news and information on the King of Pop has become easy as 1, 2, 3 but there is another side of the use of the web, a dark side! Some of us are driven by numbers, by popularity and becoming some sort of celebrity in our community; whatever the cost! Not to mention the spread of lies by mainstream medias which Dan Reed used cleverly to promote is fake documentary.

At MJVibe, we always try to share factual information based on facts, sources and proof but also showcasing the fans who have a true talent. We always welcome any ideas or talented fans to be on the spot light! This is why we have different categories on MJVibe for artistic fans, events, books, fan made dance or singing and so on. This is our community and without the fans and their passion, there will be no community.

In the last few years, with “Leaving Neverland”, we have learnt that facts matter more than ever! A lie or a rumour can be spread as quickly as the truth. We learnt the hard way!

So with that in mind, it is imperative we carry on sharing news and information that can be proven and are factual.

But for few years now, and especially the last couple of weeks, this has gone through the window.

Few fanclubs, facebook pages, twitter accounts or even individuals, have been sharing or making up stories to bring the spot light on themselves. Their drives can be as diverse as becoming popular, gaining a sort of celebrity status in our community, or even just driven and excited by the gain of followers on their socials or websites.

I have no issues with people wanted to have some recognition for what they do and frankly, I will be the first one to post about a fan who created an amazing painting or having a beautiful tattoo and so on. I believe those fans who have a true talent, should be recognised and celebrated in our community and this is the whole essence of MJVibe.

My issue here is that those people or group of people have no talent but to just spreading lies and rumours. Which again, I have no issues with, they might work for the Sun or the Enquiry as far as I care. The issue is that they are hurting some fans, they are creating a hype that should not be and therefore disappoint the fans.

And yes, this is about the whole “new album” rumours. The rumour had it that The Estate would make a big announcement over the Birthday Week-end about a brand new album or new music. Few days ago, I questioned those people on the source and I have also check on different valid sources such as Sony and BMI which have to show any new registered songs. Obviously, neither Sony nor BMI had any record of new songs and those spreading the rumours tried to back down by making ever more lies and nonsense excuses!

As we know and as I reported numerous times on MJVibe, the Estate IS working on releasing a new packaging of HIStory. The fact that the Estate shown unreleased footage of the HIStory World Tour at MJ ONE this week-end is a proof that they are still working on this. This is not new information. This can be found on the official website’s Q&A but also on record from John Branca’s mouth on video and in different interviews he gave for the last few years.

When I pointed that out, the rumours makers back down and said it would be the full Prague concert… but here another issue with this, Prague had massive technical issues during the concert and Michael himself said to never release this. There is no way that the Estate will release an unpolished concert officially. Pretty much all the HIStory concerts have been filmed and some performances were better than others in different cities so there are plenty footage to take it from and mix to have the most perfect HIStory Tour concert.

So why bother pointing out those rumours and trying to put the record straight? Well it is simple for me and MJVibe: Facts matter! But also when you play with fans emotions, this is where I get defensive! Yes, we may not have the best Estate in the world and yes, they have done shady things in the past and I feel there is no need to add to the list based on only rumours. To be a fan of an artist should be fun, exciting and thrilling, especially when this artist is no longer with us. Those rumours get fans excited and then disappointed and then angry when those rumours don’t come to life! We are very protective of our community and we have an attitude to inform the fans with the latest news but also we are offering a safe platform where fans can be whoever they want to be. Rumours can be hurtful to some of us and the feeling of disappointment and anger should not be part of our fandom!

So when I am told to be quiet, to not argue or to not point out those who started the rumours (you know who you are – as I have been told), I stand strong and say hell to the no! Our community has a vast range of individual, from 2 years old to 92 years old and when you come with your rumours and upset even one of us, I will stand and tell how it is!

With time, we all know who to trust in terms of source and information. We know some website/fanclubs will do anything to bring attention to them and unfortunately, this is a growing issues with new gamers. And frankly, this is not about you and your popularity! Who cares! The only person that matters in this is Michael Jackson and Michael Jackson only!

If you are in the community driven only by the numbers of “likes” you get on a post or the numbers of followers, you are in this community for the wrong reasons!

But we also all have a role to play here. As a fan, don’t jump on a rumour straight away without checking the source or the validity of it. Always think twice before sharing it. This is being part of the solution and not the problem. And if you are not sure, ask a friend or someone who you think would have the answer. Don’t forget that just sharing a rumour could hurt someone’s feelings.

The only way to stop rumours and to teach a lesson to those creating them is to not share and unfollow them. Spread the truth! Michael had enough rumours in his life time and the fan community deserve better than that!

Yours, Sebastian.