Opinion – Pez Jax
It’s been a tough start to 2019 for Michael’s fans – That’s putting it lightly!
Once again, we’ve found ourselves at the forefront of more false allegations due to that movie and as such we’ve been labelled in the most heinous way. But as we’ve done for so many years, we put on our armour and head into this, loaded with facts, stats and legal documents. With persistence we seem to be slowly weathering the storm over the last four months.
Just as the main foray appears to be dying down and only a few media stragglers are still trying to squeeze this decimated, rotten lemon for the last bitter drops, we’re thrust straight into our next drama – this time regarding the Official Michael Jackson musical, Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.
The book for the broadway production is currently being written by two time (lest you forget) Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, an American playwright with a rich history in theatre. When the official Michael Jackson musical title was announced, mere days after HBO’s announcement that Leaving Neverland, a movie featuring two actors making allegations, the fan community were provided with something to look forward to. Yet it seems our confidence in this being something to celebrate was extremely short lived.
On 19th April 2019, in an interview with The Daily Mail’s Baz Bamigboye, Nottage spoke about the recent fall out from Leaving Neverland and the impact this may have on the broadway show.
As part of his interview with Nottage, Bamigboye reports:
She also revealed that she believed the testimony given by Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who were close to the singer in their pre-teen years, in the C4 and HBO documentary Leaving Neverland….
Nottage, breaking her silence about Jackson for the first time, told me: ‘I think they were telling the truth.’
Understandably the comments placed a huge question as to how somebody who didn’t believe 100% in Jackson’s innocence could spearhead his official broadway show. Clarity was required.
A statement from the Estate representatives suggested that the comments were ‘a line’, not ‘a quote’ and that due to this being a ‘tabloid’ it was probable that Nottage’s words had been taken out of context. Additionally, disappointment was expressed that the fans would challenge (not ‘attack’ as suggested) on her comments. If Nottage had indeed been misquoted, what did she actually say and what are her feelings?! That was the general consensus.
Naturally, like flies who gravitate to feces, Dan Reed, aka Tom Sneddon 2019 retweeted the post, highlighting Nottage’s comments.
Following the Easter break, Nottage and show director Christopher Wheeldon have sat with the New York Times, perhaps in an attempt to counter the damage from Nottage’s dance with the Daily Mail. The outcome had quite the opposite effect.
When asked directly and without room for misquotation whether they thought Jackson was a child molester. Both answered that ‘they couldn’t say for sure’. Nottage went on to state that “I’m not going to be a Michael apologist, but I can’t say 100%”, with Wheeldon stating that Leaving Neverland was “very believable”. To ensure that I’m not accused of ‘twisting their words’, you can read the full interview published here.
What’s most disturbing about these comments is that Nottage and Wheeldon don’t seem, if their comments are taken with merit, to want to offer Jackson the presumption of innocence at the very least. A reply such as ‘I’m inclined to believe he’s innocent’, or ‘Based on the evidence we’ve seen, Leaving Neverland raises many questions about its credibility.’ Would have least been a starting point.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d prefer the two individuals tasked with the Official Michael Jackson musical to be more steadfast in his innocence, but some indication of being remotely supportive would have been a start.
Nottage clarified her Daily Mail point when asked by the New York Times:
“What I was saying, and what I was getting at, is that the men came across as very believable. But here’s the caveat: Were they ultimately telling the truth? I cannot 100 percent say so, because I’m not judge and jury, and it’s not my place to do that.”
Actually, it is. You’re presenting a piece of theatre about Michael Jackson for the Michael Jackson Brand. This is not a freelance, unofficial piece that can approach Jackson’s life or controversies in any way it chooses. It has to hold, what are at least perceived to be, the fundamental principles of something official from brand Jackson – which are at the very least to present him in a positive light.
One of the tasks of the Jackson Estate is surely to maintain, further and expand upon his legacy through projects that allow Jackson to continue reaching and delighting audiences around the globe. An official musical that would even carry a remote ‘suggestion’ of misconduct or suggest that this new ‘stories’ from the movie could be part of Jackson’s narrative is not something that should be coming from his brand. The Estate’s response to the Daily Mail piece affirmed that “the idea that the musical would be anything less than a celebration is absurd.” Which is fine, until Nottage’s comments in the New York Times Piece:
We’re sensitive to what’s going on and we’ll see whether it works into the show or not. But the primary focus of our show has always been focusing on Michael’s creative process.
There is no cause for ‘celebration’ in ‘what’s going on’ right now. So the two comments tend to contradict each other. Robson and Safechuck’s ‘stories’ have no place being ‘worked in’ to Jackson’s timeline in the manner the movie presents – He knew both families, he was generous in his support of helping both families succeed and that’s where it ends. Their limited involvement in Jackson’s life has never been regarded significant enough to include in any type of re-telling, because simply put, they just weren’t as involved with Jackson’s life as the movie wants people to believe.
Many fans have suggested the Michael Jackson Estate need to act now and remove Nottage and Wheeldon from Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough entirely! For their part, the fans have been working tirelessly to present the truth behind the false allegations made in Leaving Neverland even when it’s the unpopular opinion – Yet, the person tasked with writing the OFFICIAL broadway music reportedly questions Jackson’s innocence and believes that the accusers could be ‘telling the truth’?!
It’s frankly perplexing that the Estate would on the one hand, lodge a legal complaint against HBO and issue a 15 page presentation to the likes of Billboard in ardent defense of Jackson’s innocence, even bolding the fact ‘Michael Jackson was proven innocent’ in its filing, but then brush over comments made by Nottage and Wheeldon – the two people tasked with producing the official Michael Jackson musical. Why should those comments be treated differently just because these people are on the Estate’s payroll?!
As the task continues in countering the documentary claims and prove that what was said about Jackson isn’t true, how can the Estate, in good conscience, still work with a person who perhaps believes the false accusations? How can they place a part of Michael Jackson’s life in those hands for a re-telling?
Ask yourselves, would Michael Jackson himself work with anybody who publicly went on record stating they believed the accusations against him or ‘couldn’t say for sure.’ – Imagine if a member of the HIStory Tour production team had conducted a similar interview – Would Jackson have allowed this?!
When the topic of the fans was raised in the New York Times piece and Nottage was informed of calls from fans to have her removed from the project, she suggests that she’d be condemned no matter what she created from people of all sides.
That’s where Nottage is wrong. Jackson fans were very much looking forward to the Broadway musical and as the majority of us have done with the likes of Cirque’s offerings in Immortal and MJ ONE, have been generally complementary and supportive. We had no reason to condemn her position until these interviews suggested that those involved in the project were not approaching this from a place of support for his personally maintained innocence.
So, with general confidence at an all time low, what happens next with this? Ideally, the Estate should part ways with Nottage and Wheeldon owing to the fact that as the official representatives of Michael Jackson, they would want to work with people who support them, their brand and what Jackson stood for – which was, among other things, his innocence.
If they choose to stand by their current production partners, then it would undoubtedly alienate a large portion of the fan community, who, in a climate where Jackson is receiving a public battering, would have been in strong support of a musical that supports his genius, explores his struggles, but leaves the tabloid garbage and proven false narrative at the door.
The amount of time, money and opening date should not be factors when considering the future of this production. If it’s delayed for the right reasons, that’s ok. If they push ahead as is because they believe they’re too far gone to come back, then Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough will be left to face the theatre critics and public reception alone. The fans support, despite often being downplayed, is equally important to the musical’s success and growth.
We are ready to explore a theatrical piece with Jackson’s music and genuis weaved throughout, what we are not ready to do is support people who don’t support us.
Pez Jax
Follow Pez on twitter @Pezjax
Very well written and argued Pez. I am of similar mind to you. It actually astounds me that they would be writing a story that has as it’s ‘bookend’ the development of Michael’s Dangerous tour without (I presume) actually speaking to people who were there for that. There are a few of them about – and certainly more if we consider that some of them were still around for the HIStory tour – they know Michael’s creative process, ditto his frequent collaborators in the studio. Makes you wonder how much ‘homework’ they’ve done, and if they’ve just read the tabloids or so-called bios like the schlock of Tarraborelli, Sullivan and co. They seem to need educating big-time. Thanks for you piece – I will be sharing it.
Brilliant and very right in time, dear Pez Jax! Cannot agree more. We as fans are not going to support the musical written and produced by those who do not support Michael’s innocence. I smelt some bad smell from the start and was among just a few fans who were sober about this new project, this musical. Now I understend my sobriety more. Here it is. And know what: these two individuals, Nottage and Wheeldon, did not surprise me. What surprised me was the Estate answer to us, the fans. 🙁
Michael 😍 Jackson deserves people on his team who support him and believe in his innocence. Michael Jackson is and always will be 100% innocent. Michael Jackson never abused anyone’s child. Both men stories were all for money and if people cannot see through them then they are filled with hatred. As a number one fan of Michael Jackson and girlfriend….I would recommend the MJ Estate to send a MEMO with the words “Your services are no longer needed….you are fired”✌.
Thank you.
[…] Do Stop, We’ve Had Enough! – The Musical Debacle, Explored. […]
I shared this comment on the official site, but it’s the only one like it:
Even though it sounds condescending to attribute these concerns to emotions only as has been done in the statement, and friends and fans deserve respect from the estate, the estate should know also that we are asking that Ms. Nottage be better informed about the real Michael Jackson as the good man that he was. That does not require an apology from her, nor does it restrict what she writes. Yet, if co-executor of the estate, John Branca declared to the press that these accusations were made up stories, why wouldn’t she believe this?
Here is a portion of the Estate’s statement on the matter, which seems quite right to me:
“If we get this right – which we will – theater audiences will have an even deeper appreciation for Michael’s creative genius, just as they did when they watched This Is It nearly 10 years ago. In fact, we believe this will be as poignant an experience, one that connects the audience to Michael in a way in which he is appreciated both as a person and as an artist. The role for Lynn and Chris, among other things, is of course to entertain, but also to depict the events of Michael’s life and his struggles, both internal and external, that molded him into the person, the artist and the creative genius that this musical celebrates. Simply put, if we didn’t trust Lynn and Chris to do justice to Michael, we would not be working with them.
“While we appreciate that, on an emotional level, fans want Lynn and Chris to join the public battle against Leaving Neverland, from an intellectual perspective we believe it is important to understand why Lynn and Chris, to protect the integrity of the musical, should not take a public position at this time one way or another about any issues in Michael’s life. They are biographers who at this stage have been assigned to dispassionately observe their subject’s life and craft their story. Their role is to entertain as well to understand how all of the events and unique personal challenges Michael faced throughout his life shaped him, and molded the character they ultimately present on stage. The story is still a work-in-progress, as they have stated.
“As with the two Cirque du Soleil shows and with Spike Lee’s acclaimed documentaries, we are collaborators. We have significant input and say in the final show. But we believe it is important to give all of our creators the freedom to draw upon Michael’s experiences, in this case, to create a well-rounded and in-depth stage character of Michael Jackson. To that end, we have spent a significant amount of time with them sharing our personal knowledge of Michael and our experiences with him as well as introducing them to others who were an integral part of Michael’s life, so they can fully understand the very complicated and talented artist and man that he was.”
Next question ; Who would watch the musical written by these 2 ? Definitely no fans ! Then who ???
Thanks for the estate to kick these assholes down. And mjj productions did a well great job. ms.pearl is on the ball,” if you’re not sure through his innocence. You’re not part of the magic.wr had gone through too.much already and this is not a good year,lets keep our prayers but right now you’re fired!😂😆😃😄😅
I agree with Nina F., the estate‘s statement sounds right and comprehensible. This musical won‘t be another „Thriller live“ or „Beat It“ and also it won‘t be an off-the-shelf-Musical. This will be something different – a high-class-production by award-winning, high-skilled artists. They have their own way to approach Michael’s life which can be different from the fan’s one. It can also be from the sight of accusers, or people who weren’t interested, or from friends or strangers, whatever… to create a stage character that is Michael with all his facettes bright and dark as the fascinating person and artist he was – and what made him the person and artist he was. I can imagine that what they did is one kind of looking at him, at his life and struggle, everything, for inspiration to create a story that cuts far deeper than fedora hat and glitter glove and Thriller, but reflects Michael in his whole wonderful complexity, in his bright and dark sides, to set a monument for him, as the unique, outstanding human being and creative genius that he was and to make a connection to him in fans and also no-fans.
First I was enraged, too, and didn‘t want to have anything to do with the Musical. But after the Estates explanation I‘m so looking forward to it so much because I know now that it will be different to everything we had before. And it will do justice to him because it will be as high-classed as he was. Therefore, we must give the artists the freedom to work like it‘s necessary for them to create their artwork and stop thinking and seeing everything only from the fan-side. I think it will be worth it.
I agree with Jessie. Fans cannot micromanage every single artistic/interpretive endeavor that appears, using Michael Jackson’s name. It would be a mistake to try to do so. Moreover, what would it look like if this show were “cancelled”? Imagine the headlines: “Michael Jackson Musical Cancelled in the Wake of ‘Leaving Neverland’ Allegations.” Is this the way to improve MJ’s image?
If you believe the show should be postponed or cancelled, you’ll undoubtedly find folks who agree: for *very* different reasons. Here’s one opinion that appeared on jezebel.com, by Rebecca Fishbein.
“Michael Jackson Musical That Should Probably Not Happen is Happening Anyway.” Fishbein begins the article:
“It is now jarring to hear a Michael Jackson song at a wedding, or a coffee shop, or on shuffle via an old Spotify playlist. The allegations made against him in the HBO documentary Leaving Neverland are beyond harrowing, and though perhaps we should have been taking the pedophilia accusations that swirled around him for decades more seriously before this, there is no better time than the present to rethink Jackson’s legacy.
“And yet, the producers behind the upcoming Michael Jackson Broadway musical, Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough, say the show must go on. Playwright Lynn Nottage and director/choreographer Christopher Wheeldon told The New York Times they’re moving forward with the musical, even though Jackson’s ripe for collective cancellation at this point.”
And there you have it. You can find the article here:
https://themuse.jezebel.com/michael-jackson-musical-that-should-probably-not-happen-1834257995
As always a well written article Pez. I was really looking forward to this musical and cannot believe that people who aren’t 100% behind believing Michael’s innocence should be involved in any way. The Estate needs to kick them into touch. It’s the fans that will make this musical a success by their support and love of Michael. I personally don’t intend to support anything put out by non-believers. It’s very disappointing.