Rousing the troops gets harder every time, who wants to be seen supporting child molestation?
- Several vigils organised to show support for Michael Jackson have generated only a lukewarm turnout. Online fan clubs of the pop legend had arranged a well-publicised series of candlelit events in cities across the world.
But in LA, New York, Montreal and Paris only a handful of supporters responded.
....Media interest in the superstar performer has been intense, but in New York a total of only 30 loyal fans turned out to vigils in Times Square and Manhattan.
They wore Jackson T-shirts and carried placards with the slogans "Michael is innocent" and "It's the press who are scum", reported news agency AFP.
In Paris, fans gathered on the Champs Elysees and walked to the Arc de Triomphe.
Holding candles, they sang We Are the World, the 1985 African famine relief hit written by Jackson and Lionel Richie.
"It's really hard for us," Pascale Hatot told news agency AP.
"I haven't been able to sleep or eat for three days."
But the strength of feeling was not reflected in turnout - only 60 fans attended.
The vigils met with a similar response in other cities, with only six fans attending in Montreal, Canada, and handfuls in Rome and Toronto.
An event on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles - in Jackson's home state of California - attracted 25 fans.
....But a passer-by at one of the New York vigils said the low turnout reflected low public support for Jackson.
"If that's the best they could manage, I guess it kind of sums up how many people really think Jackson's innocent," said Jeanine Baylis as she left Times Square. [BBC]
Article comments
1 - Anita Campbell
Michael Jackson has become a pitiable figure who is isolated from the society around him. Unfortunately he does not realize how far his behavior diverges from the general mores of the public he purports to entertain. I'm sure some Jacko fan out there will protest loudly, but I agree that it's tough to support someone who openly admits to some very unhealthy behavior with children.
2 - Eric Olsen
Yes Anita, I agree. This all seems so deja vu because he has been doing these same things - completely apart from the question of crossing the line into molestation - for years and years and the public has been saying this is very strange, almost certainly inappropriate, and no one close to him seems to have had the will or the nerve to tell him to get it together and grow the hell up. Or else he just won't listen or just doesnt' give a damn.
3 - Natalie Davis
The idea of "Micheal Is Innocent" vigils was quite a bit much to begin with. Let the courts do their job. Apparently, most people are with the scummy media in assuming guilt or they are withholding judgment, the latter being, IMO, the wiser course of action.
4 - Big McGee
I hope Michael gets lynched.
5 - TDavid
I'm listening on a local talk radio station ATM that tomorrow papers are going to report that there are explicit letters that Michael wrote forming part of the major part of the prosecution.
6 - Natalie Davis
Yeah, it's already being reported online; saw it earlier today. Really mindblowing stuff.
Lovely, McGee. Geez, that's enough BC today.