Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch

On November 20, 2003, seventy officers descended upon Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara, California. What were they looking for? No one knows for sure, but new allegations of child molestation were at the center of the raid. What is immediately interesting is the fact that scenes of the officers roaming the grounds were played over and over on the news throughout the course of the day, and for several days afterwards. Are we to believe that the presence of media cameras was coincidental? Even a blind man could see that the sensationalism of a raid on Jackson’s empire was caught on camera so as to color him in a light that would fortify the allegations that had been raised against him.

Certainly any suspicion of child molestation should be taken seriously, but was it really necessary to use seventy officers? Could the police department afford to lose so much manpower at one time, or were the taxpayer’s dollars being used to pay for the overtime of bringing in more officers?

From the moment that the charges were made public, police and the district attorney made certain that the press was privy to their actions, yet they decided to keep hush-hush about what they were actually looking for, and what they recovered. At least until it was time to do a special on 60 Minutes. Then suddenly we are shown shots of the inside of Jackson’s home, the guest room for children, and some hidden passages. What part of the investigation made it important for the general public to know or see these things? Again, such visualization was another media vehicle used in order to portray Jackson as some sort of deviant.

Woody Allen

Speaking of deviant, one can’t help but wonder where all the fanfare and sensationalism was when Woody Allen was accused of molesting his own biological daughter and stepdaughter.. Though the press reported on it, the spin of these allegations were that they were primarily the claims of an angry, bitter Mia Farrow, his then lover, during a rather heated and very public custody battle. There weren’t seventy officers bum-rushing his home. There wasn’t a huge media circus swarming around him after nude pictures were found of Ms. Farrow’s adopted daughter in his apartment, a young woman he later married.

Jackson on the other hand has been painted as a weirdo, an eccentric with an unnatural affinity for children. But since when does loving children make someone weird? Jackson has made no secret of the fact that he adores children. His Neverland Ranch is a children’s paradise visited by thousands of kids each year.

Allegations of molestation first arose against Jackson in 1993. A young boy accused Jackson of fondling him, and an investigation ensued. However, when Jackson settled a civil suit with the family for several million dollars, the child refused to testify at trial and the charges were dismissed. Once again the media had a field day over the developments of that case. Instead of determining that perhaps Jackson was indeed innocent, much ado was made over the fact that he paid the family off. What innocent man would do such a thing they asked? Interestingly enough, the motives of the family, and their willingness to accept millionaire status over justice wasn’t addressed. As a result of that settlement, Thomas Sneddon, the man who led the probe of that case, fought hard to revise the law in California. Previously a child could not be forced to testify in a molestation case, however legislature changed that shortly after Jackson’s discharged case. Additionally, a civil case cannot be settled until the criminal case has been decided upon.

Since that 1993 case there hasn’t been a decrease in the number of visitors at Jackson’s ranch. Parents still bring their children in droves, allowing them to spend nights and weekends in the famous singer’s home. Given that information, it seems rather suspect that another allegation surfaces some ten years, and thousands of kids later. In fact it wasn’t until after an interview given by Jackson in February in which he confirmed his love for children and revealed that he saw nothing improper with allowing them in his bed, that these new allegations arose. Though the victim was originally not identified, it didn’t take long for the media to reveal that the child was the same young man who appeared with Jackson in the television interview. It was in that same interview that the reporter, Martin Bashir, took great liberties in his airtime to interject his interpretation of Jackson’s behavior, inserting enough conjecture to make one wonder if he were imploring authorities to take some sort of action. However, there was no action to take, because there was nothing wrong, at least not initially. Isn’t ironic that an accuser surfaces after a media driven interview publicly questions the habits of a man who has had thousands of children visit him over the past ten years since the first accusation?

But let’s examine for a moment this claim. Shortly after the interview, the mother of the boy goes to see none other than Larry Feldman, the attorney who represented the previous accuser, claiming that she felt her son had been molested by Jackson. Feldman referred the family to a psychologist and voila, molestation had been established from the police and media standpoint. From there the snowball began to roll, culminating in the highlighted raid, and later the very public showing of Jackson in handcuffs, and the infamous mug shot. With the current events and soldiers dying daily in Iraq, it seems as though continuous shots of Michael Jackson’s mug on every news sixty second commercial slot was a bunch of overkill.

And what of the actual arrest? In the days that preceded Jackson turning himself in, police initially lied, indicating that they did not know Jackson’s whereabouts. The field day that ensued, made Jackson out to be some sort of fugitive that was evading police when in fact his location in Las Vegas was indeed known. His surrender had already been orchestrated even as those lies were continuing to be broadcast. Yet far be it from the media to retract their untruths. They merely covered them with a new story.

And as if the frenzy wasn’t already out of control, some overzealous reporter in search of exclusive tabloid information planted recording materials on Jackson’s plane as he was returning to Los Angeles to meet with police. While lawyers argued the infringement of privacy and violation of Michael’s rights, the media hinted at the fact that damning evidence was contained on those recordings. They did this without the slightest bit of proof. But then I guess the media only needs speculation in order to broadcast assumptions that are bound to make ratings.

Where I wonder were the abundance of cameras in the Tommy Lee case where a child actually drowned on his premises. There was a two second comment on the matter, followed by dated photographs of the singer that were in no way connected with the case. Occasionally there was a shot of him leaving the courtroom, but for the most part his case started and ended with very little hoopla.

In more recent news, comedienne Paula Poundstone was accused of molesting a foster child that was in her care. Her arrest, though announced on the news, was not given the significant airtime or degrading photographs that have been displayed in the Michael Jackson case. Though the children were placed in protective custody, there was no immediate outcry for the children to be removed from her on a permanent basis. The fate of Jackson’s children however was immediately discussed. Also of note, is the staggering difference in the amount of bail recommended in each case. Two hundred thousand dollars bought freedom for Poundstone versus three million for Jackson.

Not to be forgotten are also the scandals within the Catholic Church. Several counts of child molestation have been documented so many so as new cases barely receive more than two paragraphs of newspaper print. Yet these priests are rarely photographed, and those who have been to trial have not had every aspect of their lives run through the media ringer with as much fanfare as Jackson, whose case has not even gotten as far as jury selection.

There is no question that the media tailors its portrayal of the news. It uses its ability to influence the mind of the general public, and to smear reputations at will. The issue of child molestation is repugnant and deserves to be punished to the full extent of the law. However punishment should be based on substantiated claims that result in a conviction of the crime, not an accusation. Michael Jackson has only been accused of the crime yet his character and previous humanitarian acts have been thrown out the proverbial window in order to portray him as some child preying maniac.

Is Michael guilty or innocent? Only time will tell. However it is without a doubt that the media will continue to converge on his every action like a shark fest, showing his image, his home and those around him in the most unflattering manner possible. However in the event that he is found innocent, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for an apology from the likes of the various radio and television stations that chose to sensationalize or poke fun at him. After all, why would they do that? By smearing Michael Jackson they’ve accomplished two objectives; the defamation of a black man, and incredible ratings. And both are what they want the most.

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