Thread by @VP_Advocacy

THREAD//

Criminology: Labelling Theory

Case Study: Michael Jackson and the Media

Labelling theory is a criminological theory that examines who is labelled deviant and why they are labelled deviant. It also explores why the public react to so-called deviants the way they do - focussing on one of the most powerful reactors: the media.

In this thread, I will be applying labelling theory to Michael Jackson – a man who has been stigmatised and labelled by the media for the majority of his life - and since his murder in 2009.

Crime and deviance are created through interactions & reactions. Core idea: no-one is deviant. There is nothing essentially deviant about deviant behaviour other than the way we react to it. In other words, if we reacted differently, the behaviour wouldn’t be classed as deviant.

Who’s definition of deviant behaviour wins? Who gets to decide who is labelled deviant and who is not? That depends on who has the most social/economic/cultural influence -the most powerful in our society. The media is one of the most powerful entities in the world.

In the early 80’s, Michael Jackson reached levels of fame and success that has never been matched. This is what he had to say about the media: “The minute I started breaking the all-time record in records sales, I broke Elvis’s records, I broke the Beatles records…

…the minute I became the all-time best selling album in the history of the Guinness Book of World Records, overnight they called me a freak, they called me a homosexual, the called me a child molester, they said I tried to bleach my skin…

… they did everything to turn the public against me. This is all a complete, complete conspiracy, you have to know that."

https://twitter.com/AndrewGreene864/status/1210991866470174720?s=20

The reactions of the media to deviant behavior/people or behavior/people they define as deviant is crucial and powerful in effecting how we see that behavior/person. Labelling, stigmitisation and reactions become amplified leading to a process that is called moral panic.

There are many contributory factors that can explain why the media has labelled Michael Jackson and his success as deviant. However, I would argue that one of the most significant reasons is the endemic systematic racism that is entrenched in our media industry.

How the public perceive Michael Jackson is largely influenced by the racist narratives that underpin the media. What does Michael Jackson look like? What kind of man was he? The chances are, you were taught the answers to these questions by the media.

Michael Jackson's appearance, words and actions have been intentionally and maliciously manipulated and distorted by the media to portray him as an eccentric freak - completely dehumanised - making him fair game to bully, torment, and disrespect.

https://twitter.com/manuelabezamat/status/1194931462098898949?s=20

In 1993, Michael Jackson was falsely accused of child molestation by a man named Evan Chandler. He attempted to extort $20Mil in return for not going public with his allegations. MJ refused to pay. If you are unaware of this - you can thank the media.

themichaeljacksonallegations.com/the-1993-alleg…

2019 brought us Leaving Neverland - fully supported and promoted by the media in the hopes that they can finally erase that black man's legacy. They failed.

youtube.com/channel/UCoSck…

The court documents pertaining to the allegations against Michael Jackson prove that they are the epitome of false. However, the media have systematically and robustly orchestrated a censorship - allowing the facts and evidence that exonorates him gather dust.

If you would like to learn more about the allegations against Michael Jackson from reliable sources such as court documents - please visit the following website. Researcher and author: @JuliaBerkowitz1.

themichaeljacksonallegations.com

The media has taught the public what to think and feel about Michael Jackson & how to respond to any news about him: be disgusted, proclaim guilty, call him a freak, call him "wacko jacko" [a racial slur], strip him form his ethnicity & call him a white man. Moral panic ensues.

The media was disgusted that a black man owned half the music industry. The media was angry that a black man won the hearts of every race, every age - every demographic - globally. The media was repulsed that a black man had more success and money than their white idols.

The media responded to Michael Jackson's 'deviant' behaviour by labelling and stigmitising him as a freak, a deviant and a criminal - stripping him from his pride and identity.

The media's relationship with Michael Jackson is unlikely to change - but the media's power will.