12 Moments 'Michael' Conveniently Forgot

by Mike SpohrBuzzFeedBuzzFeed StaffI'm an Editorial Director at BuzzFeed who covers the internet’s funniest photos and jokes, weird human history, movie facts, and more.

I’m the oldest writer here at BuzzFeed — a whopping 50 years old! — so I was a kid when Thriller became the biggest album in the world and Michael Jackson reached Elvis/Beatles-level fame. I had his posters all over my walls and desperately wanted one of those red zipper jackets (my mom wisely refused). I even taught myself the moonwalk.

GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP via Getty Images

I had this exact poster on my wall — except, you know, without the autograph.

So yes — I was a full-on Michael Jackson kid. Of course, a lot happened since the halcyon days of Thriller, including disturbing allegations. Still, I wanted to see Michael. His music is timeless, and for all his fame, he remains one of the most mysterious — and frankly bizarre — figures in pop culture history. I didn’t expect the film to answer every question, especially given that his family was closely involved in making it, but I figured it might offer some insight.

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Instead, I walked out with even more questions — about Jackson himself, and about the movie they chose to make. Here they are:

Note: This article contains spoilers. It also contains mentions of child molestation and abuse.

1.

Where were the allegations of child sexual abuse?

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The filmmaking team, led by Antoine Fuqua, initially filmed scenes addressing the 1993 allegations. (The allegations led to a police investigation, but no criminal charges were filed at the time, and the case was settled out of court.) According to Rolling Stone, the original version of the film "largely painted Jackson as the victim of an extortion scheme by" the alleged victim's father. However, these scenes were cut from the final film (and new scenes were filmed) because they would've violated the settlement agreement with the alleged victim.

Michael was arrested in 2003 on separate charges of child molestation and stood trial in 2005, where he was acquitted on all counts. He denied the allegations throughout his life. Since his death there have been similar sexual abuse accusations, including those voiced in the Leaving Neverland documentary.

2.

Why did the movie have absolutely nothing to say about Michael's sexuality?

Pete Still / Redferns

Considering the above, the filmmakers may have decided to avoid the more controversial parts of his personal life, as well as anything that might draw attention to that absence — like his romantic life — and just focus on the music. But when have you ever seen a biopic that ignores its subject’s relationships and instead says, “Yeah, he just has a bunch of pets”?

You'd think the family/filmmakers would have had a POV on his romantic life/sexuality, one way or the other, but they absolutely refused to address it. He never checks anyone out, goes on a date, never even has a crush on a movie star! Sexuality is just not part of his life in the film...which makes little sense when so many of his songs — "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Billie Jean," "In the Closet" — are about love for women and even sex!

If the filmmakers' POV was that he was a straight man with sexual desires, then they should have shown that.

If the filmmakers' POV was that he was asexual or gay, then there should've been a scene where he realizes that he needs to write about straight love and sex for the masses, even if he can't relate.

But instead there's nothing on the subject.

3.

Where was Diana Ross? Brooke Shields?

Ron Galella / Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Michael professed to be in love with Diana Ross throughout his life, and also had a close relationship with Brooke Shields whom he even spoke of possibly marrying. Brooke denies it ever got physical, but if the film wanted to portray his romantic life — these relationships would have been an easy way to cover it.

4.

Were his animals really his only friends?

Sankei Archive / Sankei via Getty Images

Sorry, Bubbles, but the truth is you weren't Michael's only friend. Michael seems to have been isolated and had difficulty making friends, but that doesn't mean he didn't have any. A short list of his friends from the film's time period: Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, Fred Astaire, Emmanuel Lewis, and the aforementioned Diana Ross.

Also, in 1977, he spent six months living away from home in New York City filming The Wiz, where he went to Studio 54 and reportedly hung out with people like Elton John, Truman Capote, Andy Warhol, and Tatum O'Neal, who told Howard Stern they kissed.

The film did have a short montage of Studio 54 (amounting to maybe 10 seconds), but dramatizing this period would have been very entertaining. Unfortunately, the film was intent on presenting him as this loner hanging out with only his pets and mother, so they ignored all this.

5.

Why was the Jacksons’ being J