Michael Jackson smoked, like you
Michael Jackson suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest on the morning of June 25, 2009 at his Los Angeles mansion. At age 50, he was found by service members and they alerted the health personnel. Almost 10 years after his death, there are still myths and mysteries about the artist's life that are recreated on the networks among hordes of fans. Among them are the empty tobacco packs found in his room. But did the King of Pop smoke?
"Michael had vices like most of us," says London A. William, who is writing a book about the most intimate part of the King of Pop. Jackson smoked occasionally, and he did so "mostly when Jack Daniels drank," he says. Of course, he did it secretly, or in the words of Williams: "he was a smoker who never came out of the closet."
However, the fact that Jackson used tobacco on time is something that clashes with the conception of deity that many followers have about him. As stated by the author, "it is one thing to be a fan, and another to be a fan who cannot differentiate fact from fiction, or believe that his favorite celebrity cannot do anything wrong."
The mythification of the stars of music or cinema, sometimes leads to the denial of everything that does not fit with their perfect and idealized image. The media construction of these characters is fed back with the fan phenomenon. And in its configuration the perception of one's own reality intervenes, but also the individual desires of the people who turn to the constitution of mass icons.
Media idols embody the culture of an era and serve as mirrors of the dominant values of a context. They are the ideal to follow, and of course, a consumer product that the media profit from.
Hence, many find it difficult to accept something as trivial as Michael Jackson smoking. As Williams says, "Although I know that Michael smoked, and although they found empty packages of tobacco in his room, no one believes that he smoked." But he did, and it means "just that he was human, not a god," he continues.
In fact, his daughter Paris Jackson is following in his footsteps, but "he doesn't hide it," says the author. Several US media have photographed her smoking, despite the fact that she is only 20 years old and the State of California does not allow it until she is 21.
However, the biggest controversy has arisen as a result of a video that she herself uploaded to a Stories on her Instagram in which she appeared with a marijuana cigarette. It has been criticized by various fans who do not seem to agree with this consumption, despite being legal in their state.
“Your father wouldn't let you smoke that. Think how upset it would be, "one user commented on Twitter. With a paternalistic attitude, he assured that he was only trying to be the voice of the parents that Paris does not have. "I think I'm doing quite well considering the circumstances," the model replied through the social network.
Perhaps for many, the legacy and image of Michael Jackson should be preserved by his children. Hence, many people who see Paris smoking, "find excuses to deny that too," warns London A. Williams.
Recognizing the weaknesses of one of the greats may mean for some a closer relationship with their idols. For others, it is simply something that clouds a figure that can never be replaced. In any case, "the fact that Michael smoked from time to time did not make him a bad person, far from it," says Williams. It just makes her a human being.
