Has the cult of celebrity worship gone too far?
Last week's news highlighted a few Michael Jackson fans around the world committing suicide after being devastated by the pop singer's death.
A UK media outlet Sky News quoted the president of MJJCommunity, one of the world's largest Michael Jackson fan sites based in the UK, saying a total of (at least) 12 suicides occurred, one involving a Briton. EOnline.com mentions a Michael Jackson impersonator in Russia who attempted suicide (but was not successful) and The Barcelona Reporter claims a young girl in Tunisia was the first fan to commit suicide.
The news that saddened fans are willing to die for/because of a celebrity they have never met is disturbing, but also a strangely warped Messianic gesture. Though I'm not equating Michael to Jesus, it is curious to note that just as Jesus' followers are willing to die for him, Jackson's followers are also willing to die because of him.
When the number of suicides was originally reported as seven, Jesse Jackson also gave a brief message encouraging Michael Jackson fans to "celebrate Michael's life by creating futures not funerals." He goes on to say, "To make Michael happy...don't accept the struggle, don't give up and surrender...That's the right thing to do. Just live together...and not die apart. Through all of this, keep hope alive."
Watch Jesse Jackson's full message below.
What do you think about the Michael Jackson fan suicides? Do you think it's a disturbing trend of over-worshipping celebrities? Also, does fame trump faith when it comes to celebrity deaths?
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i agree with all the comments, im just browsing and come up to this report. wow! such stupid actions, to commit suicide? u know, im one of mj's loyal fans and i love him, but to cut ur life is nonsense..! Mj, well he's gone ahead of us, were sure we will have our own time. life is a gift from God, we should enjoy it to the fullest, having God in our lives. For sure, MJ is weeping over the news that his beloved fans commit such actions. If not that michael jackson's time has come, i dont think he will cut his own life, coz he's enjoying his life like most of us do. People, esp. MJ fans, let us move on...! Death is the most certain circumstance in our human nature. His passing only means that although, as if he owned the whole world, i mean the fame, the wealth is not a guarantee that you will live 4ver. Our life is without a purpose without our Creator, our loving God. Let us be grateful that God lend to us a very special, talented person like Mj. Of course, we are sad and grief-stricken, me myself is still grieving, im crying...but its not the end of the world you know. MJ will always be remembered. Let us be happy he is now in a place where there is no pain, suffering, but joy and love with the Lord, our God.
There are some lovely posts here which have really helped me. I am a long term Christian and a long term fan of Michael's. In fact, the year I came to the Lord was the very year I also 'discovered' Michael. In the absence of parents, friends and a family, he became all of those things and more. He was an inspiration, a role model and, alongside the Lord, he is the reason behind all of the positive things I've done with my life since. His death came so suddenly and was such a shock that it has driven me to despair. I haven't been able to work since, or concentrate on anything. I cry many times every day, pray for hours every night and can't go on like this, but can't see things getting better either. Everything is different now. I feel as though I am living, but not alive. Although I know that suicide is never the answer, I can totally understand the despair that those fans felt and my heart goes out to them, and to their loved ones, who need to be assured that there was nothing they could have done to prevent such actions occurring. I believe that God has mercy on those who commit suicide whilst not in the right state of mind. Most fans know that Michael was not God, but it still doesn't ease the pain. For some, losing a loved one, whether that be a 'celebrity' or a family member (and let us remember that for some, he gave more love than ones own family), makes life unbearable.
MJ is not in Heaven, child molesters BURN in HELL!!!
Michael's death was the worst thing to ever happen in my life, and it was even worse that the LA memorial was on my 16th birthday. A few days after my birthday, I got to thinking about Michael and how much I lost, because I've been a fan since my 3rd birthday. After I had been to a girlfriend's house and drank tequila and smoked cigarettes and marijuana with 2 other girls, I walked downstairs to my basement and tried to commit suicide. I remember it so clear: I grabbed an orange extension cord, tied it to the pipes on the basement ceiling, made a loop and a tight double knot. Then I got on a steel chair, put the loop around my neck, and slowly inched towards the edge of the chair. But for some reason, my feet wouldn't move. It was as if someone was blocking me from slipping off of the chair. I felt like someone else was in the basement besides me. I looked down at my feet, and it was definitely a human spirit. I looked even closer, and I knew it was Michael. Tears rolled down my cheeks as Michael moved my hands towards the loop and pulled it off of my neck, and I slowly got down from the chair. Michael Jackson, was, and still is, my life, my soul, and my guardian angel. I dream of the day when Michael and I can be together in heaven, whether I die of natural causes or commit suicide somehow. :/ RIP Michael Jackson. I love you more than anything in the world.
From your biggest fan,
Iris Nippers
Judge not LK for though will also be judged!
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