What the hell should we do with Michael Jackson?
Jackson was, without a doubt, one of the most electrifying performers to ever step foot on a stage. His music is timeless. His videos are some of the most creative ever produced, and his dance moves were out of this world.
He has left such a massive impact on the world of entertainment, that relegating him to the dustbin of history leaves a massive gaping hole in the fabric of pop culture.
However, it's nearly impossible to separate Jackson from the allegations of child molestation that have plagued him for decades. The 2019 HBO documentary "Leaving Neverland" in which Jackson's friends, Wade Robeson and James Safechuck, recall chilling stories of molestation told in graphic detail, make it impossible to view Jackson the same way again.
But what if he is innocent? Then the legacy of an amazing performer who gave away millions in charitable donations has been tarnished all because of speculation, lies, and grifters.
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The allegations put MTV in a real Catch-22. Jackson was one of the starts that helped make TV into a major force in the world of music. So much so that it named the Video Vanguard Award after the performer.
The lifetime achievement award is given to performers who've made a huge impact on the art of music videos. Past winners include Jackson, David Bowie, Madonna, The Beatles, Beastie Boys, and Beyoncé.
"There's a lot of heated discussion at the network about how to handle the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award this year, and it's getting ugly," Page Six reported. "There's talk about if they should change the name, or get rid of it altogether. [There's also talk] about who would present it and who would accept it. It's a mess."
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Missy Elliott was given the Video Vanguard award at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards, but the network only referred to it as the Video Vanguard Award. However, in her speech. However, Elliott referred to it as the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award
Momento en el que Missy Elliott recibe su premio y menciona a Michael Jackson.#MichaelJacksonMadeMTV#VMAs pic.twitter.com/CVSGUR8Wwc
— Sebastián Martínez 🌙 (@SebasMjj) August 27, 2019
Some say we should separate the art from the artist. But an artist's work and personal life are inseparable.A performers life — public and private — ads meaning and context to their art.
Further, is it really possible for anyone who's seen "Leaving Neverland" to listen to "Billie Jean" without thinking about the disturbing allegations?
In the end, it's a personal decision everyone has to make for themselves. But, if you're conflicted, as Jackson once sang, "You are not alone."
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Ketel Marte was brought to tears during an MLB game after facing a shameful fan taunt.
Baseball manager's poignant support for a player brought to tears after shameful fan taunt
Whether they’re expecting perfection from their favorite players or, worse, behaving callously toward opposing teams, sports fans often forget that athletes are human beings. But athletic competition has the ability to unify and uplift, even amid such painful and unpleasant encounters. Take, for example, a major-league baseball game held June 24, 2025 between the home team Chicago White Sox and visiting Arizona Diamondbacks.
A shameful low point occurred when Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte was at bat in the seventh inning. Per ESPN, a fan reportedly yelled out a comment regarding Marte’s late mother, Elpidia Valdez, who died in a 2017 car accident in the Dominican Republic. Team personnel, including manager Torey Lovullo, then requested the 22-year-old fan be ejected. (Though he was remorseful and admitted his actions were inappropriate, according to an ESPN source, he was nonetheless banned indefinitely from all MLB ballparks.) "We commend the White Sox for taking immediate action in removing the fan," the MLB said in a statement. Marte reportedly declined to comment.
- YouTubewww.youtube.com
While the fan’s behavior is inexcusable, it did spark a powerful and inspiring moment. After hearing the comment, Marte was visibly upset, prompting Lovullo to walk on the field, put his arm around him, and offer some words of encouragement. "[I said,] 'I love you, and I’m with you, and we’re all together, and you’re not alone,'" Lovullo said in a post-game interview, as documented by The Rich Eisen Show. "'No matter what happens, no matter what was said or what you’re heard, that guy is an idiot.’"
According to Arizona Republic, Lovullo heard the fan’s comment but didn’t want to repeat it. “I looked right at [Marte] when I heard,” he said. “I looked right at him, and he looked at the person, as well. He put his head down and I could tell it had an immediate impact on him, for sure."
Elsewhere in the post-game interview, the manager called the moment "terrible" and reflected on why he stood up for Marte. "Fans are nasty, and fans go too far sometimes," he said. "I love my players, and I’m gonna protect them…I’ve known Ketel for nine years. He’s had some unbelievably great moments and some hardships as well and some really tough moments in his life. I know those. At the end of the day, we’re human beings, and we have emotions. I saw him hurting, and I wanted to protect him."
- YouTubewww.youtube.com
The following day, the Chicago White Sox X account sent out a message in support of Marte, writing, "We’re with you" and "Baseball is family." On The Rich Eisen Show, the show's host addressed the need to eradicate this kind of toxic athlete-fan interaction: "I was hearing [people saying], 'There’s no place for this in major league baseball.' There isn’t. There’s no place for this in our society. I understand that people are saying the MLB has got to do something about this. Fans have a right to heckle players—this is something that has happened forever…But there is a line."
In another recent, depressing sports moment with a beautiful coda, let’s look to Game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the eventual champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. During the first quarter, Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton tore his right Achilles tendon—a devastating injury that could potentially sideline him for most of the 2025-2026 season. Following the game, in a lovely display of sportsmanship, Thunder point-guard and league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander went to the Pacers locker room to check on his competitor. In a press conference, he said, "You just hate to see it, in sports in general. But in this moment, my heart dropped for him. I can't imagine playing the biggest game of my life and something like that happening. It’s so unfortunate."
- YouTubewww.youtube.com