Nice guy? It's called "Grooming"

Michael Jackson is beloved here in the Philippines, where androgenous entertainers are no big deal and where music and dancing is king.

So the latest HBO special that claims he was a pedophile is big news here.

since sexual abuse of all sorts, including sex tourism that preys on young boys and the suspicion of a lot of priests who have girlfriends or abused young men is commonly believed, one would expect many in the Philippines would believe, alas, that their idol was an evil man.

I haven't seen the whole program, but from short takeouts, it seems he treated the boys and their families to trips, gifts, etc. and after befriending them, gradually increased the movement to full abuse.

In normal people, this is called courting, and the aim is marriage.

In abnormal people, this is called grooming of a victim, and it is of course worse if the victim is underaged or not recognizing that a line has been crossed.

The problem is worse than rape per se: Stranger rape is terrible, but the guilt accompanying the episode can be worked with by a psychologist until they recognize they did not consent and nothing they did could have changed things.

But when a person has been groomed, there is partial "consent" and often sexual enjoyment, both of which leads to ambivalent feelings and guilt and later, deep anger when the person grows up and realizes it was not a loving relationship but that they "fell" for the strategy of a sociopath who only wanted to use them.

Often the sociopath is a "nice guy" (or sometimes a "nice girl") and so it is hard for outsiders to believe the accusations, and given the number of false accusations out there, especially when money can be easily gotten for a good acting job.

so fans who deny such things are fighting back:
Clearly, many fans choose to remain loyal, and have made it their mission to protect Michael’s name. They called the series a “mockumentary” and attacked the integrity of the accusers. Wade even revealed that he received death threats.
Read more: https://preen.inquirer.net/92869/why-leaving-neverland-is-a-must-watch-for-michael-jackson-fans#ixzz5hS1rgkTY

sigh.

and one wonders how many more stories will come out of Hollywood, stories that will make the "catholic crisis" look minor in comparison.

Will I watch the film? Maybe when it hits HBO here.

But I've treated a lot of young girls who were sexually abused by relatives, including their fathers, so I might give the show a pass.

Sigh.