With the resurgence of Michael Jackson stans coming out of the woodwork due to the recent biopic, I have witnessed fully grown MJ stans continuously discuss adult, NSFW topics with YOUNG CHILDREN AND TEENS. And seeing it happen AGAIN, I have come to a harrowing realisation:
I, Veine Bandit, at age 15-17, was groomed by MANY MJ stans. It was not just one or two people. It was every adult stan I ran into, and every peer I ran into had also been groomed.
I was active on Instagram within the MJ fanspace during 2017 (up until 2019, where my hyperfixation on MJ had ebbed away), and I along with many other young, CHILD fans, were constantly exposed to:
- Pornographic artwork and fanfiction involving Michael Jackson (including an erotic fanfic depicting him with a SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL)
- Hypersexualised discussions about Michael Jackson, including but not limited to articles of clothing (i.e. gold pants, underwear), his body (including descriptions of his genitalia, which originated from a police examination regarding some of the allegations against him; this was discussed in a sexual context, and not the dehumanising context it should've been seen in), and sexual fantasies about him (which ties into the above point as well)
- Fetishisation of his dancing (with claims that "he knew what he was doing" in a sexual context), and hypersexualisation/fetishisation of Michael Jackson overall as a black man disguised as mere attraction to him
- While limited to my group of friends, as far as I'm aware, still worth noting that we were subjected to photos of self harm that was sent to us in response to us not wanting to be friends with one of these adult MJ stans anymore
- Demonising anyone who stepped out of line, questioned the morality of these behaviours, questioned ANY of their information, or didn't show sexual/romantic attraction to MJ (calling them racist, "tabloid junkies", and other insults and demeaning terms)
While I eventually got out of the MJ standom, seeing them all once again repeat this cycle (and seeing people my age now doing this, continuing the cycle of abuse) has made me relive my trauma, process it as what it was, and has enraged me. You are all vile, and I wish I could find the freaks who groomed me so I could call them out and get the justice I and many others deserve.
To all who read this: do not partake in their cultist behaviours, do not let them tell you that their behaviour is okay. Do not let them indoctrinate you the way they did with me as a child. You can enjoy MJ's music, you can appreciate his humanitarianism, you can support his ideals and cause, but you shouldn't worship him like these groomers do. You shouldn't groom children into these behaviours.
