My friends and the people I know respect Michael and I never really associated with people who didn't in some way give him a chance.
For me, this was the same at school and through college and uni through to work.
I wore a homemade mj keychain\fob/key ring necklace around my neck throughout my teen and into early adulthood which most people found intriguingly creative.
At school and in further education I included a lot of Creative stuff to show my admiration for him and got A + in my art projects. I based mj around my exam projects in most subjects(when it was possible).
I took a very creative and proud yet respectful approach to my love for this man so mostly everyone knew.
I didn't even have to open my mouth.
Most just knew. ^^
In the very early 1990's at my school most of my year did like his music. They seemed Impressed with Dangerous videos yet more so with the BAD sound. Around 40 per cent of my year did not understand Dangerous.
The P.E teacher borrowed my JAM single cassette for a Psychical education lesson saying *it was good music
for her lesson today*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCuUd_Lu1ds
Some who were not friends of mine, called him names and in 89/90/ that was mostly about skin colour.
In 1991/92 it was mostly about facial appearance and some of those were confused with his artful mind, his look, His structure and his mystery but I surrounded myself with the people who had time for him, who gave him a chance or could see beyond the fabrications and in London and the small city I lived in, there were enough of us.
From early 90s My gothic and my rock friends were highly impressed with the fact he worked with slash for *Give in To Me.*
Most people liked and questioned the cool fact that he could incorporate every genre every sound, so there really was something for everyone regarding his music.
My father called him a great showman.
When the media spewed out filthy lies in 1993 there was a lot of hate, rather more so predictable questions, which would be met with a sensible answer from my friends and me.My Gothic friends felt empathy for him in 1993 onwards.
At my College through to uni, you either liked Michael. Nirvana, Metallica or Naughty by Nature ...
Or Kate moss.
In 97 most people I worked with (mainly nurses) either went or were going to the History tour.
Some of the people I knew "grew out" of Michael but most of my close friends love him to this day just like me. ^^