ivy;3432559 said:
I'm thankful for the communication we get from the Estate, I'm also glad that we have the opportunity to voice our concerns to the Estate through the Online Team. Have there been times that I haven't been happy or wanted more? Yes there have been times that I wished the Estate was more proactive, more open and more transparent. I also realize that it's impossible for them to make us all happy all the time.
However there's one thing that I want to point out.
As long as the Estate is in debt and in probate I think money making is quite important. Obviously we wouldn't want Michael (his kids) to lose his assets and have continuing debts. Also it's important to realize that while 10% of any money earned goes to executors 90% go to the beneficiaries.
any badmouthing of executors and their projects and accompanying protests , boycotts etc hurt the money that the executors will earn but at the same time it would hurt the money Michael's beneficiaries earn 9 fold.
No one has said that making money is not important. But to make it seem that the executors' reputation (in terms ofmaking money) is more inportant than MJ's reputation (which can also effect the amount of money garnered) is a gross misrepresentation. That is the point of my post.
BTW executors having people badmouthing their projects and protesting some of their decisions is their own fault. Very few fans were against the executors in the beginning (and almost all preferred them before a family member) but some of their decisions including Cascio-gate and their responses to Latoya and non response to Aaron has made some who were previously in their corner question now their motives. People react to their perceptions. If the estate does not want an apathetic fan base indifferent to any of their projects, they have to show fans they are in the battle with them to uphold MJ's legacy artisitically, financially, and with regards to personal attacks. If the only concern of theirs is finances to the point that they cannot see how the others two effect this, than we have a problem.
The fans on the other hand are influenced by any information coming out. There have been people attacking on executors and projects simply based on what Latoya said. Several Jackson's had spoke against to several actions and projects done by the executors in the last 2 years and there's a group of fans that believes this and protests many and even all things coming out from the Estate. So from fan perspective the money the estate makes can be contingent on executors name.
Not true entirely. When you are talking about the middle of the road fanbase, not many pay attention to what the family says about the executors or what TINI or Karen say about them either. Most of the fan base were in the corner of the executors and at least thought them a much better choice than the family. No way anyone can say that a story from LaToya about the excutors influenced the fan base against the executors more than the Cascio debacle or their response to the Carter debacle. If fan opinion for them has changed, it is for these two reasons that their motives have been called into question.
Also, people keep saying you cannot sue for the dead and they should not have brought more attention to theAaron story by making a formal statement. What about us? Many had to keep emailing the story to the Estate wondering if they knew what was going on. If you look back at the thread when the story broke, you will see that it was asked many times, "Does the Estate know about this? What are they going to do? What is their response?". For a month, they let fans wait, and question again and again. Just like they released this simple statement now about what their position was on the story, they could have released this statement a month ago to the fans to keep them abreast of what was going on. Yet, we had to hear from Memefan what the Estate said, otherwise we still would not have even known if they were aware of the story. Now, at this late junction, they want to release a statement? Whatever. They still would not have addressed the fans about why they did not answer Aaron if so many people had not gotten on their case for not addressing "formally" Aaron's story while addressing Latoya's as the opening line of their letter points to. When opening this is what they say
Fans have asked the Estate to elaborate on its decision to respond to some of LaToya Jackson’s comments as she promoted her new book, as well as its decision not to respond formally to a false and erroneous report out of Australia that allegedly quoted Aaron Carter as saying he and Michael used drugs together.
I don't know why fans are so thankful to them for providing this letter. They did so, not because fans have been writing them for almost a month to know their stance, but because they again want to emphasize that their reputation is more important than MJ's essentially (read between the lines). This latest explanation as to why they were correct in their decision making is falling on my deaf ears.
As for the general public I think they long made their mind about Michael's alcohol and drug use and relationship with children. I don't think their purchase decision will be influenced that much.
I disagree on this point. Many people were outraged at MJ for what the media portrayed him as being. They fed into the belief that he was a monster. When he died, they became nostalgic. They chose to remember MJ as they wanted to. For many, this was sans the scandal. They were suddenly more willing to give MJ the benefit of the doubt that they would not have given him in life. However, with stories like these, that old anger and fire is reignited. Stories such as these make people feel like, "I knew it. I knew he did it". All of that good feeling they had for him begins to disappear. Some mainstream comedians even took pedophile joke shots at him again, demeaning him even further in the public's eyes. This story was nothing but a confirmation of what they were inclined to believe before. Now, do you think these same people are going to want to take their children to MJ endorsed events? When their children just heard stories about him giving drugs and cocaine to a minor, and pedo jokes rehashed again, do you think these children are going to think of MJ in a kind light? Do you think it serves to change public perception about MJ for future generations or further cement the talented pedo image? All of this has an effect for the earning potential for the estate now and for the future. Had this Aaron story happened in isolation, it would not be a big deal. But taken in connection with both very public accusations, and the last 15 years of media bias and decemation, and it becomes another stroke in warped painting representing MJ's image.
The general public does not know OK! is a tabloid rag who pay for interviews and may make stories up. The general public does not know of Daphne's past. It does not matter the general public does not know who Aaron is before this, as they did not know either of the previous two children before they accused MJ. And then when you have reputable news outlets like CNN reporting it as well!?
MJ was accused of everything under the sun and still sold. Yes. But he was still here. He was charismatic. He had a different spirit and could rally his fans. Now you are trying to market him to a divided fan base, a youthful market and a public that continually hears stories reaffirming every bad thought they had about him and he is not here. Not as easy to sell.
No, the estate dropped the ball on this one.
