It's the way it goes. MJ's music is such that it's pretty damn hard for the general public not to get into it. So they'll manage to get around praising him, and say stuff like, "he was good when he was 'black'", or they'll say "I don't like him but this one song is good." Of course, that "one song" could be Billie Jean, Beat It, Thriller, BAD, Smooth Criminal, Way You Make Me Feel, Don't Stop Til' You Get Enough, Black Or White...
At the end, most people know it, but a lot of them are afraid to say it: he's a great artist.
But when it comes down to the brass taxes, they'll eat his **** up. Case in point, Thriller 25.
Oh, another popular one is, "I don't like him as a person but I like his music."
Well, I guess MJ doesn't like you but he likes your money

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