Reverend Al Sharpton vs. Bill O'Reilly on Michael Jackson's Death

Even death, it seems, cannot save a popular public figure from the throes of a culture war. Evidence of this is seen in the memorializing of Michael Jackson, and comments offered by both Reverend Al Sharpton and political commentator Bill O'Reilly.

Reverend Al Sharpton praised Michael Jackson for his impact on both the African-American community and the United States as a whole. Sharpton cited Jackson as playing a role in getting President Barack Obama elected to office, and stated that Jackson was "interested in causes in the Black community." Sharpton also praised Jackson as a cultural trailblazer.

"It was Michael Jackson who brought the Blacks and Whites and the Asians and the Latinos together," Sharpton said at Jackson's Memorial Service, which was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. "It was Michael Jackson who made us sing 'We Are the World' in order to feed the hungry."

But not everyone was so forthcoming with praises for the popular musician, whose later years were plagued by a series of court cases and publicized personal issues. Sharon Waxman of the Huffington Post, for example, discussed these praises as transforming a man considered a "weirdo" in life into a "saint" with his death. Among Jackson's critics, Bill O'Reilly has come out with some of the strongest critiques.

"Al Sharpton gets up there (at the Memorial Service) and makes him Martin Luther King, Jr.," O'Reilly said during a debate with Columbia University professor Dr. Marc Lamont Hill on his July 7, 2009 program.

O'Reilly went on to take issue with Jackson being "held up as a pillar of the African-American community" in light of Jackson's much-debated skin-color change over the years. He added a question of why, if Jackson was such a highly regarded figure in the African-American community, did he "have his children with White [women]."

"You don't become an African-American icon when you do something like that," he said.

The comments on both sides have sparked more controversy in the news and the public sphere. Many have argued that, whether praising or denouncing Michael Jackson as a public figure, making him more or less than what he was is disrespectful so soon after his death. While some are insulted that Bill O'Reilly would so adamantly seemingly attack Jackson's life, others have called figures like Reverend Sharpton racist for both overly praising Jackson and apparently blaming the media for racist attacks against the popular musician posthumously.

Michael Jackson's death is not the first celebrity death to breed controversy. David Carradine, the American actor known for his role on television's Kung Fu, raised controversy as speculations rose about his cause of death and questions of his sexuality. Anna Nicole Smith, a former model and Playboy Playmate, found her death surrounded by controversy as well, with lawsuits over her will, the custody of her children, and the cause of her death.

These and other celebrity deaths, memorials, and funerals raise many questions about the American culture and its respect of celebrities as both public figures and private people. Many fans, supporters, and media personalities question the necessity of televising these funerals and memorial services. It also brings into question the appropriateness of some political figures and media representative's remarks regarding celebrity deaths. It seems at times that celebrity deaths serve as an outlet for bashing those around the celebrities-other celebrities, troubled family members, the media, et cetera-or the celebrities themselves.

The memorializing and media coverage of Michael Jackson has only pushed these questions further into the limelight. Were Reverend Al Sharpton's comments regarding Michael Jackson's political and social activism, and his critiques of the media, valid or racist? Were Bill O'Reilly's remarks on his television program inappropriate and untimely, or just part of the job when it comes to covering celebrities in the media?

As the world continues to mourn the loss of Michael Jackson, these questions and issues are sure to continue to permeate the media.

Sources:

Sharon Waxman, Jackson's Final Act: Sainthood, The Huffington Post

Ellen/News Hounds, Bill O'Reilly and Bernard Goldberge Use Michael Jackson Funeral to Take Swipes at African American Community, NewsHounds.com

Ken Tucker, Bill O'Reilly rips Michael Jackson, Entertainment Weekly

Geoff Boucher and Cara Mia DiMassa, Michael Jackson hailed during memorial service, Los Angeles Times

Hillel Italie (AP), Michael Jackson in the culture wars, Associated Press