Michael Jackson is one of the most influential artists whose legacy still exists today. Starting off in the Jackson 5 and then becoming a solo artist, he has helped transform the music industry as we know it. Even though he is a music icon, he has been involved in scandals that he, before his death, deemed not to be true.

“Leaving Neverland,” HBO’s documentary, focuses on Jackson’s alleged abuse of two young boys, now men, Wade Robson, and James Safechuck. It grapples with their decisions not to reveal the truth until adulthood. Both boys provided testimonies under oath for accusations made against the singer in 1993, in which they denied any acts of sexual assault.

Fans are divided on whether they should continue to be in support of artists that have done heinous acts. It is a serious issue that many Americans have been grappling with recently as new stories of assault make their way into the hands of the public.

Mr. Jones, an English teacher at the iSchool, recently watched the documentary and provided his thoughts on the accusations made against Jackson. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking ever since this behavior of mostly men of misogynistic behavior, rape, pedophilia. There has been a question whether you can enjoy the writing or the music.”

Jackson’s fans are on polar opposite sides of the spectrum in regards to his innocence. Some were visibly stunned after hearing about the allegations in the documentary.

Twitter user, Candy Caviar, said,“I’m so disturbed after watching #LeavingNeverland. It’s so dark & disturbing. I feel their pain.” Others have expressed their unwavering support for the artist.

Twitter user MaryJo said, “Michael Jackson is innocent and I hope HBO pays a pretty big price for these lies.”

To Mr. Jones, “The conversation seems black and white all the time, you are either this or that. I always aired to the side of careful deliberate thinking about it. I wish for it to be a thoroughly aired out conversation where everyone enters into it without having a side.”

The music industry has led us astray into believing it is a perfect organization in which great people make great music.

R&B artist, Robert Sylvester Kelly, famously known as R. Kelly, was recently denounced for his relationships with minors. With a six-part documentary called, “Surviving R.Kelly,” it introduces victims and their testimonies of Kelly’s assaults.

Kelly has been the subject of numerous allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct since the 1990s. They have often related with underage girls, all charges he “categorically denies”. In 2002, Kelly was prosecuted for 13 counts of child pornography, but he was exculpated of all charges in 2008.

Ms. Leimsider, assistant principal at the iSchool, recognizes that “there is a movement in the U.S where people are trying to bring to light some actions men have taken in terms of sexual harassment. ” A massive amount of former fans have now easily stopped supporting Kelly’s music and eventually revealed the casualties he had contributed to throughout the years.

Though R. Kelly has been put on trial with thorough investigations for years, it is only now that the voices of these victims are being heard. The progression of sharing opinions and experiences has taken us a step forward in revealing many who have gotten away with these crimes.

Dream Hampton, an executive producer of the docuseries, explained, “I wish that he would experience a kind of social death and that people who still vociferously declare him innocent — or their favorite artist, or worthy of having his work separated from who he is — that they are denied that.”

Many people struggle deciding if they should still support an artist for their work disregarding their actions, or if they should not contribute to their success and legacy by streaming their music or going to their concerts. The debate of yes and no has created an opportunity to bring to light many other people who have committed the same deeds.

This national conversation surrounding fame and abuse is one that has just now begun receiving massive attention. Many are beginning to wonder why now is it currently being recognized.

Leimsider noted, “The societal problems are really big, and I think there are reasons that they haven’t been fixed. There is power in people sharing their stories and feeling heard.”

More and more people have felt comfortable being candid about their experiences involving sexual assault. Many credit the MeToo Movement, for bringing awareness to the struggles of sexual assault victims, who are often too fearful to come forward about their realities. Often victims feel the need to protect their perpetrators, even more so in cases where they are a person with fame.

After the premiere of these documentaries, there has been an astounding increase in people speaking up about their situations. These movements have allowed many to come out their shells and speak on behalf of many who are afraid to do so. It has opened the eyes of many who felt alone when going through these circumstances that has happened to many people.

Yet, this current climate is indicative of the idea that sexual abuse leaves psychological scars, and fame is sometimes seductive enough to unravel moral compasses as well as, the difficulty of trying to love a person that may be hurting you. Many people loved Kelly and Jackson.. And it is challenging for a number of people to disassociate the perceived images of these two men from their actions.

Thus making it extremely difficult to let go of someone you once perceived as admirable and inspiring. Fans have been facing this challenge of whether to let go of their childhood or remain in the past and allow it to overtake their opinions in the present.

While some fans have found it easy to let go of their support for Kelly, Jackson fans are finding it hard to completely remove themselves from the icon. There is no doubt that as a musician, Jackson fans have trouble with leaving him and his music. Michael Jackson was for so many the soundtrack of their lives.

He transcended racial, gender, generational and global boundaries, unlike any other artist. He is no longer around to endure the rage of his accusers and heartbroken fans. He was significantly mainstream and child-friendly in a way that R&B legend, R. Kelly, was not.

In reference to accusations made against Kelly, iSchool Junior, Cesar Medina explained, “I mean I don’t know. I just don’t think people should be listening to his music. He was someone who inflicted pain on so many people. I just think it’s unfair.”

Many people continue to stream Jackson’s music on many streaming platforms. He continues to hold that feeling of nostalgia, captivating an enormous amount of his loyal fans that continue to listen to his music.

Though, as a nation, we have been slowly beginning to accept people’s opinions and supportive of victims of assault by figures like Kelly and Jackson. People have taken the opportunity to take part in the #MeToo and #ItsOnUs movements.

The music industry has not proven to be as accepting of the #MeToo Movement and its canceling of artists that have caused harm to others. Spotify confirmed a sixteen percent percent increase in the sales of Kelly’s music after the premiere of the docuseries, “Surviving R. Kelly.” It is unclear what will become of the legacy of these two public figures. Will people make the decision to completely disregard the acts that inflicted pain on so many people or will they choose to silence them?

As for people who have worked either for and with these high profile figures, the challenge lies in feeling obligated to talk about the work done by the person accused.

Mr. Jones added, “Women, as far as the #MeToo Movement is concerned, who have worked artistically with men who have been accused. They are held accountable for speaking out against the men. Instead of talking about the work they’ve done after these men, they are constantly forced to discuss the work they have done with them.”

Even with this issue, there is no denying that this influx of individuals reporting their stories of sexual harassment has inspired more people to be candid about their own experiences.

This impact has extended across all industries. Reports by NBC news show that “traffic to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s page about sexual harassment spiked with the start of the #MeToo movement. With the rise in traffic came an increase in harassment charges brought to the EEOC, more lawsuits filed as a result of those charges, and more money recovered for victims of sexual harassment.”

Sexual Violence continues to be a significant problem in the United States. “Every 92 seconds an American is sexually assaulted. The majority of Sexual Assault victims are under 30 years old.” With the help of the #MeToo Movement people are now empowered and comfortable with revealing their hardships and encounters with sexual harassment. Though, there is still more work to do regarding sexual violence in and outside of the workplace. The effect the #MeToo Movement has had on the trajectory of this country is undeniable.