Unlike Barbra Streisand who is accused of normalizing pedophilia with her comments, Ross is believed to be saying it because she knows Jackson better than anyone.
- Mar 25, 2019
AceShowbiz - Diana Ross is following the footsteps of Barbra Streisand by weighing on sexual abuse allegations against Michael Jackson. The legendary R&B singer defends the late King of Pop on Twitter after Streisand sparked backlash with her own statements.
"This is what's on my heart this morning," so Ross wrote on Saturday, March 23. "I believe and trust that Michael Jackson was and is A magnificent incredible force to me and to many others. STOP IN THE NAME OF LOVE."
This is what’s on my heart this morning. I believe and trust that Michael Jackson was and is A magnificent incredible force to me and to many others.
— Ms. Ross (@DianaRoss) March 23, 2019
STOP IN THE NAME OF LOVE
Unlike Streisand who was criticized for her comments, Ross' tweet drew mixed responses from Internet users. Some people "cancelled" her, while others believe that she said it because she knows Jackson better than anyone.
"You're aff yer heed. He's a paedophile who should have been imprisoned a long time before he died," one slammed Ross. "Would you have been tweeting this if he'd been a plumber...oh sorry you'd have had no idea who he was then would you?"
Someone insisted that Jackson could be a great singer and a good person in front of Ross' eyes, but it doesn't mean he's not guilty as a child abuser. "It's duality," the said person wrote. "A person can be incredibly talented and apparently fabulous and still be a damaging, terrible abuser and ruin people's lives."
Another added, "No Diana, just no. Just because you knew and liked someone doesn't mean they're innocent. You saw him with those boys and never thought it was strange for an adult to not have friends his age? One of the boys was 7 when the grooming and abuse started! What's wrong with you?"
One Twitter user who is apparently a fan of MJ replied, "Thank you Miss Ross for always having his back!" Another agreed with Diana, writing, "Thank you @DianaRoss we needed this. Michael is being slaughtered and we are hurting. We must stop this. For his children. For his family. For his friends. We stand with you x."
"She KNEW him you DIDN'T," another supported Ross. "The FBI investigated and NOTHING was found. If you and the other sjw know better than an organization who found Saddam , please gladly submit ALL CONCRETE PROOFS of his guilt. Generalities and assumptions are NOT enough."
Another compared Ross' comment to Streisand's. "Barbara Streisand never defended MJ, she normalized pedophilia instead. Diana Ross on the other hand supports the truth, that is MJ being innocent. So stfu," the said Twitter user wrote.
Ross has neither clarified nor apologized for her remark on the scandal surrounding Jackson, which has resurfaced following the airing of HBO's documentary "Leaving Neverland". Her representative Mark Young tells USA TODAY that the "Endless Love" hitmaker had no further comment on the tweet.
Meanwhile, Streisand was previously under fire for defending Jackson. She said in an interview with The Times of London that she believed the accusers, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, but seemed to diminish the severity of the alleged sexual abuse as she added, "[the grown-up Robson and Safechuck] say, they were thrilled to be there. They both married and they both have children, so it didn't kill them."
Streisand later issued an apology in which she said, "I am profoundly sorry for any pain or misunderstanding I caused by not choosing my words more carefully about Michael Jackson and his victims. I didn't mean to dismiss the trauma these boys experienced in any way. Like all survivors of sexual assault, they will have to carry this for the rest of their lives. I feel deep remorse and I hope that James and Wade know that I truly respect and admire them for speaking their truth."
