Mixed media: Judgment of the fans

Michael Jackson leaves court after the verdict. Picture / Reuters

The not-guilty verdicts in the Michael Jackson child molestation case unleashed a debate about whether the King of Pop can take his

THIS IS THE END

Pop music critic: We expect - we demand - that our hit-makers give us an engaging backstory, because we can become more engaged with the hits. Jackson's adult narrative, which morphed from weird to outlandish to downright unforgivable, has achieved the opposite effect. It hasn't provided insight into his muse, or allowed us to discern new qualities in his work. As the stories have increasingly repulsed us, we have increasingly repelled the music. Whatever amusement we once found in Jackson's quirks is long gone; there's nothing charming anymore about what we'd graciously dubbed eccentricities. - Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press

Washington columnist: An acquittal doesn't clear his name; it only muddies the waters. Three years ago it seemed impossible that Michael Jackson could get any more freakish, but then came the trial. What now? Move to Europe, Michael. They still love you in Europe. - Libby Copeland, Washington Post

The Slate line: Even if you despise Michael Jackson and think he's a monstrous paedophile, you can rest assured this trial served your ends to a large extent, too. Jackson is now totally broke. Whatever was left will go to his attorney Tom Mesereau (who was worth every penny). And Michael will live out his days as an O.J.-ish freak, free to go where he pleases, but loathed and shunned by the world. - Seth Stevenson, writing in Slate

Blogger: It will take a lot more than a favourable verdict to reverse the general impression of Jackson as an out-of-control freak whose behaviour is so bizarre it makes almost any charge brought against him believable to a good portion of the population. In his rise to the title of King of Pop he manufactured an image of excess which benefited him when publicity was his friend, but which has turned around to bite him now that he's on the way down. - Dave Nalle, posted on blogcritics.org

HE STANDS A CHANCE

British view: I believe the public will be more than willing to invest their time and money in whatever Jackson does next. Because "not guilty" is a verdict that does more than lift the black cloud over Jackson, it lifts a shadow off his music. It gives all the 50 million who bought Thriller and the tens of millions more who have danced to his hits the right to listen to those records again. It gives a generation back the soundtrack to their lives. - Neil McCormick, Daily Telegraph

The New Yorker: Will we treat him like O.J., funnelling our lingering suspicions into punchlines? Or will we treat him like Robert Blake and let him go about his business? My hope is that we lay off him. Jackson is weird and sick and sad, and his trial was weird and sick and sad, but if we keep him front and centre, WE are weird and sick and sad. Not to mention un-American, in second-guessing a jury's decision. - Lenore Skenazy, New York Daily News

US national newspaper: Even before he showed up in court, Jackson had been plagued by waning album sales and a growing perception that his eccentricities overshadowed his musical gifts. Still, the 46-year-old singer has a long history of personal and professional resilience. And, of course, there is Jackson's ultra-loyal fan base (which is especially sizeable outside the US). - Elysa Gardner, USA Today

Black website: His future is in his hands again. He can use it to get back in touch with the genius inside of him who knows how to create and perform music that touches people. He can use it to create new charitable efforts and continue to help make the world a better place. To his credit, Jackson was not celebrating as he left the courthouse. Maybe Jackson has already figured out that [the] not-guilty verdict is the perfect time to look at the man in the mirror and ask him to change his ways. - David Person writing on blackamericaweb.com