# Breaking news! Michael Jackson pleads not gulity to all charges! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 16, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799 "2004-01-16T17:42:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/1 "2004-01-16T17:42:43Z")
[This is news](http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/16/national/16CND-JACK.html?ex=1074920400&en=ccb867e89900eb24&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE)? The, uh, man has always maintained he didn’t do anything wrong! What did the media expect him to do? ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/2 "2004-01-16T17:49:13Z")
This is the most surprising thing I’ve heard since I heard that Liberace was gay. Who’d have thunk it? His supporters will be saying it’s a race thing next. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/3 "2004-01-16T17:55:37Z")
…and in other news, Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead. (I’m sorry! I just never ever got to be first to post that before!. It’s not as exciting as I thought it would be, either.) ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/4 "2004-01-16T17:57:00Z")
> [@](#): > > His supporters will be saying it’s a race thing next. Race? Heck, it’s hard enough to figure out what _species_ he is. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/5 "2004-01-16T18:16:23Z")
Well, the judge is UP-set. > [@](#): > > He walked into the courthouse with his sister Janet, who is also a singer, arriving some 20 minutes late. This brought a sharp warning from Superior Court Judge Rodney S. Melville. > > “Mr. Jackson, you have started out on the wrong foot here,” Judge Melville said, The Associated Press reported. “I want to advise you that I will not put up with that. It’s an insult to the court.” ---
**Author:** ![beajerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@beajerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beajerry)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/6 "2004-01-16T18:53:13Z")
What was with all the Nation of Islam dudes standing in a line outside the courthouse with newspapers under their arms? Could it be any more a circus? I was hoping for some anti-childmolesters to jump out after MJ and the Nation of Islam badasses to jump in after them and it all become one roiling riot with MJ screaming and his fans screaming and the cops laughing and so on… Come on! Where’s the fun if the freak show doesn’t get freaky! I actually heard the commentator (on CNN I think) say “We just report the news, we don’t make it” or something to that effect to justify why they are showing this live. Uh, right. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/7 "2004-01-16T19:21:43Z")
Someone over at Jedi Council said he hopes that the DA will drop the charges because of all the support Michael is getting and they’ll be embarassed after he’s found innocent. :rolleyes: Da’hell? As far as it being about race-too late. People are already making that claim. I just love the way people are saying he’s innocent-because he’s so good and he loves kids and it’s just people wanting to take him down because they hate him and he’s like a God! It would be funny, if it didn’t actually SCARE me. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/8 "2004-01-16T19:26:00Z")
Judging by the way he hoisted himself onto the roof of that SUV, it appears that his arm has magically healed. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/9 "2004-01-16T19:43:22Z")
MY FAINTING COUCH! BRING ME MY FAINTING COUCH! \ I did like how the judge was snarky about showing up on time. He’s totally right but who’ll take a bet that Mikey’s lawyers will be complaining about it on tonight’s news? Anyone? \ ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/10 "2004-01-16T19:45:49Z")
Meant brow, although bow in the sense of (ahem) bosom would also work. And I still hear the crickets. And a lone wolf howling. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/11 "2004-01-16T20:03:23Z")
Well, **Mehitabel** , the anchorperson on whatever channel I saw this on pointed out that MJ’s getting through the crowd **to** the courthouse was not the easiest thing in the world. Doesn’t mean he can’t leave home earlier, of course. Or…Maybe he could just work his way through the crowd, without stopping to wave and blow kisses and so forth? Nah, what am I saying? That’s crazy talk! ---
**Author:** ![dragongirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@dragongirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragongirl)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/12 "2004-01-16T20:08:33Z")
It’s a fucking circus. He’s throwing a party at Neverland Ranch right now that’s open to the public. MSNBC is acting like it’s the most important thing in the world right now. I’m speechless. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/13 "2004-01-16T20:10:59Z")
This is torture of us news junkies. I have to leave CNBC on today. I just can’t stand this crap. Are we supposed to believe that this is the most important news item in the world today? Reporter: “I’m standing outside the couthouse where Michael Ja…” click. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/14 "2004-01-16T20:19:09Z")
I know it’s been asked before, but who ARE all these fans?! > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Guinastasia_I just love the way people are saying he’s innocent-because he’s so good and he loves kids and it’s just people wanting to take him down because they hate him and he’s like a God! What kind of person **thinks** that way? (Them, I mean, not **Guin**.) 😕 😕😕 ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/15 "2004-01-16T20:53:52Z")
Oh yeah, this thread is mostly to pit the media too. I wish I could archive the front page of the BBC website–they have it as their headline! Everybody keeps saying how much better they are and yet they seem to think their readers care about a has-been American singer! Does anybody outside the US even remember who he is? ---
**Author:** ![Dob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Dob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dob)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/16 "2004-01-16T21:05:56Z")
Throwing aside all the plastic surgery, the skin coloring, and the child molesting…anyone with that many Nation of Islam friends cannot be all there in the head! ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/17 "2004-01-16T21:13:28Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > What kind of person **thinks** that way? (Them, I mean, not **Guin**.) 😕 😕😕 Probably the same kind that believes priests can do no wrong. **Mehitabel** , his latest CD is doing great business everywere except in the US, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/18 "2004-01-16T21:20:49Z")
> [@beajerry](#): > > What was with all the Nation of Islam dudes standing in a line outside the courthouse with newspapers under their arms? Yeah, and they only bought the ones with black and white text too. I mean would it kill them to try a little _USA Today_? ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/19 "2004-01-16T21:32:47Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > I did like how the judge was snarky about showing up on time. He’s totally right but who’ll take a bet that Mikey’s lawyers will be complaining about it on tonight’s news? Anyone? I’ll take that bet. I _doubt_ his lawyers are going to openly antagonize any judge, much less the one that’s going to be presiding over a VERY visible case of theirs. I think the more likely scenario is that Jackson’s lawyers are going to make _damn_ sure he isn’t late again. ---
**Author:** ![deb2world](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@deb2world](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deb2world)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799/20 "2004-01-16T22:15:38Z")
I heard on the live telecast that people came from all over the world for the “event”. They talked about someone who spent over $600 just to get there and they were broke now. I don’t understand some people and their obsessive fascination with faux stardom–yes Jackson’s stardom in faux cause he has jumped the shark. Note: This is L.A. and that was all that was on, so I really didn’t have a choice, I had to watch it as I was trying to find a channel with some real news on it. Wah, no luck. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-news-michael-jackson-pleads-not-gulity-to-all-charges/224799.md?page=2)