# Michael Jackson converts to Islam **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 21, 2008, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872 "2008-11-21T17:45:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/41 "2008-11-22T19:54:43Z")
> [@vison](#): > > Hmph. I would think surgery below the waist might be appropriate. Extreme surgery. > > And to think he still has fans. Have you heard his voice? I think that ship has sailed. When I was younger the big Michael Jackson joke was having his voice drop in mid performance and having him pound his crotch a few times to get it back to “normal.” ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/42 "2008-11-22T19:58:55Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I don’t think he was ever sane. He used to be sane. He used to be black. I don’t know what happened to MJ but I do know that when he kicks it all kindsa skeletons are probably gonna come flying out of his closet. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/43 "2008-11-22T21:12:47Z")
This conversation actually took place between Shirley Ujest and a teen ager. Shirley to a friend ( not teen) , " Remember when he was black…" “Michael Jackson use to be black!!!” by the teenager. All in all, I look forward to the tell-all book that comes out about His Weirdness ( who use to be a very talented black man.) after he dies. I kinda feel bad for Islam. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/44 "2008-11-22T21:43:33Z")
> [@Jolly\_Roger](#): > > I don’t know what happened to MJ but I do know that when he kicks it all kindsa skeletons are probably gonna come flying out of his closet. There’s so much out in the open already, though. I shudder to imagine what’s still hidden. One thing that I find very telling. He turned 50 a few weeks or months ago. There was a time when it was reasonable to think that his 50th birthday (then far in the future) would be the event of the year, rivaling the Oscars, the AMAs, and Friday night at Elton John’s house. As it was…nothing. Unless watching TV with his kids was a celebration. No party, nothing. No one wants anything to do with him any more; he can’t even buy friends. I think I’ve said it before, but when he does die, everyone who used to call him friend (and is still alive then) will be arguing over who **has** to eulogize him. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/45 "2008-11-22T21:49:48Z")
I wnder if [this is _really_ what made him decide to convert?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=490753) :eek: ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/46 "2008-11-22T21:59:11Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > I stopped taking this guy seriously a while back (around the white glove stage, I think), but I’m kinda curious… was he ever actually found guilty of pedophilia? I know this isn’t particularly responsive to your post, but you reminded me of it with your question: > [@Ron White](#): > > Now, I don’t know what he was doin’ with life-size dolls of little boys in his bedroom, but if somebody announced that they had found a life-size doll of a woman in my bedroom, you would all assume I was fuckin’ it. > > And you’d be right. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/47 "2008-11-23T01:27:41Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > I stopped taking this guy seriously a while back (around the white glove stage, I think), but I’m kinda curious… was he ever actually found guilty of pedophilia? [No.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jackson#2003.E2.80.932007:_Documentary.2C_trial_and_business_ventures) ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/48 "2008-11-23T02:20:32Z")
[flat monotone] Bwa ha. Bwa ha ha. Bwa HA ha. [/fm] ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/49 "2008-11-23T04:44:00Z")
> [@](#): > > This has the potential for being the funniest thing to happened in a long time. And yet, I feel empty. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/50 "2008-11-23T05:26:39Z")
I feel an awkward dislike for Islam being implied in this thread, and don’t think it’s appropriate. I think MJ is a nutbar too, but surely freedom to choose ones religion should be sacred. Islam is just as viable a religion as all others, or no others. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/51 "2008-11-23T16:59:15Z")
I have no dislike of Islam, only certain tenants of it and certain shades of adherency. Just as I dislike similar packets of Christianity. My own schadenfrued moment in this was the realization that he’s converting to a religion that will want to kill him in a couple of years when he decides to change to whatever the hell religion he’s following at that moment. Which will happen once he’s burned through any potential bankrollers who are stupid enough to give him cash and outlived his welcome in the Arab states. Then he’ll move to France or somesuch, declare that he’s no longer a muslim, and start blasting his former backers over a bunch of lies, but primarily because they stopped allowing him to live off thier largesse. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/52 "2008-11-23T17:24:14Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I feel an awkward dislike for Islam being implied in this thread, and don’t think it’s appropriate. I think MJ is a nutbar too, but surely freedom to choose ones religion should be sacred. Islam is just as viable a religion as all others, or no others. Well, nobody is trying to stop him from converting, so there isn’t any infringement on his freedoms. I also think we need to draw a distinction between being racist against Arabic people (not appropriate) and being skeptical/critical of Islam as a religion (very appropriate and necessary). One of the many awesome things about living in America is that we can criticize any religion freely without having to fear getting stoned to death over it. (Although apparently those Scientology nuts try their hardest to persecute anyone who points out how ridiculous they are) ---
**Author:** ![greatshakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@greatshakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greatshakes)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/53 "2008-11-23T18:43:15Z")
nemmine ---
**Author:** ![greatshakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@greatshakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greatshakes)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/54 "2008-11-23T18:45:34Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I have no dislike of Islam, only certain tenants of it and certain shades of adherency. Just as I dislike similar packets of Christianity. > > My own schadenfrued moment in this was the realization that he’s converting to a religion that will want to kill him in a couple of years when he decides to change to whatever the hell religion he’s following at that moment. > > Which will happen once he’s burned through any potential bankrollers who are stupid enough to give him cash and outlived his welcome in the Arab states. Then he’ll move to France or somesuch, declare that he’s no longer a muslim, and start blasting his former backers over a bunch of lies, but primarily because they stopped allowing him to live off thier largesse. Finally! We’ll be able to get HISstory. What? Oh. ---
**Author:** ![greatshakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@greatshakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greatshakes)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/55 "2008-11-23T18:48:50Z")
Nemmine again. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/56 "2008-11-23T19:50:50Z")
> [@greatshakes](#): > > Nemmine again. Huh? ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/57 "2008-11-23T19:53:33Z")
This actually doesn’t surprise me all that much. He’s been palling around with Arabs for a long time and moved out that way when he started getting investigated. He can get little boys out there much more easily and cheaply one would assume. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/58 "2008-11-23T19:57:11Z")
> [@PharmBoy](#): > > Favorite quote.. > > \*\*\*Jackson, who was raised a Jehovah’s Witness, decided to convert after discussing religion with a music producer and songwriter on his new album \*\*\* > > Yes, I always discuss life-altering decisions with music producers.:smack: > > The Arabs deserve him… Just out of curiousity what disqualifies a music producer from having a valid religious belief? ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/59 "2008-11-23T22:56:18Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Just out of curiousity what disqualifies a music producer from having a valid religious belief? They have no souls. ---
**Author:** ![Skylark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Skylark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skylark)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2008, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872/60 "2008-11-28T07:22:01Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > This is why the Muslims need the equivalent of a Pope: so there would be a single leader empowered to say, “Um, no thanks. You can stay with the infidels, thankyouverymuch.” Grand Ayatolla Sayyid Ali Husaini al-Sistani? Ali Khamenei (he wishes)? (Among Shiites, which form the majority among Gulf Arabs) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-jackson-converts-to-islam/473872.md?page=4)