OPINION: We can’t separate the artist from the art

How Broadway’s “MJ the Musical” is a slap across the face for victims

By Ben Shimkus

I don’t see complexity in my perpetrator. I don’t think his traumas excuse what he did to me. What drove him to willfully disengage from my consent isn’t the point. Most people who come forward with #metoo stories have a decidedly linear view of their perpetrators. We see them as people who don’t care about our autonomy or our humanity. And, their talent on a stage isn’t our respite. It’s a part of our enemy.

Believing victims doesn’t simply mean that you believe we are telling the truth about our trauma. It means you will hear us when we talk about our continued experiences in the shadows of our trauma. This is the fundamental problem with “MJ the Musical.”

“MJ,” the biographical musical about Michael Jackson’s life is now showing at the Neil Simon Theatre on Broadway. The show is produced by the Jackson Estate and is scripted by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage. It's a deep dive into Jackson’s creation of his 1992 “Dangerous” tour that celebrates Jackson as a complex character with a troubled past.

There are numerous allegations that he molested children. Those allegations should be enough to disqualify someone from being celebrated in a Broadway musical. And from within the #metoo movement, I can tell you that victims don’t care to rehash their perpetrator’s traumas. It does not excuse what he did.

Even if we must celebrate Jackson, why should survivors believe that Broadway is the best place to do it?

Broadway isn’t a safe space for #metoo survivors. Famously, the industry was incredibly slow to react to the allegations against Scott Rudin. The obvious social driver to his accountability was Karen Olivo, an actor who stepped down from their role at Moulin Rouge to call out the industry’s inaction, including no action from affirmed powers in the Broadway League. Performers such as Amar Ramasar, Alice Ripley, and Ben Vereen all have allegations that came out against them. No meaningful restorative work has been done for their victims.

All of the press releases and quotes from the creative team have suggested that it’s Broadway’s business as usual at “MJ.”

“We want this to be a musical that anyone can come to, regardless how they feel about Michael Jackson,” Nottage said to the New York Times.

The Jackson portrayed in Nottage’s script only marginally references the allegations that were leveled against him. In turn, it suggests that the abuse from his father, his difficult spotlight in the media, and the swirling accusations of cosmetic surgery justify the assault he eventually inflicted on children. 

But other #metoo victims I spoke with strongly disagree with this notion.

“If audiences come to the decision that they don’t think someone is a predator, then that’s fine,” said Cathryn Jones, one of the women who came forward against Alice Ripley. “But if you don’t give them all the information, you aren’t truly letting them make the decision.”

In my view, I am not entranced by the glitzy performance of these actors, no matter how talented they are. Instead, it serves as a reminder that the general public doesn’t think about how displays of public affection for a perpetrator’s art will impact their victims.

If Broadway believed victims, they would avoid producing work that further traumatizes victims. Unfortunately, their inaction has revealed that they haven’t done the work. As the Broadway League and criminal justice system continue to fail #metoo survivors, our only salve is social courts.

If you decide to see this show, understand that it is just an exercise in public relations. Understand that the man they are celebrating on stage has multiple credible allegations of some of the most heinous crimes anyone can commit. And understand the impact on other survivors: that we see this as a continued effort to silence all of us together.

A biographical musical is written to celebrate someone. Right now, Broadway is celebrating someone with serious allegations of child sexual assault. This is brazenly irresponsible for his victims; it’s that simple.

Ben Shimkus (he/they) is a reporter at The Click and a freelance writer. They have published in Out Magazine and appeared on “The X Change Rate.” Ben is a queer #metoo advocate and a former professional performer.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, you can call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673).