Anew biopic about the King of Pop is breaking box office records — but not everyone is celebrating.
Lawrence Bell weighed in on "Michael," the newly released film about Michael Jackson, which has pulled in $97 million domestically and $19 million globally in its opening. Despite strong audience turnout, the film has received low ratings from critics — something Bell says is no coincidence.
Bell argues the poor critical reception is rooted in racial bias and a deliberate effort to damage Jackson's legacy. He points to Jackson's deep contributions to Black culture and the broader history of exploitation Black artists have faced in the music industry as context for why the narrative around Jackson continues to be complicated.