Can you enjoy the art of evil creators?

There is a well-known Russian journalist, music critic and producer who I respect immensely — Mikhail Kozyrev. He was behind Russia’s first FM radio stations in the early 1990s which is when I formed a lot of my tastes in music and pop culture. I was a teenager then in the 1990s. I then spent many years away from Russia for work and education but I kept following Mikhail during my stretches back in Moscow and in recent years on social media.

Mikhail is very active in expressing his opinions on a wide range of issues — social, political, and cultural. It’s very rare when you overwhelmingly agree with someone’s views. For me, Mikhail is one of those people. I can sign my name under 99 percent of his posts.

99 percent… I did discover one topic where I disagree with Mikhail. Overwhelmingly actually.

Mikhail is convinced that Michael Jackson was a pedophile and abuser of children. I think there was some documentary a few years ago on Michael Jackson and that triggered Mikhail’s disgust with the famous artist. Many times since then Mikhail has expressed, very strongly, how hearing Jackson’s music disgusts him and how he hopes his daughters never hear his music.

I don’t have an opinion on Michael Jackson. The child sexual abuse allegations have been around for decades of course. I didn’t watch the documentary. I do accept the possibility that he was an abuser.

Even if he was found hundred percent guilty, during his life or after his passing, it’d…