I've gone back and forth on whether or not to speak on this. Generally, I’m only here to get my fix on all things Michael—the pictures, the videos, the stories, and the art. Lately, though, it’s been impossible to ignore the drama filling the tags and my timeline. Between Black writers experiencing racism and people constantly criticizing creative content, it feels like we are losing the plot.
Speaking as one of the older fans in this community, it's disheartening. If we call ourselves Moonwalkers, our interactions should reflect the values Michael stood for. He was a peaceful person who deeply loved humanity, the world, and his fans. I won't dive too deeply into the racism discourse today, other than to state a simple fact: whether people want to acknowledge it or not, Michael was a Black American. He endured segregation and the intense racism that followed him even as he became the greatest entertainer who ever lived. Seeing prejudice within his own fandom is completely out of touch with his legacy.
What I primarily want to address, though, is the ongoing discourse among fanfic writers regarding what "should" and "shouldn't" be filling the tags. The reality of this fandom is that it accommodates every genre—smut, angst, and fluff alike.
As an avid reader, I adore reading everything. I consume fluff, smut, and angst without hesitation—if a story sticks out to me, I'm going to read it. I genuinely believe everyone on this platform is talented in their own unique shape, way, or form. As a writer myself, I’ve written in all of these categories, so I see the value in every single one of them.
My stance—and this is just my opinion—is that none of this needs to be a battleground.
If you don't enjoy smut, you have every right to skip it, but criticizing people for writing or reading adult themes is unnecessary. By the same token, fluff writers shouldn't be criticized for creating soft, sweet scenarios; sometimes people just need a comforting escape. And angst writers shouldn't be criticized for diving into heavier emotional tones—writing through pain, heartbreak, and struggle is often how people process complex feelings or highlight Michael's resilience. Most importantly, no one's writing should be ignored or cast aside simply because it doesn't fit someone else's personal preference. Every author puts time and heart into their work, and that effort deserves respect.
Social media gives us all the tools to curate our own reading experience. If a trope or genre isn't your thing, you can simply scroll past, filter the tags, and engage with the stories that bring you joy without making others feel invisible.
Michael Jackson was many things: incredibly gorgeous, deeply kind, and a dedicated humanitarian. But above all, he was a human being—complex, multifaceted, and real. Fiction reflects that full spectrum.
Furthermore, we have to remember the operative word here is fanfiction. Expecting 100% biographical or historical accuracy from writers who are doing this for free, purely out of passion, is an unfair expectation. Yes, we know the reality of his financial situation and debt later in life, despite his massive assets. But criticizing a writer for creating a fantasy where he buys a reader lavish gifts completely misses the point of creative writing.
What I'm getting at is that maybe we need to take a collective step back and remember why we're all here. We are a community built on a shared love for Michael and his art. Let's bring back the "don't like, don't read" mentality, appreciate and uplift the talent in our community across every genre instead of criticizing or ignoring it, and get back to enjoying the man who brought us all together in the first place.
