Stephen A. Smith: Michael Jackson Was "Exploited"

Former ESPN personality and now MSNBC contributor Stephen A. Smith appears on "Hardball" to talk about Michael Jackson's legacy on the day of his memorial service. "He was exploited," Smith said. "He was never allowed to be a child... he was never given a chance to grow up into manhood."

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[melissainnovascotia]

Have to respond to you, too, ebertnroeper. His autopsy report confirmed that he had vitiligo. End of story. Unless you think his body somehow bribed the coroner to lie on the report. That would be amazing for sure!

[JM4LAJF]

He had fucking vitilogo, you could see it in many pictures and it's a fucking fact! The man had a disease, don't fucking try to make it look like he didn't wanna be black. That's idiotic, he couldn't controll it, but at least he tried to, so if he ever "bleached " his skin it's was to not have brown spots all over his beautiful face, ok? And why wasn't he a hero? A hero saves lives. He didn't`he saved millions of lives. More than a "hero", he was everything beautiful and more. RIP michael<3

[EzemdiTheProducer]

@JM4LAJF its true. alot of people forget that "We are the world" raised a lot of money for people in africa and brought awareneess to their situation

[transitionalphase]

I wonder how Quincy Jones and the other doubters felt when the autopsy proved that MJ did indeed have vitiligo? It's sad that one of his own friends (QJ) didn't even believe him. :(

[182parker]

michael jackson was a pathetic piece of shit. he molested little children and the world is a batter place that that freak of nature is gone. He hated being black and ended up looking like a middle aged white women. burn in hell MJ. His family is athetic as well. Making money off their dead brother/son

[182parker]

if by hero, O'Donnell means child molestor, then yes

[MJJFan01]

Michael Jackson didn't get to enjoy childhood. Everyone knows that! Michael Jackson is the greatest entertainer of all time!

[dirratt]

@tng150 He bleached his skin to deal with the vitligo...

[crazy4corbinbleux]

They mention how people had two views on his skin changing: Option 1: It was very offensive, he didn't want to be Black or have anything to do with it Option 2: They sympathized with him and felt it was okay because he was exploited... HOW ABOUT ANOTHER OPTION, THE MAN HAD VITILIGO!!! Does that make any sense to you?

[29larron]

@dirratt thank you,i bet he didnt know that the so called 1st victim's father offed himself in a nice fancy highrise in Jersey city(most likely paid for by Mr.Jackson's civil case)because of guilt,and on top of that,he was estranged from his son..The media didnt really want to report that though,for obvious reasons.The only thing Michael was guilty of,was being too naive and trusting,thinking that love was all this world needed smh

[dirratt]

@dunnowy123 " I will always believe he was a pedophile " Have you research the facts of the allegations, the character of the people involved, read the court transcript , know the full story or research anything to be able declare a man found not guilty in the court of law? A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing because I bet the only thing you know is MJ shares his bed and that he was accused in 93 and 05 and "Got off because he is famous" which was not the case at all but a weak case.

[tng150]

@JM4LAJF I agree with your basis, but I have vitiiligo too, and I don't think it's that extreme all over your body