Bea del Rio in Culture

Barbra Streisand gets cancelled after her problematic response to ‘Leaving Neverland’

It’s been months since the controversial documentary Leaving Neverland premiered, but its shock-factor remains. Micheal Jackson is just too big a cultural icon, it’s impossible for people to not be affected and simply move on from the compelling allegations of sexual abuse directed at the singer. As a person of influence, Michael was looked up to by many who hold a position of power, just like him. And they’re divided too. Oprah, for instance, has since shown her support for the accusers, Wade Robson and James Safechuck. On the other hand, another iconic female in Hollywood, Barbra Streissand, also said she believed the two men. But unlike Oprah, her statements indicate her sympathy remains with the “King of Pop.”

In an interview with The Times, the singer described Michael as “very sweet, very childlike.” And while she claims she believes Wade and James’ allegations, she said she thinks their parents are at fault, as they “[allowed] their children to sleep with him.”

In the interview, she also said that “[Michael’s] sexual needs were his sexual needs, coming from whatever childhood he has or whatever DNA he has.” Adding, “You can say ‘molested,’ but those children, as you heard say, they were thrilled to be there. They both married and they both have children, so it didn’t kill them.”

I’m sure you can see how problematic her statements were. She basically said that if the allegations were true—which she believes—then Michael still gets a pass. Because, according to her, that’s in his identity; his “DNA,” meaning: He can’t help it. To me it sounds like another version of “boys will be boys.” But in this case, it’s “pedophiles will be pedophiles, so what can you do?” Moreover, blaming the parents I believe equates to victim-blaming too. While it may be true they could have done something, when it comes down to it, the reason it happened if it in fact did, was because Michael was a pedophile. Rape happens because there are rapists, period

Also, her reasoning that the fact that the two men were able to move on in their lives; that it “didn’t kill them”—is enough to absolve Michael from his alleged crimes—that’s BS. Moreover, to assume plainly that the two men who were children when it supposedly happened, were “thrilled” to be there is just insensitive. If you’ve seen the interviews, you’ll know the two accusers pointed out that for the longest time, they didn’t think they were victims. The term “abuse” in sexual abuse is in fact quite loose. The whole time the Wade and James said the harassment was happening, they claimed they thought they loved Michael and vice versa—because that was what the singer led them to believe. He groomed them. For Barbra to mistake it as two children actually consenting—much less enjoying—the crime done against them, is deeply disappointing.

I’m not the only one who thinks so. Following the interview, #CancelBarbra and #CancelBarbraStreisand became trending on social media.

Immediately backlash, Barbra responded with a statement to The New York Times, in an effort to clear her name. “The single most important role of being a parent is to protect their children,” she said. “It’s clear that the parents of the two young men were also victimized and seduced by fame and fantasy.

She then followed that up with another apology a few hours later. She told NYT that the article does not “reflect my true feelings.” Adding, “I am profoundly sorry for any pain or misunderstanding I caused by not choosing my words more carefully about Michael Jackson and his victims.” She further explained that, “I didn’t mean to dismiss the trauma these boys experienced in any way. Like all survivors of sexual assault, they will have to carry this for the rest of their lives. I feel deep remorse and I hope that James and Wade know that I truly respect and admire them for speaking their truth.”

Her apology is yet to be accepted by both James and Wade. And of course, she can’t take back what she said. Personally, I think her apology didn’t do anything. I mean, for one, she still put the blame on their parents. It just shows how prevalent the culture of victim-blaming remains. Barbra has proven herself a true icon and even a symbol of a strong woman. And that’s why all of this is just the more disappointing.

Photo courtesy of Barbra Streisand’s Instagram account

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