I do not think anyone can question MJ's talent or popularity. We can however question his sanity and behaviour. Yes the press can hound people and print rubbish stories and lies. I know people who have been victims of the press and have had their lives turned into misery and careers ruined. That is another story and debate for another time. MJ was on a self destruct mission from an early age and the press picked up on it camping outside his home for the next big story. That said Wacko certainly gave them plenty of fuel for great headlines. Much if not all of the damage done to him by bad press was self inflicted. If you do weird and wacko things ALL the time and are very famous you can expect the nasty headlines and bad publicity.