I’m not a big Michael Jackson fan – I didn’t even attempt to get tickets for his planned comeback gigs at London’s o2 Arena; I don’t actually even own a single Jackson album. So why, more than 12 hours after hearing of his death, am I still feeling so shocked? It’s every bit as surreal as Jackon’s later life.

I do not buy into this mass hysteria that’s sweeping some parts of the world at the moment. I didn’t know the man and so I won’t claim to be swamped by some kind of personal loss, and anyone doing so should really spare a thought for the family he is leaving behind – they’re the only ones who have the right to be truly devastated and my thoughts are with them.

And yet, I also don’t buy into this theory of ‘Oh well, good riddance, he was weird’ that seems to be the recurring theme for many people my age, even some a little older. The controversies that plagued his later life have clearly tarnished his reputation but let’s just remember here – he never actually did a lot wrong. Sure, he may have appeared a little odd to you and I. The chap had a funfair in his back garden – you can’t deny that’s a little shy of normal. But what’s wrong with not normal? The guy was a child star and lived with fame for almost all of the 50 year of his life, that’s bound to take effect and anyone who is prepared to judge him solely on that is more than a bit shallow.

I hear quotes from the news that the reason he planned to stage his comeback in the UK rather than America, where he arguably was even bigger, was because many Americans ‘hadn’t forgiven him’ for the child molestation charges levied at him over the last 10-15 years. What exactly are they not forgiving him for? Let us not forget, when these actually came to trial in 2003, an independent jury found him not guilty of ALL TEN charges… Some people might scoff ‘Well, he was always going to get off…’ Well, how does that work? Sure, his public profile and remaining wealth may have paid for some very expensive representation – but you can’t buy a jury. For people to still hold that kind of thing against him in light of the fact that he was CLEARED are clearly just uncomfortable with people not being what they perceive to be normal. It’s easy to point fingers as the so called strange guy who lives in the big house.

I’m just glad that the largest majority of people are somewhere between the above two schools of thought. Hardly devastated – they’d never known him personally; and yet, still very shocked and a little saddened. I also don’t buy this argument that his death shouldn’t be recognized on this scale solely because he’s a celebrity, when children are dying the world over. Are they forgetting that WE made Michael Jackson? The world bought a combined total of 750 Million of his albums, attended gigs and got knows what else – we helped create the superstar, so it’s madness to pour scorn on him for having the nerve to die of a heart attack.

Instead the world should just agree that Michael Jackson was the biggest entertainer of his generation. Maybe not the best and biggest singer, maybe not the best speaker, dancer, whatever – but combining them all, as an entertainer, he was and is unrivalled. Sure, before him people will see John Lennon and Elvis as bigger and they’ve every right to – but for people who grew up with him, Jackson was the number one. His name and likeness was etched into the worldwide consciousness. Everyone has heard of Michael Jackson – we all like a Michael Jackson song, we’ve all seen the thriller video. Like him or not, he was one of the most famous people on the planet.

So again – my shock isn’t personal. There is no way it can be. But without a doubt a superstar is no more. Everyone of a certain age will know what they were doing when they found out Michael Jackson had died – guaranteed. Thankfully, his music will live beyond each and every one of us. The rest of the world carries on now, but let’s hope he can find a bit of peace now.