Поп хөгжмийн хаан Майкл Жексон алдарт ‘Smooth Criminal’ дууныхаа клипийг бүтээх явцдаа өөрийн шүтдэг Еховагийн гэрчүүдийн шашны дүрэм журмыг зөрчсөн нь түүнийг итгэл үнэмшлээсээ холдоход хүргэсэн байна.
1988 оны аравдугаар сарын 13-нд MTV сувгаар анх цацагдсан ‘Smooth Criminal’ дууны клип нь Майкл Жексоны карьерын хамгийн онцлох бүтээлүүдийн нэг болсон юм. 1930-аад оны шөнийн клубийн уур амьсгалыг бүрдүүлсэн уг бүтээлд дуучин өөрийн нэрийн хуудас болсон бүжгийн хөдөлгөөнүүдээ үзүүлжээ. Гэвч клипний нэгэн хэсэгт түүний галт зэвсэг ашигласан нь шашны байгууллагынх нь зүгээс хүчтэй шүүмжлэлтэй тулгарсан байна.
Түүний ах Жермейн Жексон 2011 онд хэвлүүлсэн дурсамж номондоо Майкл Жексоныг клипний зураг авалтын үеэр автомат буу ашигласны төлөө Еховагийн гэрчүүдийн цуглааны байрнаас хатуу зэмлэл хүлээснийг дурджээ. Еховагийн гэрчүүдийн дүрэмд гишүүд галт зэвсэг эзэмших, ашиглахыг хатуу хориглодог аж. Энэхүү үйл явдал нь Майкл Жексоныг уран бүтээлч байх уу, эсвэл итгэл үнэмшлээ дагах уу гэсэн сонголтын өмнө ирүүлсэн байна.
Уг асуудал нь дуучныг 1987 онд шашнаасаа гарахад нөлөөлсөн гол шалтгаан болжээ. Хэдийгээр тэрээр шашны байгууллагаа орхисон ч сүсэг бишрэлтэй хэвээр үлдсэн бөгөөд хожим нь Рабби Шмулей Ботиахтай хамт шашны зан үйлд оролцож, сүнслэг зөвлөгөө авдаг байв.
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Michael Jackson reportedly went against his religious beliefs while filming the ‘Smooth Criminal’ music video, before later leaving the faith despite being described by his brother as ‘the perfect disciple’.
Today (October 13) marks 38 years since Michael Jackson’s iconic ‘Smooth Criminal’ music video first premiered on MTV on October 13, 1988.
The legendary short film saw the King of Pop showcase his signature dance moves, including the seemingly gravity-defying lean, while dressed in a white pinstripe suit and fedora. Set in a 1930s-inspired nightclub, the video became one of Jackson’s most recognisable visual performances and remains a defining moment in his career.
However, behind the hitmaker’s extraordinary performances, Jackson’s religious beliefs reportedly came into conflict with aspects of his work, with ‘Smooth Criminal’ among the videos that have drawn attention to the rules he followed as a Jehovah’s Witness.
The star’s older brother Jermaine, in his 2011 book You Are Not Alone: Michael, Through a Brother’s Eyes, wrote: “During the music video, there was a scene where Michael sprayed an underground bar with bullets, using a machine gun.
“It was a real firearm and one that he’d been trained to use by ammunition experts on set.
“It was fun, harmless and necessary for the storyline. But no Jehovah’s Witness is allowed to hold or possess a firearm, let alone use one.”
So much so that Jackson was reprimanded for the video from his Kingdom Hall – the name Jehovah’s Witnesses use for their place of worship, where members gather for religious services, Bible study and congregation meetings.
And Jermaine noted that ‘the official rebuke’ he received from the Kingdom Hall ‘was harsh’.
The former Jackson 5 singer explained: “It asked Michael to consider where his priorities lay: as a Jehovah’s Witness or as an artist.
“As distraught as my brother was by this implied choice, it was the final straw: what church asks you to reconsider the very gift that God gave you?
“Michael had been the perfect ‘disciple’, going door to door in Encino but that seemed to count for nothing when his creativity was up against the rule book.”
He subsequently left the religion in 1987, a decision which his mother found deeply upsetting.
But he remained a believer, seeking spiritual guidance from celebrity rabbi Shmuley Boteach.
While it seemed he had no intention of converting to Judaism, the star went onto attend synagogue with Shabbat dinners alongside Boteach.
