Will.i.am Defends Michael Jackson With A Comparison To The Holocaust

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Will.i.am Goes To Bat For Michael Jackson During Sexual Abuse Allegations

Will.i.am is the latest celebrity to come out in support of Michael Jackson.

In the last couple weeks following HBO airing Leaving Neverland—a two-part documentary that details Jackson’s alleged sexual abuse on minors–it seems like half the world is calling for a boycott of Michael’s music while the other half is vehemently defending him.

Most recently, fellow musician Will.i.am weighed in on the controversy and people calling for a boycott, claiming it’s hypocritical for some very strange reasons.

The Black Eyed Peas alum addressed those who have chosen to stop playing MJ’s music with a reference to the Holocaust. He explained why this latest scandal presents a double standard, saying that some are accountable for their crimes of the past, while others aren’t–specifically mentioning German firm Bayer, which he said made chemicals to “to kill all the Jews.”

“We live in a very, very, very, very hypocritical, double-standard, fake society,” the artist said, according to the Evening Standard. “I can name a thousand other products that we still buy, still use, that are owned by folks that have done the most horrendous things to people, millions of them, and we don’t take their products from the market.”

He continued, saying: “Bayer is really responsible for chemicals that killed millions of people but they’re headache medicine now. Are you going to ridicule them for their past? Imagine every country that ever had slaves, people said never travel to those countries because of what they’ve done in the past. Are you not supposed to do anything with anyone who ever did anything ill in the past? England, Spain, Portugal. That’s not that long ago. Are there reparations for everyone who’s done something ill? I could name a thousand more ills that are worse but we’re going to pull songs?”

Even though Will.i.am is clearly in defense of Michael and continuing to play his music, the artist doesn’t exactly seem sure that he’s actually innocent. He went on to say, “I’m torn, because that’s not the Michael Jackson I loved and will always love. It is a smear campaign, there’s been a number of smear campaigns in the past. If he did it, it’s sad and inhumane. If he didn’t, what’s happening is sad, and inhumane.”

Comparing a brand that makes medication with Michael Jackson and his lone choices and actions is a very odd choice, but it looks like Will.i.am is sticking to it.