MJ would have thanked Daniel Penny for his service.

The Media’s Double Standard: From Michael Jackson to Jordan Neely

Introduction

It’s no secret that the media has a way of turning good people into monsters while glorifying the worst among us. This is precisely what they have done with Jordan Neely, a repeat violent offender who is often referred to as a “beloved Michael Jackson impersonator.” Neely’s recent altercation with Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old twice-deployed Marine, has once again brought this double standard to light.

The Unseemly Way the Media Covered Michael Jackson

In a 2015 interview with “The MJ Cast” podcast, Kerry Anderson, the late singer’s director of security, lamented the unseemly way that the news media covered his former boss. Anderson stated that “the power of the media is amazing. They can take a person like a Michael Jackson who was a person of morals, scruples, and values and demonize him into being some kind of satanic child molester.”

The Double Standard Continues with Jordan Neely and Daniel Penny

Neely, a mentally unwell vagrant with a lengthy criminal record that includes the assault of multiple women and elderly victims, has been glorified by the media as a “gifted Michael Jackson impersonator who captivated commuters with his fluent moonwalking.” Meanwhile, Penny, a hero who subdued Neely in a headlock on the subway, has been defamed in the paper as a dishonorable veteran by someone who didn’t even know him.

The Media’s Treatment of Kyle Rittenhouse

This double standard is not unique to the Neely-Penny altercation. The media also torched the reputation of Kyle Rittenhouse, a young adult who was acquitted of murder in 2021 after he fought off a rabid mob trying to hunt him down because he dared to defend private property from BLM rioters. Like Penny, Rittenhouse was protecting the innocent.

Conclusion

The media’s double standard is a disturbing trend that needs to be addressed. As Daniel Penny’s journey through the justice system proceeds, we wish him the best of luck. And let’s not forget Michael Jackson’s deep appreciation for the U.S. military, as he once said during a 2007 visit to Camp Zama in Japan, “When we all sleep at night, we rest comfortably knowing that we are protected. And it is because of you here today, and others who so valiantly have given their lives to protect us, that we enjoy our freedom.”

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