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Llandaff Cathedral criticised over Michael Jackson tribute concert plan
Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff has faced criticism for hosting a candlelit string quartet concert billed as a tribute to Michael Jackson. Critics say celebrating his music in a place of worship is inappropriate given the longstanding child abuse allegations against him, which Jackson denied; he was acquitted at a 2005 trial.
The concert invites audiences to hear Jackson’s greatest hits, with premium tickets priced at up to £51.50. A former royal chaplain, documentary-maker Dan Reed and former Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies criticised the decision. The event is part of a series, with other performances advertised at cathedrals in Yorkshire and Scotland, amid renewed interest in Jackson including a record-breaking UK biopic and a Broadway musical.
In short
- Llandaff Cathedral is hosting a Michael Jackson tribute concert.
- Critics object because of the abuse allegations against Jackson.
- Premium seats cost up to £51.50.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A cathedral can host music by a culturally influential artist without endorsing every aspect of his life, particularly when Jackson denied the allegations and was acquitted at trial. Supporters may see the concert as a musical event open to a broad audience, and argue that sacred spaces can engage with popular culture while offering people a reflective setting in which to hear familiar work.
The case against
A cathedral’s setting carries moral and pastoral significance, so presenting Jackson’s hits as a celebratory tribute may appear to disregard the seriousness of the abuse allegations, even though they were denied and he was acquitted. Critics may argue that a place of worship should consider how such an event could affect survivors and worshippers, and that commercial ticket sales make the choice harder to reconcile with the cathedral’s responsibilities.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Backlash over cathedral’s plans to host ‘grotesque’ and ‘distasteful’ Michael Jackson ‘tribute’ night”.