She’s known for airing her bold views on social media, and while the Jackson family mourned the death of patriarch Joe on Thursday, Bette Midler took to Twitter to celebrate his demise.
The 72-year-old actress had less than favourable things to say about Jackson, who died after battling terminal cancer, and didn’t hold back in her unflattering appraisal of him.
She wrote: “Joe Jackson is d-e-a-d- and Hallelujah!! A monster who ate his own children; like in an old Grecian myth. I hated every minute he lived. All times are strange but this is really beyond the pale. Would Quincy Jones like to weigh in?? Always interested!!!”
https://twitter.com/BetteMidler/status/1012913076323213312
Many of her Twitter followers were outraged at the controversial comment and accused the actress of being “insensitive”.
One user wrote: “You may not have liked him but his children and grandchildren did. This tweet is in poor taste.”
However, another added: “While I don’t disagree with despising a child abuser, is it ever okay to celebrate a man’s death? His grandchildren seemed very upset. I mean, if you were the victim of his abuse, hell, throw a party but if not, then maybe we should take his family’s lead.”
A third wrote: “This is sad and disappointing to read. Mainly because it shines more of a light on your character and less on Joe. And to your own tone of hate is also strange and beyond the pale.”
Joe Jackson was famous for orchestrating his children’s rise to fame as The Jackson 5, comprising Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael, as well as helping talented daughters Janet and LaToya launch their own musical careers. The music manager was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2014, but his public life has also been racked with drama over the years after his children, including Michael, accused him of being physically and mentally abusive.
Read more: 1970: Michael Jackson’s father Joe dies, age 89
Michael, who died of an overdose of the drugs propofol and benzodiazepine in June 2009, had a troubled relationship with his notoriously strict father, leading him to cut Joe out of his will and stipulate that his mother Katherine should be granted custody of his three children, Paris, Prince Michael and Blanket in the event of his death.
In 2010, during an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Joe publicly admitted he had beat his children, but said he “didn’t regret” his actions. He told Oprah: “I don’t [regret the beatings]. It kept them out of jail and kept them right. I don’t think he [Michael] was afraid of me. What he was afraid of, he may do something wrong and I’d chastise him but not beat him. I never beat him like the media tried to say.”