Family members of superstar Michael Jackson are pushing back against Rolling Stone’s cover that features Harry Styles as “the new King of Pop.”
“There is no new King of Pop. You don’t own the title Rolling Stone, and you didn’t earn it, my uncle did,” tweeted Taj Jackson, nephew of the iconic entertainer.
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Rolling Stone UK shared its October magazine cover on Twitter, featuring Styles, 28, wearing pink sparkly shorts and a cream-colored coat while carrying a pink-frosted cake. The magazine’s cover text reads: “Harry Styles: How the new King of Pop set the music world aflame.”
There is no new King of Pop. You don’t own the title @RollingStone, and you didn’t earn it, my uncle did. Decades of dedication and sacrifice. The title has been retired. No disrespect to @Harry_Styles, he’s mega talented. Give him his own unique title. https://t.co/td6SSSVkfX
— Taj Jackson (@tajjackson3) August 22, 2022
Taj Jackson told Rolling Stone to give Styles “his own unique title.”
“Decades of dedication and sacrifice. The title has been retired,” he added. “No disrespect to Harry Styles, he’s mega talented. Give him his own unique title.”
Jackson fans also blasted the magazine cover. One fan noted how Rolling Stone attempted to give Justin Timberlake the title in 2003.
lol, what? Nothing against Harry Styles, but he’s not the new King of Pop. That title still belongs to Michael Jackson. You lot called Justin Timberlake the same thing & that was also a huge fail. Stop trying to take the crown away from MJ. It’s not happening. https://t.co/I6VKBV4ZoJ pic.twitter.com/1Zrn2UZHJ6
— Sha Hartley (@shahartley) August 22, 2022
Others noted racial barriers at play.
“A prerequisite to even coming close to being coined the ‘new king of pop’ is being black. cuz the current king of pop is black. meaning that’s who you’re ‘competing’ with. if you don’t have to shatter racial boundaries, you cannot compete,” rapper CHIKA tweeted.
a prerequisite to even coming close to being coined the “new king of pop” is being black. cuz the current king of pop is black. meaning that’s who you’re “competing”with. if you don’t have to shatter racial boundaries, you cannot compete.
cut the shit.
— CHIKA ? (@oranicuhh) August 22, 2022
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The singer, songwriter, and dancer died in 2009 at the age of 50.
