Growing up, individuals are taught how to distinguish what is good from what is bad. They are taught that when there are consequences when one misbehaves. Following the same concept, when one goes against the rules of society, there are bound to be some repercussions. However, some people use their money to escape the law. In the following lines, we will shed some light on how notorious public figures used their wealth and fame to evade answering to the law.
First on the list is the king of pop. For those who are not aware of whom the individual might be, we are talking about the musical sensation, the late Michael Jackson. In 2003, a young boy accused Jackson of having drugged and taken advantage of him. It came as a shock to the world as Jackson had been a beloved celebrity. A subsequent raid at Jackson’s Neverland ranch revealed some unsettling pictures of naked boys in his belongings. However, the credibility of the accuser’s family had been washed away when it was discovered that they had a past in trying to extort money from other organizations. Many people testified in favor of Jackson’s innocence, and he was later acquitted. New light on the life of Michael Jackson suggests that the singer paid over $200 million to keep family silent on his activities. A sad note on the singer’s legacy.
Second on the list is artist Snoop Dogg. The older generation might remember Snoop as a hardcore rapper from a time when rap used to be more aggressive. The younger generation may recognize Snoop Dogg as the co-star of Martha Stewart in a cooking show. In the 90s, Snoop Dogg was on trial for his implication in the murder of a man whom he had a previous altercation. Snoop went on to participate in the MTV awards of that year and proclaimed that he was innocent. Evidence from the incident went on to disappear, and even statements from Snoop contradicted with the circumstances of the incident. Nevertheless, the jury acquitted Snoop Dogg, and memory of this trial seems to have gone into oblivion. Snoop Dogg went on to drop an album which fared well with the public regarding sales as the trial seemed to have boosted his fame.
Third and last on the list is R. Kelly. R. Kelly is a black R&B singer who was popular in the 90s and early 2000s. The case against Kelly has been subject to many parodies over the years, whether it be on MadTV, The Chappelle Show or others. Even though the idea of the case had been turned into a joke, the matter remained serious and disturbing. Kelly was on trial for engaging in sexual conduct towards an underage girl. There was even a video with incriminating evidence against the singer. Curiously enough, the young lady never showed up to testify against Kelly and was reportedly on a vacation trip. With no one to testify and no further evidence, the jury acquitted R. Kelly.
These cases show that enough money or fame can bend the law in favor of a celebrity. There are many other cases where a celebrity had been acquitted despite all the evidence incriminating them. From O.J Simpson to Matthew Broderick, fame or money is a great tool to escape answering for their wrongdoings.
