*MTV is reportedly deciding whether to remove Michael Jackson’s name from their Video Vanguard Award for this year’s Video Music Awards, or get rid of the award completely.
The MTV Video Music Awards are less than a month away, and organizers are considering renaming the award in light of the controversy stemming from HBO’s documentary “Leaving Neverland,” and apparently it’s “getting ugly,” Complex reports.
According to a via Page Six, “There’s a lot of heated discussion at the network about how to handle the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award this year, and it’s getting ugly,” said the insider. “There’s talk about if they should change the name, or get rid of it altogether. [There’s also talk] about who would present it and who would accept it. It’s a mess.”
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Get your gloves and fedoras ready, we’re only one month away from the annual Michael Jackson celebration in Las Vegas at Michael Jackson ONE! Tickets here: https://t.co/zrUgLGabpV
— Michael Jackson (@michaeljackson) July 29, 2019
“Leaving Neverland” centers around two men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who claim Jackson molested them as young boys. Many fans doubt the allegations, while Jackson haters have decided to boycott his music all together.
“MTV [potentially] banning his name is the latest fallout,” said the source. “They haven’t decided yet, but they’ve been going back and forth on it. There are a lot of issues.”
As noted by Uproxx, the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award recognizes accomplishments in music and film. The first Vanguard award was given out in 1984 and renamed in 1991 to honor Jackson’s groundbreaking visual arts.
MTV reportedly has not made a final decision about renaming the award.
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