THE amount of fuss some people are making over the death of Michael Jackson is embarrassing and cringeworthy, writes Louise McEvoy. Yes, he was an icon, but he wasn t a hero. He was an extremely unique and talented singer, dancer and entertainer, but that

THE amount of fuss some people are making over the death of Michael Jackson is embarrassing and cringeworthy, writes Louise McEvoy.

Yes, he was an icon, but he wasn't a hero.

He was an extremely unique and talented singer, dancer and entertainer, but that is all.

He was a bad role model to the millions of fans who followed him.

He took drugs, lived a life he could ill afford, paid $20 million for an accusation of child molestation to disappear, was clearly uncomfortable in his own skin, and was just plain weird.

His talent should be celebrated, and his premature death mourned, but he should not be glorified.

People have been caught on camera, crying in the streets, some to the point of hysteria.

Get some perspective, for goodness sake!

One British radio DJ even said he was so depressed he struggled to get through his working day, and had to fight back his tears. It was as if his closest relative had just died.

He also said it was the first icon of our generation to die. What about Princess Diana?

The truth is that Michael Jackson was as well-known for his eccentricities as he was for his talent.

People developed a morbid fascination with his peculiarity, and in recent years it is this which kept him in the public eye.