Mainers offer views about ‘King of Pop’

PORTLAND – Tonya Hurd thinks Michael Jackson, acquittal or not, is “creepy.” But Regina Nataniel’s support of the pop star is so unequivocal that she was fired from her day care job because she wanted to play Jackson songs.

It seems that Mainers, like people everywhere, have developed an opinion about Jackson, who was acquitted Monday of child molestation, providing alcohol to a minor, conspiracy and other counts in Santa Maria, Calif.

Nick Langella of Freeport was 12 when he spent a day at Jackson’s Neverland ranch after winning the trip through a D.A.R.E. program at Lincoln Middle School.

There was a giant trampoline and an arcade where the games required no coins. The children were entertained by Jackson’s pet chimpanzee and by actors Fred Savage from “The Wonder Years” and Ed O’Neill, who played Al Bundy on “Married with Children.”

Looking back, he can understand why Jackson has become a magnet for accusations.

“I think he puts himself in that situation, because of the way Neverland ranch is set up,” said Langella, now 27. “I was hoping he was innocent. The fact is they were scamming him, and I could see how easy it would be to do it.”

Nataniel of Portland welcomed the news of Jackson’s acquittal by driving around the city beeping her car horn in celebration.

During the trial, she had insisted on playing Jackson songs at the child care center where she worked. That led to heated arguments with her boss. Eventually, she was let go.

“I love Michael Jackson, all the stuff from when he was still a boy and especially when he sings for the children,” said Nataniel, who says Jackson was a huge star who was appreciated for his famine relief efforts in her native Sudan.

Brian Rivard, on the other hand, believes Jackson is guilty and was hoping for a conviction.

As a boy, Rivard loved the “Thriller” album. He had a Michael Jackson toy microphone and remembers performing dance moves. As he grew up, though, he lost interest in the music and only casually followed the litany of allegations and apparent facial surgeries that made Jackson king of the tabloids.

“He just became this complete freak,” Rivard, 30, said. “It wasn’t even like he was a real person anymore. He is totally bizarre.”

Hurd also thought Jackson was guilty.

“I think he did it,” said Hurd, who watched the verdict at a friend’s apartment. “I don’t know why. He’s just creepy.”