Separating the Art From the Artist: Shamone, Hee Hee

[DISCLAIMER]

Earlier, when listening to 2010 A.D. (2015) by lyricist Planet Asia and producer DirtyDiggs, I heard the track “Love Hell or Right” on which the lyricist states, “Second grade, I started playin’ soccer. Michael Jackson [MJ] was the shit!” This event spawned a psychoeducational lesson.

Before I discuss the psychotherapeutic modality that I favor, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I thank you for bearing with me as I discuss my own perspective on MJ and controversy surrounding the deceased artist. When I was in elementary school, MJ’s stardom was legendary!

If memory serves, the only other musical artist that garnered similar attention among various enclaves within Bomb City was Prince. Even still, Prince was nowhere as popular on a global level as MJ. As evidence to support this claim, one needs to look no further than Thriller (1982).

Although I’d enjoyed MJ’s Motown releases since before ever attending school, favoring his standout performances with The Jackson 5, and watched reruns of the morning cartoon series Jackson 5ive (1971-1972), Thriller is as close to a flawless album as any I’ve ever heard!

I say this as one who maintains that fallible human beings are incapable of achieving perfection. In view of this, there’s not a single track on the album that I don’t like! I also like the follow-up albums Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995).

All the same, Thriller is my favorite MJ album, and was as a child. This conclusion wasn’t altered by the 1993 MJ sexual abuse allegations. It wasn’t that I didn’t care about claims of sexual assault and rape. Rather, I was able to separate the art from the artist.

Separating the art from the artist regards a concept of valuing a body of creative work (i.e., books, music, films, etc.) independently of the personal shortcomings of its creator (e.g., moral and ethical wrongs). In essence, the work of art holds value regardless the artist’s actions.

When learning that I hold this worldview, you may quote MJ by stating “shamone” (i.e., c’mon—an expression of excitement or disbelief), or you may do as MJ often did by saying “hee hee” (i.e., the pronunciation of laughter in place of actual laughing). After all, one source states:

“Separate the art from the artist.” This common phrase has become our cultural comfort blanket, pulled out whenever we discover that a beloved creator has committed terrible acts. It is a mental trick that promises we can keep enjoying great works while condemning their creators’ misdeeds. But in today’s hyper-connected world, this separation is not just difficult — it is a paradoxical impossibility we need to stop pretending exists. […]

Critics often argue that requiring moral purity from artists would leave us with precious little art to enjoy. This is a false argument. The issue is not about demanding perfection but acknowledging that serious moral transgressions fundamentally change the relationship between artist and audience. There is a vast ethical gap between human imperfection and predatory behavior, between artistic controversy and criminal conduct.

This opposing perspective will serve as content for a lesson on REBT. When reading my refutation of the aforementioned viewpoint—albeit my hypothetical rendition, I encourage you to pay close attention to the terms “terrible” and “demanding” which the author used.

REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate that when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, not the occurrence itself, that causes an unpleasant Consequence. This is known as distress or disturbance.

Noteworthy, with virtually any undesirable Action that occurs, it’s your unfavorable Beliefs which cause unpleasant distress or disturbance (Consequence). Given this framing of self-distress and self-disturbance, it’s worth noting that one REBT source states (page 71):

REBT conceptualizes [distress] as healthy even though it is intense. Other approaches to therapy have as their goal the reduction of the intensity of negative emotions. They take this position because they do not keenly differentiate between healthy negative emotions (distress) and unhealthy negative emotions (disturbance).

Now, REBT keenly distinguishes between healthy distress and unhealthy disturbance. Healthy distress stems from your rational beliefs about a negative activating event [Action], whilst disturbance stems from your irrational beliefs about the same event.

Complete elimination of distress is highly unlikely in an impermanent and uncertain world wherein people conceptually suffer, struggle, and battle with, or merely experience hardship. Still, individuals often make matters worse for themselves by disturbing about such instances.

In particular, there are four predominate irrational beliefs which people often use to distress or disturb themselves: global evaluations, low frustration tolerance, awfulizing, and demandingness. When contemplating these unproductive scripts, think of the acronym GLAD.

Additionally, from a psychological standpoint, people distress or disturb themselves using a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection. Of course, this isn’t to suggest that in the context of the naturalistic or physical world there is no Action-Consequence (A-C) connection.

From an A-C view, MJ allegedly victimized children (Action), as he and his estate were thereafter subject to legal action (Consequence). Yet, regarding a B-C view, my continued appreciation for MJ’s body of work isn’t what causes the aforementioned author’s reaction.

I separate the art from the artist (Action) and the author hypothetically Believes, “MJ was a monster [G], and it makes me sick that anyone would like his music [L], because MJ committed terrible acts [A], as I’m demanding that no one should separate the art from the artist [D]!”

If this script were malleable, it may lead to distress (e.g., negative and healthy frustration). However, the author’s hypothetical narrative – using actual terms expressed in the cited source – is inflexible and would likely result in disturbance (e.g., negative and unhealthy anger).

Addressing how people upset themselves with unhelpful attitudes, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of unproductive philosophies of life in order to explore Effective new beliefs. Whereas rigid beliefs cause self-disturbance, flexible beliefs result in an un-disturbed condition.

Lately, I’ve observed healthily distressed and unhealthily disturbed reactions from people regarding Michael (2026)—a musical biographical drama film with some critics having criticized the apparent lack of mention of the abuse allegations. Admittedly, I’ve not watched it.

In any event, because I’m able to separate the art from the artist, I maintain the final reaction that comedian Dave Chappelle humorously used on the sketch comedy series Chappelle’s Show during an episode in which the following dialogue unfolded:

Attorney: What about Michael saying it’s okay to have children sleep with him?

Witness: That doesn’t mean anything. I’m sure there’s plenty of kids that sleep in the bed with adults all the time, and nothing happens.

Attorney: So, do you think Michael Jackson is guilty of the charges against him?

Witness: No, man. He made Thriller. Thriller!

Photo credit, property of Pilot Boy Productions, Marobru Productions, Comedy Partners, and Comedy Central, fair use

The modification I’d make to this final reaction is that regarding allegations of MJ’s criminal actions toward children, I remain agnostic (holding the view that any ultimate reality, such as MJ’s innocence or guilt, is unknown and probably unknowable). I don’t know what is true.

What I do know is that he made Thriller. Thriller! Therefore, I’m able to separate the art from the artist. Perhaps demonstration of another REBT technique is now in order. Shamone, hee hee! Particularly, I invite you to consider what I stated in Remembering ABC’s (June 10, 2024):

Although I’m aware of an unspoken and perceivable expectation for people to behave as though they’ve never appreciated music from artists who’ve been credibly accused or convicted of sexual crimes against minors, I can separate the artist from the art and I reject expectations requiring otherwise.

One such artist is Houston, Texas’ [rapper] South Park Mexican (SPM [Carlos Coy]). According to one source:

On May 18, 2002, [SPM] was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child [13-years-old], sentenced to 45 years in prison and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. He is currently serving his sentence at the Ramsey Unit in Rosharon, Texas, and would be eligible for parole on October 7, 2024, although his projected release date is on April 8, 2047.

Admittedly, I’ve enjoyed SPM’s music since the late ‘90s. Despite the fact that I don’t condone the actions for which he was convicted, I can appreciate what the rapper’s music has meant to me during different stages of my life.

Since posting that blog entry, I’ve discovered additional details of SPM’s case. According to one source:

In September 2001, the then nine-year-old complainant told her mother about sexual acts appellant had performed on her. The mother took her daughter to the authorities, who began an investigation of the complainant’s allegations. The evidence at trial showed that appellant’s daughter had invited the complainant to spend the night at appellant’s home on September 1, 2001.

Both children were watching television in appellant’s bedroom when appellant entered the room and began watching television with the children. While sitting on the bed, appellant inappropriately touched and rubbed her. After this incident, the complainant left appellant’s bedroom.

The children eventually entered the daughter’s bedroom. Both children climbed into bed and began watching television. After appellant’s daughter fell asleep, appellant entered the room, sat on the bed, reached under the covers, and again inappropriately touched her.

Eventually, appellant sexually assaulted the complainant by causing her sexual organ to come into contact with his mouth. The complainant testified that appellant persisted in this conduct for approximately one minute.

The complainant did not, after this incident, stay overnight at appellant’s home as was originally planned, but returned home. The following morning, she informed her mother what occurred at appellant’s home, and the authorities were contacted to investigate the incident.

I don’t know what is true. Nonetheless, I know that one source reports, “Carlos Coy, also known as South Park Mexican (SPM) was denied parole on Monday, January 13 [2025], according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He will be up for parole again in January 2028.”

Given this information, REBT uses unconditional acceptance (UA) to relieve self-induced suffering. This is accomplished through use of unconditional self-acceptance (USA), unconditional other-acceptance (UOA), and unconditional life-acceptance (ULA).

Whereas the ABC model is a scientific approach to wellness, UA serves as a philosophical method for un-disturbing yourself. I view the former as an abortive approach to disturbance and the latter as a preventative method. Of course, not all REBT practitioners use the same style as I.

With my approach to REBT, I incorporate author Stephen Covey’s concepts regarding the circles of control, influence, and concern, as well as an area of no concern. UA maps onto the circle of control (USA), circle of influence (UOA), and circle of concern and area of no concern (ULA).

The circle of control encompasses only oneself, the circle of influence encapsulates elements which may be subject to one’s sway, the circle of concern engrosses most matters one can imagine, and the area of no concern relates to all content which isn’t yet imagined.

Regarding my circle of control and USA, I recognize my own fallibility, how I can’t control most matters in life, and that I can control only my reaction to undesirable events, such as the alleged molestation of minors. Also, I do control whether or not I abuse minors—which I don’t do.

Concerning my circle of influence and UOA, I admit that other people are also imperfect, I likely can’t convince everyone that separating the art from the artist is rational (in accordance with both logic and reason), and I take personal ownership over my reaction to the opinions of others.

About my circle of concern and ULA, I acknowledge that in this impermanent and uncertain existence highly disagreeable, though often not terrible, events occur, as demands not to separate art from artists have echoed throughout time. Over these matters, I have no control or influence.

For the record, the Chappelle character that provided testimony on the witness stand, supporting MJ, used rationalization in which apparent logical details were given to justify behavior, yet which didn’t accord with reason. Thus, part of the humor of the skit is that it wasn’t rational.

I’d like to credit the reader of this post with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of this humorous view. Still, I think it’s worth stating outright that I don’t support random adults lying in beds with children—irrespective of whether or not an adult made a popular album. Samone!

Also worth mentioning, UA is influenced by Stoicism. As such, I want to ascertain what other practicing Stoics have expressed about separating the art from the artist. Among the resources I use for daily practice of REBT is Reddit, as I discovered the following in the Stoicism subreddit:

After reading through the comments of a recent post on this thread, I thought it would be relevant to ask ourselves this question in a separate post. The relationship between the art, the artist and cancel culture is a very divisive topic, but I wonder what our good friends the stoics would think about it.

From a stoic perspective, individuals are supposed to practice detachment and impartiality while focusing on bettering themselves. The intrinsic value of the art [preferably] should be the primary focus rather than the personal flaws or transgressions of the artist that created it.

If you learn or see value in a song written by a person who has committed deplorable actions uplifts you and brings a positive change to your life, is it that [morally or ethically] wrong to benefit from it? If you become a better person than you were yesterday because of a bit from a stand-up comedian who has acted in very unethical ways [such as some accuse Chappelle of], does that mean you condone what he has done?

Personally, I don’t think so. I think that every artist by definition can generate positivity and although it doesn’t erase all the negative consequences that an individual might bring about, the world is not a better place if we choose to invalidate the value of their art.

Of course, this is based on a general representation of Stoic philosophy, and I don’t pretend that this take on it is the only valid one, but I would like to hear your Stoic perspective on the debate.

I concur with the Redditor’s rational conclusion. Explicitly, Stoicism which is interwoven with UA maintains Stoic philosopher Epictetus’s perspective, as he stated, “It isn’t events themselves that disturb people, but only their judgments about them” (page 118).

People may judge me, my beliefs, or my behavior—not all one and the same—for continuing to appreciate art from artists who’ve been accused of disagreeable acts. Oh well, too bad! Their thoughts aren’t my thoughts! Thus, we can agree to disagree. Shamone, hee hee!

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

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