One thing keeps sticking out to me the more I watch coverage of the death of Michael Jackson: Pure and complete awkwardness.

Usually when a legendary celebrity dies the first thing media outlets do is trot out friends, family, and anyone who has somehow been in the orbit of the departed for their “heartfelt” reaction.

That was all well and good, but the problem is this wasn’t an honorable, well-beloved, non-controversial celebrity. This was a man who had been accused of (and acquitted of) some very heinous crimes against children. This was a man who was obsessed with his appearance in such a way that he literally disfigured himself into the version of the man whom we have come to see and know over the last 25+ years.

And if you’re a respectable media outlet, there’s no way around talking about that. But if you’re a good host to your guests how do you conceivably bring that point up without it seeming in incredibly poor taste? How do you bring it up without the audience cringing with a “too soon” feeling?

So we’re kind of left with this incredibly awkward coverage of a man who was as infamous as he was famous. What an incredibly strange legacy for one to leave.

More soon on some final thoughts on the whole thing..