“somehow makes him a victim of himself and therefore excuses him from all forms of condemnation?”
I did NOT say anything about excusing him for anything.
I said he will be remembered as a great artist and as a flawed and tragic character.
Great artist? Yes. Flawed and tragic character? A lot more than just that. How 'bout a perverted pedophile that, unfortunately, was responsible for screwing up more lives than just his own. I can't over look any of that no matter how great a record Thriller was. Those kids will carry that sh!t will them always while he's...well, he's dead. Good riddance.