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Mr. Johnny Wonka Rogers
(July 22, 2005)
Hey, Johnny Depp. You've been quite adamant lately about ensuring us that your portrayal of Willy Wonka in
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has nothing to do with Michael Jackson. Both you and director Tim Burton
have insisted that the comparison between Wonka and Jackson is illogical because, as Burton has so simply summed up,
"Michael Jackson likes children and Willy Wonka can't stand children." You've insisted that instead,
Depp, your portrayal of Willy Wonka has been based on TV show hosts such as Mr. Rogers and Captain Kangaroo.
But wait a minute, didn't Mr. Rogers also like children? It sounds to me like your logic has already fallen apart.
You see, there's a lot of things that I can overlook, Mr. Depp. I can overlook Wonka's extremely pale-colored makeup
job and his unusually soft, high-pitched voice. I can overlook Wonka's apparent amusement park attractions that have
remained hidden within a mystical building that we like to call the "chocolate factory." I can even overlook
the fact that your last film was curiously named Finding Neverland. However, I can't ignore your denial
of Willy Wonka's Jackson-esque qualities.
Please, Mr. Depp, just admit to us that, yes, your Willy Wonka does bear a number of similarities to Michael Jackson.
It has nothing to do with whether or not your character does or does not like children. It has everything to do with
the way he looks, the way he talks, and the way he behaves. Whether or not that connection was intentional,
I don't know, nor do I honestly care or even think that it matters.
Please understand that nobody in their right mind is accusing you of being a child molester or a frequent guest
to the Neverland Ranch. We're just making the simple observation that your newest character, Willy Wonka,
reminds us of Michael Jackson. And while we're at it, some of us are poking just a little bit of fun at the entertaining
performance; and yes, it was an entertaining performance. But there's no need to deny so stubbornly the existence
of the odd Wonka-Jackson connection, intended or otherwise. You know, they do say that one of the first signs
of a problem is denial.
So don't take the jokes personally. There's no need to get angry and upset. We're not trying to laugh at you,
Mr. Depp. We're trying to laugh with you.
Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4670153.stm
http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/eo/20050706/112070592000.html
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