Fans divided as Harry Styles replaces Michael Jackson as the ‘new King of Pop’

Music fans have given a mixed response after Harry Styles was called the ‘King of Pop’ when that title had previously belonged to Michael Jackson.

Before we crack on, we aren’t here to run through the speculation about Michael Jackson, who wasn’t a star that was without controversy throughout his life, to say the least.

Testimony such as that in documentary Leaving Neverland tells one part of the story, whereas Michael's fans and relatives will always stand up for the exact opposite - it's not what this article is about.

Let’s try to keep above that - during his musical career he released some of the best-selling, popular and enduring records of all time.

Off the Wall was followed up by Thriller, which was then backed up again by Bad between the years of 1979 and 1987, which has to be one of the best runs that any artist has ever enjoyed.

While Harry’s latest album has no doubt been a smash hit, he’s a way to go before he can match up to Michael’s body of work.

Rolling Stone

However, that didn’t stop Rolling Stone proclaiming him the new ‘King of Pop’.

A feature published by the magazine about Harry bore the headline ‘Harry Styles: How the new King of Pop set the music world aflame’.

He might well be a bigger artist just now, but given that Michael won 13 Grammys, six BRITs, 24 American Music Awards, and - interestingly enough - 20 Guinness World Records, Harry has a lot to do in order to catch up.

He’s 29 years old, has three Grammy awards, but Michael was a child star, meaning that he managed to get through a lot of work before he was even a solo artist.

Of course, Harry was in One Direction, so there’s a good chance he’ll go on to enjoy much more success.

1D fans are a special sort of enthusiast, after all.

Anyway, there was a lot of upshot after Harry was declared the ‘King of Pop’ including from Michael’s nephew Taj Jackson.

M/Alamy Stock Photo

He tweeted: “There is no new King of Pop.

“You don’t own the title @RollingStone, and you didn’t earn it, my uncle did.

“Decades of dedication and sacrifice.

“The title has been retired.

“No disrespect to @Harry_Styles, he’s mega-talented.”

Taj then said that Harry should be given ‘his own unique title’.

Any ideas on that front?

Underneath Taj’s post he got a lot of support, with one person commenting: “Well Said, Taj. It is disrespectful to Michael Jackson for anyone to call Harry Styles or Justin Bieber King of Pop.”

Another wrote: “Michael Jackson is the ONE AND ONLY King of Pop.

“Nobody else gets nor deserves that title.

“Michael worked his ass off since the age of five up until the day he died doing music. “Nobody will ever reach the amount of work and success that Michael Jackson did. Michael is untouchable.”

AGENZIA SINTESI/Alamy Stock Photo

However, not everyone agreed with him.

One commenter wrote: “Calm down Taj, really?”

Another said: “Kings die; a new king is chosen.

“That's how monarchies work.”

Honestly folks, just enjoy the music - if that’s what you’re into.

Topics: Celebrity, Music, Harry Styles

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford. According to his French teacher, at the weekend he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother. Contact Tom on [email protected]

@TPWagwim