QotD: "Icon" misused

Today on National Review's blog corner, Jonah Goldberg, author of Liberal Facism, considers the media fawning over Michael Jackson. The gist earns QotD honors:

"If anything, Michael Jackson's life, not his death, was tragic."

It's a sober assessment of Michael Jackson's life (read it here). Consider:

• From a family who, if they'd hit their stride in 2009, would be the subject of some macabre reality series.
• Became a sensation with his brothers as part of the Jackson 5 in the 70's.
• Oozed talent. Oozed good looks.
• Tried to put himself off as a friend to children while having one of the most sexually suggestive stage shows ever seen. Today it would be fare for the Disney Channel.
• Altered those incredible good looks and realtered them until he became something out of a 50's horror movie gone awry.
• Married Elvis Presley's daughter. Divorced less than two years later.
• Drugs (pain medication) became a natural part of his life.
• Another marriage, this to his dermatologist, produced two children, a son and a daughter, and it, too, lasted less than two years.
• Mega-debt replaced his mega-millions.
• He sired a third child by a surrogate.

Phenomenal talent. To what end? "And the rich, young man went away exceedingly sorrowful..." An "icon?" Ought not be.