In case you have not heard, The King of Pop has a movie out, just four months after his death. Michael Jackson is back again, and just as anything else Jackson-related, you can expect a good deal of media attention, publicity and of course, controversy. While some bristle at the mention of Jackson’s name, even months after his passing, they tend to forget the significance of Jackson’s contributions to popular culture.

Jackson not only created music that became a part of the American rhythm — from the grooves of the Jackson 5 to the beats of the “Thriller” album — he also brought music in America to new frontiers. MTV, for instance, was popularized largely thanks to Jackson and the hit music videos “Billie Jean” and “Thriller.” Adding to the significance of this feat was that Jackson was a black artist who had so finely broken into the musical mainstream of our nation. While MTV has since become a staple of American popular culture, Jackson’s musical influence can be heard anywhere from Justin Timberlake to Mariah Carey, and even on many of his contemporaries, like Prince and Lenny Kravitz.

Such influence didn’t stop in the United States. Jackson’s work on “We Are The World” and his Heal the World Foundation served to aid people harmed around the world by famines, along with children living in jeopardy, both at home and abroad.

These achievements are all in addition to the electrifying concerts, dance routines and record-setting albums that Jackson produced for his fans throughout his career — “Got to Be There,” “Off the Wall,” “Thriller,” “Bad,” “Dangerous” and “Invincible” being a few of his most significant works. All this led to Jackson being crowned the “King of Pop” and becoming one of the best-selling artists of all time, with a host of awards and trophies to boot.

All of Jackson’s accomplishments should be enough to warrant all the attention that he’s been getting for so long — certainly enough to warrant the release of “This Is It,” in theaters on Oct. 28. Although some would argue that the erratic behavior Jackson displayed later in life, coupled with the child molestation accusations in 1993 and 2003, have tarnished his legacy. Upon closer inspection, however, these theories are easily dismissed.

In regards to the child molestation accusations, New York Congressman Peter King said in the days after Jackson’s death, “This guy was a pervert, he was a child molester, a pedophile.” Yet Jackson’s accusations of wrongdoing were notably never proved. As a legislator such as King should know, the law of our land dictates that mere accusations do not establish one’s guilt — guilt must be proved in court. Jackson was not proved guilty of wrongdoing on any occasion during his trials.

Surely if some of our more modern stars (Paris Hilton’s homemade videos? Britney Spears’ parenting capabilities?) have shown themselves capable of going off the deep end just to rebound back into the good graces of public opinion, you can expect the same from Jackson.

For now, let’s enjoy the works Jackson left for us: the music, the videos, the movie and his ever-growing legacy.