Michael Jackson’s Name Might Get Cut From The VMA’s Vanguard Award

Credit: Fameflynet Pictures

People are still talking about the crazy Michael Jackson documentary that exposed his years-long abuse of underage boys. So much so, that now MTV is considering removing his name from the Vanguard Award — an award that is handed out every so often during the Video Music Awards.

“There’s a lot of heated discussion at the network about how to handle the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award this year, and it’s getting ugly,” a source told Page Six. “There’s talk about if they should change the name, or get rid of it altogether. [There’s also talk] about who would pre­sent it and who would accept it. It’s a mess.”

In HBO’s documentary, Michael’s former protégés Wade Robson and James Safechuck claim that he groomed them as kids to have a sexual relationship. The late singer’s estate has denied all the allegations.

“MTV [potentially] banning his name is the latest fallout,” the source added. “They haven’t decided yet, but they’ve been going back and forth on it. There are a lot of issues.”

Michael received the first Vanguard Award in 1988, and MTV renamed it in his honor in 1991. So far, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Britney Spears, U2 and Jennifer Lopez (last year’s recipient) are some of the stars who have been honored under the name.