MJ and Elton are mild to some of the filth pervayers out there today. What about the rap idiots, M&M, Mariylan Manson etc etc.
Hidden or not how can you say today is not worse than 50 years ago. It is and it will be getting worse.
I don't know if it's worse or not, but everything in Society has changed, so of course what's acceptable for celebrities has changed as well.