Michael Jackson estate slams ‘disgraceful’ Leaving Neverland documentary that claims he molested boys
MICHAEL Jackson’s Estate has slammed as “disgraceful” the contentious Leaving Neverland documentary that claims he molested boys.
The estate’s lawyer has sent a 10-page letter to HBO boss Richard Plepler, criticising the two-part film as “one-sided and a disgrace".
The controversial documentary features fresh abuse claims by former childhood fans of the Thriller singer.
These include accusers Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who said they suffered abuse in Jacko’s enormous California mansion he dubbed Neverland.
The documentary debuted at the Sundance Festival late last month, and HBO yesterday announced that the network will air Leaving Neverland on March 3 and 4.
This prompted Michael Jackson’s Estate to pen a letter to Plepler, reports .
Part of it says: “The Estate spent years litigating with Robson and Safechuck, and had four different lawsuits by these two men dismissed with prejudice.
“Today, Robson owes the Estate almost $70,000 in court costs, and Safechuck owes the Estate several thousands dollars as well.”
Leaving Neverland director Dan Reed, a British filmmaker, was singled out for failing to contact or interview anyone who could dispute the men’s sexual abuse allegations.
This includes the star’s family, former legal team, or people who had spent time with Jackson during their youth.
The Estate added: “The fact that HBO and its producing partners did not even deign to reach out to any of these people to explore the credibility of the false stories Robson and Safechuck told violates all norms and ethics in documentary filmmaking and journalism.
“It is a disgrace.”
The letter points out that Robson was once a witness offering support to the star during his molestation trial.
And after Jackson’s death in 2009, the choreographer called him “one of the main reasons I believe in the pure goodness of human kind.”
The letter also noted that in 2011, when his now-accuser was rejected by the estate for a Michael Jackson themed Cirque de Soleil event, he reportedly came forward with his “fabricated”allegations against the singer.
It says: “Robson is an admitted perjurer who proudly called himself (in his draft book) a ‘master of deception.
“His own mother testified under oath… that she could not tell when he was lying.
“As for Safechuck, by his own admission, he did not ‘realize’ that he had been abused until after he saw Robson on the Today Show in May 2013.
“All of a sudden, Safechuck realized that he had been abused. He then contacted Robson’s lawyers and filed copycat lawsuits against the Estate for millions of dollars.
“And like Robson, he too had testified under oath that Jackson never did anything inappropriate with him.
“His two cases against the Estate were also dismissed.
“We would be happy to meet with HBO to discuss a solution. We have plenty of further information and witnesses that would expose these two for who they are.
“If HBO wants to maintain its industry position as a valid source of news and fact, it owes an obligation to the public – not to mention the deceased Michael Jackson with whom HBO had previously partnered with during his lifetime – to actually investigate these matters.”
HBO said in response to Rolling Stone: “Our plans remain unchanged.”
It intends showing the two-part documentary as scheduled.
Dan Reed, meanwhile, was described by the network as an “award-winning filmmaker who has carefully documented these survivors’ accounts.
"People should reserve judgment until they see the film.”
Michael’s nephew Taj is preparing a “series of rebuttal films” to shoot down the “vicious and calculated lies” of Wade Robson and James Safechuck.