Michael Jackson albums soar up the charts in wake of Leaving Neverland documentary and radio bans around the world
James Safechuck and Wade Robson gave graphic accounts of how the King of Pop allegedly groomed and sexually abused them
MICHAEL Jackson's albums are shooting up the music charts in the wake of the shocking Leaving Neverland documentary.
James Safechuck and Wade Robson gave graphic accounts of how the King of Pop allegedly groomed and sexually abused them in the two-part film.
Viewers were left feeling sick as Australian-born Wade, now 36, claimed he was abused from the age of seven to 14 by Jackson at his Neverland ranch.
James’s story was shockingly similar, with allegations Jackson introduced him to masturbation and porn and later married him in a faux wedding ceremony, lavishing him with gold and diamond jewellery in return for sexual favours.
But despite the allegations made, Jackson's hits have climbed the iTunes charts since the programme aired on Channel 4 this week.
RADIO SILENCE
According to the , the singer's Number Ones album soared to number 43, having climbed 44 places in a matter of hours.
However, the album has since dropped to number 87 in the iTunes album chart.
While the star's 1987 release Bad reportedly ranked at number 147, with 1982’s Thriller sitting at number 172 - and is currently at number 100 in Apple's music videos chart.
Meanwhile radio stations in Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the Netherlands pulled Jackson's music from their playlists following the controversial documentary.
SHOCKING ABUSE CLAIMS
In New Zealand, two radio stations that broadcast to over half of the population have now removed his music.
And NZME director Dean Buchanan said, “Playlists change from week to week and right now Michael Jackson does not feature on them.”
Playlists change from week to week and right now Michael Jackson does not feature on them
Dean Buchanan
Stations in the UK are continuing to play the superstar's hits, with the BBC confirming that they do not ban artists.
A spokesperson told the Standard: "We consider each piece of music on its merits and decisions on what we play on different networks are always made with relevant audiences and context in mind."
Virgin Radio said Jackson was "not very relevant" to its listeners.
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Jackson, who died in 2009 of a drug overdose, strongly denied all allegations of sexual abuse made against him.
His estate has vehemently denounced the documentary.
After viewing the film at the Sundance Festival, the estate called the documentary “tabloid character assassination”.
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