The estate of late pop icon Michael Jackson are not pleased with a new documentary that focuses on sexual abuse allegations against the artist.
On Friday, the Dan Reed-directed Leaving Neverland premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, to positive responses.
While the two men at the centre of the claims – Wade Robson and Jimmy Safechuck – in the almost-four hour documentary received a standing ovation from the audience, fans of the late singer have reportedly threatened their lives in the aftermath.
In their official description of the documentary, Sundance writes that “Through gut-wrenching interviews with the now-adult men and their families, Leaving Neverland crafts a portrait of sustained exploitation and deception, documenting the power of celebrity that allowed a revered figure to infiltrate the lives of starstruck children and their parents.”
While the estate of the late King of Pop initially called the documentary “an outrageous and pathetic attempt to exploit and cash in on Michael Jackson”, the estate have now issued a statement in the wake of its premiere, slamming its content.
In a statement issued to Rolling Stone, Jackson’s estate noted “Leaving Neverland isn’t a documentary, it is the kind of tabloid character assassination Michael Jackson endured in life, and now in death.”
“The film takes uncorroborated allegations that supposedly happened 20 years ago and treats them as fact,” Jackson’s estate continues. “We are extremely sympathetic to any legitimate victim of child abuse. This film, however, does those victims a disservice.”
Elsewhere in their statement, Michael Jackson’s estate described Robson and Safechuck as “admitted liars”, while claiming that Robson had denied previously that he “was a victim and stated he was grateful for everything Michael had done for him.”
“This film, however, does those victims a disservice,” the estate concludes. “Because despite all the disingenuous denials made that this is not about money, it has always been about money – millions of dollars – dating back to 2013 when both Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who share the same law firm, launched their unsuccessful claims against Michael’s Estate.”
“Now that Michael is no longer here to defend himself, Robson, Safechuck and their lawyers continue their efforts to achieve notoriety and a payday by smearing him with the same allegations a jury found him innocent of when he was alive.”
The producers of the documentary are yet to respond to this statement.
Check out a news story on the Leaving Neverland controversy:
