Leave me alone: Michael Jackson’s estate denounces “Leaving Neverland” documentary
robert wallis/Corbis via Getty ImagesFollowing the announcement that a documentary about two boys who were allegedly abused by Michael Jackson would premiere later this month at the Sundance Film Festival, Jackson’s estate has dismissed the movie as an attempt to “exploit and cash in” on the late King of Pop.
Leaving Neverland is about two men in their 30s who claim that they were sexually abused by Jackson when they were children. While neither man is named in the promotional materials for the film, Jackson’s estate does so in its denouncement of the project.
In a statement to E!, the estate said, “This is yet another lurid production in an outrageous and pathetic attempt to exploit and cash in on Michael Jackson. Wade Robson and James Safechuck have both testified under oath that Michael never did anything inappropriate toward them.”
The statement continues, “Safechuck and Robson, the latter a self-proclaimed ‘master of deception,’ filed lawsuits against Michael’s Estate, asking for millions of dollars. Both lawsuits were dismissed.”
“This so-called ‘documentary’ is just another rehash of dated and discredited allegations,” the statement concludes. “It’s baffling why any credible filmmaker would involve himself with this project.”
As E! notes, Robson filed a negligence claim against two of Michael’s companies in 2017, claiming that the purpose of the businesses was to, “operate as a child sexual abuse operation.” The judge dismissed the case.
In 2013, he’d sued MJ’s estate on grounds of child molestation; that was dismissed in in 2015. But in 2005, Robson testified in defense of Jackson at the singer’s 2005 child molestation trial.
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