Twitter exploded Sunday night after HBO’s premiere of the newMichael Jacksondocumentary,Leaving Neverland.
In the film, two men — Wade Robson and James Safechuck — allege that the late music icon sexually abused them when they were children. The Jackson estate hassued HBOandslammed the documentary, calling it “another rehash of dated and discredited allegations.”
Reactions ranged from disgust to disbelief on social media, with many viewers expressing support for Robson and Safechuck.
Others also criticized the parents’ decision to allow their children to spend time with the late singer.
While some watched with one eye open, unable to stomach the thought of the events that allegedly took place at Neverland Ranch.
Many maintained their support of Jackson, urging that he should be allowed to rest in peace.
And then some decided to forgo tuning in altogether, accusing the documentary of being biased.
Leaving Neverlandpremiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January. In the documentary, both Robson, 36, and Safechuck, 40, detail their alleged inappropriate experiences with Jackson.
Both Safechuck and Robson allege that Jacksonbegan molesting themwhen they were young.
Safechuck met Jackson when he was cast in the singer’s 1986 Pepsi commercial. He said the pop star took him and his family on tour where their relationship allegedly turned sexual when Jackson taught Safechuck how to masturbate.
“He set it up like I’m going to show you something that everybody does and you’ll enjoy it,” Safechuck said. “It felt like you were bonding, in a way. The tour was the start of this sexual, like, couple relationship.”
Michael Jackson and Wade Robson.HBO
Safechuck alleged the singer trained him to cover their tracks early on.
“He would run drills with me where we’d be in the hotel room and he would pretend like somebody was coming in and you had to get dressed as fast as possible without making noise,” Safechuck said.
Similarly, Robson claimed Jackson told him if anyone “ever found out what we were doing about the sexual stuff, that he and I would be pulled apart and we would never be able to see each other again. And that he and I would go to jail for the rest of our lives.”
Michael Jackson and James Safechuck.Dave Hogan/Getty Images
The Jackson estate came out swinging beforeLeaving Neverlandeven premiered at Sundance.
“This is yet another lurid production in an outrageous and pathetic attempt to exploit and cash in on Michael Jackson,” the Jackson estate said in a statement in January.
Members of the Jackson family recently came forward todefend the singeragainst the allegations made in the documentary.
CBS
During an interview with Gayle King forCBS This Morningthat aired on Wednesday, Jackson’s brothers Tito, Marlon, and Jackie Jackson, as well as Jackson’s nephew, Taj Jackson, said that they had not seen the documentary.
“I know my brother,” Jackie, 67, said. “I know what he stood for. What he was all about. Bringing the world together. Making kids happy. That’s the kind of person he was.”
In the same sit-down, Marlon, 61, claimed that Jackson was “never inappropriate” with children.
Chevaz Clarke/CBS
Robson added: “I wish … that I could’ve played a role in, at that point, stopping Michael from abusing however many other kids he did after that.”
Part one ofLeaving Neverlandis now streaming on HBO; part two will air Monday night.
source: people.com
