Nearly 10 years after his untimely death, Michael Jackson is on trial again. The alleged transgressions of one of the greatest talents to ever walk the Earth is being examined in HBO’s two-part documentary, Leaving Neverland.
The documentary mostly focuses on accusations from Wade Robson and James Safechuck who claim Jackson sexually molested them at separate times when they were children. Robson claims Jackson performed oral sex on him and kissed him. Safechuck claims Jackson taught him how to masturbate.
In 2005, Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges. Robson filed a lawsuit against Jackson’s estate for $1.6 billion in 2016 and a judge dismissed the case. Jackson’s estate recently filed a lawsuit against HBO for airing the film.
Oprah, who stands by the victims, has produced a televised discussion on topics from the documentary that will appear on the OWN Network.
But after the shocking accusations, will the Black community turn its back on the man known as “The King of Pop?”
Here are reactions from social media below:
Not watching #LeavingNeverland and don’t ask me to discuss it. Michael Jackson is not alive to defend himself and at this point people can make up anything about him. I do believe the conversation of child sexual abuse needs to be had but using a dead man is not a good look.
— Kevin Simmons (@TheSkorpion) March 4, 2019
HBO should be ashamed to air such a one sided and totally biased portrait. Too much of the story don’t add up and after some quick research about the families this is laughable… Jackson estate better sue HBO if possible #LeavingNeverland
— Felix Rodriguez (@FelixPRodriguez) March 4, 2019
MJ was thoroughly monitored by FBI for +10 years,his house was searched unannounced,his naked body photographed,his phone calls tapped. 300 pages of FBI report.
List of What they found:
-Nothing #mjinnocent #LeavingNeverland— Mary (@itsmarymi) March 4, 2019
from a storytelling standpoint #LeavingNeverland is a very bad documentary. I’m up to listen the stories of survivors of any abuse. I’m on their side always, but this being about the greatest megastar in the world and a dead person, I expected a lot more of facts and research.
— Gabriel Torrelles (@gabetorrelles) March 4, 2019
Who knew that if you created a one-sided doc based on shock value and recycled false claims people would believe you. The main reason this doc exists is because defamation laws do not apply to the dead. This is a slap in the face to real victims of sexual abuse. #leavingneverland
— 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝𝐲 (@pytdemo) March 4, 2019
Black Michael Jackson fans are suggesting that because these two victims are white, that’s why many care.
Perhaps, but where were Black men when countless Black women accused R. Kelly in January?
Y’all don’t believe Black victims either. Stop projecting. #LeavingNeverland
— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) March 4, 2019
15 years of investigations & proven INNOCENT. Now Defaming a man that’s in his grave & not here to defend himself should be criminal. #HBO expose the real cases that go on in Hollywood everyday and leave Michael alone. #LeavingNeverland #MJfam #MJfamUnite #MichaelJackson #Love
— Arika Kane™ (@arikakane) March 3, 2019
