It’s been almost 12 years since Michael Jackson passed away but, as expected, the King of Pop’s legacy has lived on and continues to make headlines around the world. Here are some of the most shocking, heartwarming and downright bizarre MJ stories that have been doing the rounds in 2021 alone. Why Anna Shay is the true star of Netflix’s Bling Empire A Leaving Neverland sequel? In 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland rocked the world, speaking a widespread backlash and reviving accusations of child abuse against Jackson. And it seems the drama is far from over. The legal case brought by Wade Robson – one of two men whose childhood sexual abuse allegations the documentary focused on – is still ongoing, and may make it to trial this year. And the director of Leaving Neverland wants to film it for a follow up production. In August 2020 director Dan Reed sought permission to film inside the courtroom, with plans to release the footage internationally after the case is resolved. The Jackson estate’s legal team filed a 164-page brief against the proposal in the Los Angeles Superior Court, arguing that Reed was biased and that Leaving Neverland offered a one-sided, non-journalistic point of view. The filing stated: “He has stated in no uncertain terms that he believes Michael Jackson was a ‘prolific child rapist’. Reed is … a filmmaker who intends to make a film for profit with a predetermined point of view.” When Michael Jackson visited Hong Kong His Neverland ranch sold for US$22 million The “cursed” 1,100-hectare (2,700-acre) California property was listed for US$100 million in 2015 – under a new identity as Sycamore Valley Ranch – but was later discounted to US$67 million two years later. It was relisted again for US$31 million in 2019, finally selling for US$22 million at the end of 2020. The property in Los Olivos – where Jackson lived for more than 15 years – includes a French Normandy-style main residence, two guest houses, a lake, a 50-seat cinema, a 4-metre (14-foot) lagoon-style pool, a dance studio, barns, staff facilities and a Disney-themed railway station. What gifts did Melania Trump get from Xi Jinping and Brigitte Macron? His iconic statue is still in a Dutch shed Who can forget the 3-metre statue the King of Pop created for his 1995 “History” album cover? Well, the Dutch version of it is looking for a home. A McDonald’s franchise in Best, The Netherlands, had the statue installed in 1996, displayed alongside a thank-you note written by Jackson for purchasing in support of the Ronald McDonald House charity. Then in 2019, following the worldwide controversy caused by Leaving Neverland , the statue was taken down. Owner Peter van Gelder told Dutch radio broadcaster Omroep Brabant that the famous statue is currently being stored in a shed, and he still hasn’t found a home for it yet. “The idea is that it will be placed in a public place, so that it is accessible to fans. That way it becomes a gift for all fans,” he said. Why was Barron Trump a no-show at his dad’s big speech? Due to the sensitivity surrounding MJ, many fans are worried about the “well-being” of their idol’s statue. “The statue is still in the Netherlands,” a McDonald’s spokesperson confirmed. “Fans don’t have to worry either: it’s still whole.” An ex-bodyguard of MJ said that he, er, “predicted” coronavirus Matt Fiddes, Jackson’s former bodyguard, has claimed that MJ “predicted” the pandemic – which is why he was often photographed wearing a face mask. While it would be silly to believe that MJ predicted the Covid-19 pandemic itself, his former employee said that Jackson continued to wear a face mask despite getting a lot of negative attention for it, because he was very much aware of the potential for viruses to spread in the manner we’re seeing today. How Tiger Woods’ ex Rachel Uchitel ‘turned down’ Donald Trump He recently told a British tabloid: “He knew that a natural disaster was always there. He was very aware and would always predict that we could be wiped out at any time. That a germ that could spread.” So what would MJ have to say about the world wearing masks in 2021, if he were still alive? “I told you so,” according to Fiddes. Paris Jackson claims she and Paris Hilton had “a lot of similar experiences” at boarding school Paris Hilton and Paris Jackson go way back as family friends, but Hilton’s 2020 documentary This Is Paris reveals that they have a lot more in common. In the groundbreaking doccie, Hilton opened up about facing physical and emotional abuse at boarding school, and testified about her experience in front of a Utah court in early February. And MJ’s daughter says she endured similar experiences when she attended a different reformatory school in Utah. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nicky Rothschild (@nickyhilton) “I went through some very, very similar experiences with those kind of teen places,” Jackson told Paris’ mother Kathy Hilton for C Magazine . “She’s been through a lot and it’s amazing to see her come out of the other end … A diamond. Where are Michael Jackson’s family members now? “[Hilton has taught me] the importance of setting a good example as a strong woman, and being able to uplift other women,” she added. “We don’t really have as great a head start as some men.” Want more stories like this? Sign up here. Follow STYLE on Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and Twitter .