Michael Jackson’s family hits back at sex abuse claims in ‘Leaving Neverland’
In a strongly-worded statement, the Jacksons say they are outraged over director Dan Reed’s controversial documentary that screened at the Sundance Film Festival
Michael Jackson’s family has lashed out against a new documentary renewing focus on allegations that the late singer sexually abused young boys, calling the subsequent social media outrage a “public lynching”.
Dubbing the late King of Pop an “easy target”, the Jackson family said they were “furious” over the bombshell four-hour Leaving Neverland exposé that premiered on Friday, January 25, at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.
The family noted that before his 2009 death, Jackson had faced a lengthy investigation, including a raid on his Neverland Ranch in California and a criminal trial concerning another teenager, in which he was acquitted.
“Michael always turned the other cheek, and we have always turned the other cheek when people have gone after members of our family – that is the Jackson way,” the statement said. “But we can’t just stand by while this public lynching goes on, and the vulture tweeters and others who never met Michael go after him.”
“Michael is not here to defend himself, otherwise these allegations would not have been made.”
The new four-hour documentary – which is set to air on HBO later this year – reportedly includes graphic testimony from accusers Wade Robson and James Safechuck, leaving Sundance viewers shell-shocked.
The two men, who are now in their 30s, allege Jackson sexually abused them when they were seven and 10 years old, respectively.