Leaving Neverland: 5 Appalling And Disturbing Allegations Made Against Michael Jackson In The Documentary

HBO is being shamed by netizens for dropping the documentary of Michael Jackson's sexual abuse victims who did not testify against him at the court back in the 2000s. Leaving Neverland has found a lot of backlashes not just by MJ fans but also the MJ estate, who claim that it is unfair to bring out such stories of a man who cannot defend himself as he ceases to exist.

The estate released a statement that reads, "This is yet another lurid production in an outrageous and pathetic attempt to exploit and cash in on Michael Jackson." The statement further added, "Wade Robson and James Safechuck have both testified under oath that Michael never did anything inappropriate toward them. 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. It's baffling why any credible filmmaker would involve himself with this project."

Directed by Dan Reed, the film premiered on HBO on 3rd March, as speculated. Since then, it has shaken the MJ fans and non-MJ fans too with the graphic details of the sexual abuse faced by Wade Robson and James Safechuck, two of Michael Jackson's alleged sexual abuse victims. Here are some shocking revelations and alleged claims made by the two on their experience with Michael Jackson.

Leaving Neverland trailer

Michael Jackson allegedly engaged in sexual acts with underage boys

Robson and Safechuck claim that the sexual misconduct was not immediate but happened over a period of time. From hugs to hand-holding to kissing, fondling, mutual masturbation, oral sex and eventually, an attempt to have anal sex, is how the two victims state things escalated with Jackson. Allegedly, the pop star also introduced them to porn and alcohol.

The pop star reportedly staged a mock wedding with one of the victims

Jackson and Safechuck apparently staged a mock wedding and even exchanged vows in the pop star's room, claims the victim. “We had this mock wedding ceremony. We did this in his bedroom,” he stated in the documentary. Apparently, jewellery became a tool of control that Jackson alleged used on Safechuck. In exchange for jewellery, Jackson would ask him to perform sexual acts.

Michael Jackson would allegedly run drills and instal alarms to avoid being caught

To avoid being caught in compromising positions with his victims, MJ would allegedly stage mock drills and instal alarms. Safechuck claims, the pop star would, “run drills with me, where we’d be in the hotel room and he would pretend like somebody is coming in and you had to get dressed as fast as possible without making noise.”

MJ threatened the victims to keep mum about the sexual acts or they would both go to jail

Robson claims in the documentary that Jackson would tell him that “other people are ignorant and they would never understand” their relationship. “If they ever found out what we were doing -- about this sexual stuff -- he and I would be pulled apart and never see each other again. And that he and I would go to jail for the rest of our lives,” Robson says. On the same, even Safechuck added, “It was very much a secret and he would tell me that if anybody found out his life would be over and my life would be over. And that’s something he tells you over and over again."

Jackson allegedly intimidated the boys to testify in his defence

In 1993, when Jordan Chandler came forward with allegations of child sexual abuse against Jackson, a lawsuit was filed against the pop star. As the allegations went public, the cops questioned Robson, who immediately denied any wrongdoing by Jackson. “[As] soon as the cops started asking me these questions, the first thing that came to mind for me was everything Michael started saying to me when I was seven -- you know, if anyone ever found out that we were doing any sort of things, these sexual things, that he and I would go to jail for the rest of our lives. It was terrifying,” Robson remembers, claiming how Jackson had told him to lie. “That’s what I did: I lied.”

On the same, Safechuck added that he had to rehearse a mock interview by Jackson's lawyers. “They did a mock interview, kind of role-playing the policeman or lawyer. ‘We know you guys have done this. We have photos, so just tell us about it.’ ‘That’s a ploy, they don’t know, they don’t have photos so just tell them no.’ That’s the golden rule, just don’t tell them and they don’t actually know or they can’t prove it,” says Safechuck.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 04, 2019 02:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).