Source: Dave Hogan / Getty
Whether you watched or not, HBO’s documentary Leaving Neverland which is already earned the cable network multiple lawsuits from a man featured in the doc and the Estate of Jackson revisits child molestation accusations against Michael Jackson has the internet talking.
The two-part doc centers around James Safechuck and Wade Robson who graphically detail the molestation they allegedly endured while under the “mentorship” of the King of Pop. In the first part of the Leaving Neverland relatives of both Safechuck and Robson recount how they met Jackson and how innocent and childlike he acted when he was around them.
Things get spooky really quick when both families finally made their way to Jackson’s playground Neverland Ranch. Robson and Safechuck both alleged vividly that Jackson introduced them to kissing, fondling, pornography, masturbation, oral sex, mock marriages and eventually failed anal penetration during their friendships with the “Bad” singer.
While as children they both denied that these things happened and even defended Jackson in court it’s now as 30-year-old men do they fully understand what they endured was abuse and not love. As you can imagine the doc has opened up the flood gates of emotions with Jackson fans staunchly defending their idol with using hashtags like #MuteHBO and #MJInnocent. The Jackson family has already spoken out about the documentary calling it “a public lynching.”
Oprah Winfrey who taped an interview that features Robson and Saefechuck called After Neverland has also come under fire, but she was fully expecting the backlash. Speaking to the press after the taping she told them “We’re all gonna get it, I’m gonna get it, we’re all gonna get it,” referring to the criticism from Jackson fans. But she still feels that people need to see the documentary that holds the Jackson in dark light.
With the #MeToo movement in full swing, it was only a matter of time that Michael Jackson would be put back in the crosshairs. While some feel this is just an attempt to put dirt on the deceased musical icon’s name some are saying Jackson’s constantly being around young boys and sleeping with them in the same bed was sick and the accusers deserved to be listened to.
It’s a sensitive subject any way you look at it, but the responses are pouring in rapidly. Hit the gallery to see the reactions to Leaving Neverland below.
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Photo: Dave Hogan / Getty
1.
As a former child actress, I can’t help but watch this documentary and think about how wrong it is for children to be put in the position of performing for the soul purpose of pleasing adults. It’s such a slippery, dangerous, often abusive slope. #LeavingNeverland
— Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) March 4, 2019
2.
Wade Robson’s career, finances, and marriage in disarray, he began shopping a book that claimed he was sexually abused by Michael Jackson. No publisher picked it up. #LeavingNeverland pic.twitter.com/poFYRq8i4g
— BallerAlert (@balleralert) March 4, 2019
3.
who would leave a seven - yes 7 - year old boy with a grown man - makes no sense to me as a mom -
— ROSIE (@Rosie) March 4, 2019
4.
Where is Wade Robson- an unemployed dancer- getting all this money to stay in court for years (around 6 yrs to be exact) with the Michael Jackson estate?
— Tariq Nasheed 🇺🇸 (@tariqnasheed) March 4, 2019
Who was financing this?
#LeavingNeverland pic.twitter.com/3g4K0ZMD7c
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"Jackson paid $25M to settle the Chandlers’ lawsuit" "Chandler drew a picture of the markings on the underside of Jackson’s penis...photographs matched his drawings" Forensics experts found Jacksons' and boys' fingerprints on porn https://t.co/3PbpMVZFPw #leavingneverland
— Jennifer Mascia (@JenniferMascia) March 4, 2019
8.
Wade Robson filed a lawsuit against Michael Jackson's estate in 2016 asking for $1.62 billion in damages. The judge dismissed the case. #LeavingNeverland pic.twitter.com/tYYZ9Eslug
— BallerAlert (@balleralert) March 4, 2019
9.
Why in the world would Michael Jackson put Wade Robson on his defense team if he did anything inappropriate to him? Lets start applying some common sense here. #MJInnocent #LeavingNeverLand
— Dwight (@DaWhite_Man) March 4, 2019
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Crazy how Michael Jackson fans on Twitter are providing more facts and research than the actual HBO documentary. #LeavingNeverland
— NUFF (@nuffsaidny) March 4, 2019
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Hard to tell if the timeline is just refusing to watch Leaving Neverland or altogether refusing to believe the allegations. Either way, interesting to see the difference in reactions around this vs the R.Kelly doc.
— Jenni Évora (@JenniK) March 4, 2019
14.
Since Michael Jackson fans won’t believe Wade Robson & James Safechuck. Here is a clip from MJ talking about having kids sleep in his bed. His answer is totally normal and not at all creepy. #LeavingNeverland pic.twitter.com/gdxeCp07A7
— Monika (@monika_subasic) March 4, 2019
15.
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
— Flex (@FelixPRodriguez) March 4, 2019
16.
#LeavingNeverland my blood is boiling right now pic.twitter.com/6iKniuacOt
— ❄️arian❄️ (@golabious) March 4, 2019
17.
#TheseAreUs My best friend Harai Timea and I were sleeping in Michael Jackson's bed in Vienna after his HIStory concert on July 2-3rd, 1997. Michael Jackson gave us the entire bed set of the Presidential Suite of the Imperial Hotel of Vienna. #MichaelJackson #LeavingNeverland pic.twitter.com/dgv1WkqO8u
— Edina (@Edina97) March 4, 2019
18.
“Michael Jackson had an extensive collection of erotic material next to his bed, including a study of naked boys. Forensic experts found the fingerprints of boys alongside Jackson’s on the same pages.” #leavingneverland https://t.co/uG2q9sI1Ry
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 4, 2019
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The only thing that this "documentary" proves to me is that the name Michael Jackson is still interesting enough to generate loads of money.
— ᗪᗩᐯIᑎᗩ 💖 🚜 🏛 🚫 (@DavinaSteinweg) March 4, 2019
And that's what is all about for those boys: money.#LeavingNeverland
22.
This documetary is unethical. If this documentary was about truth how do they not interview Brett Barnes and Maculey Culkin. How do you include the name of kids that said they were not molested by Michael Jackson? #leavingneverland
— Johnny Lambert (@JohnnyLambert6) March 4, 2019
23.
Michael Jackson was under FBI surveillance for well over a decade. They found NOTHING to substantiate claims of child abuse. He was also fully exonerated following his '05 trial. #LeavingNeverland fails to highlight these FACTS - and MJ is no longer here to defend himself.
— Elgin Charles (@ElginCharles) March 4, 2019
24.
Corey Feldman, who wants to expose the Hollywood pedo ring admitted that many famous celebs raped him and Corey Haim when they were kid stars. When asked about MJ, he said mj was one adult that he could feel safe with in Hollywood because he never touched kids #LeavingNeverland
— Crystal Star (@MeCrystalStar) March 4, 2019
25.
#leavingneverland I watched this with an open mind. I didn't want to believe it, but wanted to hear their side, and read what documents/testimonials/court paperwork others had. I still do not find anything to convince me MJ did what he is being accused of. pic.twitter.com/CNwjjWqBkU
— Delsina (@delsina363) March 4, 2019
26.
The MJ stans in my mentions are HILARIOUS. Ya boy is a gross child molester. Get over it. #LeavingNeverland pic.twitter.com/QZCtMgkHLu
— Ethereal bisexual who wears mostly black (@Travon) March 4, 2019
27.
They were innocent little kids. They knew no better. This man must be removed from any/all pedestals, and put in his proper place in history: a megastar who abused his power to molest little boys. Unforgivable. #LeavingNeverland
— Morgan J. Freeman (@mjfree) March 4, 2019
28.
The cesspool of comments under #LeavingNeverland are the perfect demonstration of why powerful pedophiles get away with their crimes.
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) March 4, 2019
Too many adults would rather bury the abused than unearth an abuser.
29.
All I’m going to say is some of y’all are real quick to believe the women that have come forward with celebrity sexual abuse stories but the second it’s a couple of guys and your fav pop star... #LeavingNeverland pic.twitter.com/kVCdj0NDQj
— ChaoticApathy (@ChaoticApathy) March 4, 2019
30.
Do not watch that bullshit about Michael Jackson.. play his music instead.
— Paul Mooney (@PaulEalyMooney) March 3, 2019
31.
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.
— g. (@gabetorrelles) March 4, 2019