Michael Jackson pedophilia claims return in Leaving Neverland sequel leaving outraged fans divided
The sexual abuse claims against Michael Jackson will return to TV next month, as a sequel series to Leaving Neverland has been given a release date, leaving outraged fans divided.
Leaving Neverland originally aired on HBO in 2019, focusing on Jackson’s accusers James Safechuck and Wade Robson, who say the singer molested them as children at his sprawling estate Neverland Ranch.
Jackson’s career was clouded by rumors of pedophilia from the 1990s onward, but after the allegations were taken to court, he was acquitted in 2005.
The late King Of Pop died in 2009 at the age of 50 of a cardiac arrest he suffered after having Propofol administered as a sleep aid.
In recent years, his legacy has fallen under renewed scrutiny because of the molestation claims. Now, a follow-up documentary called Leaving Neverland 2: Surviving Michael Jackson is slated to premiere March 18, Deadline reports.
The announcement left fans deeply divided, with some vehemently defending Jackson’s innocence and claiming the accusers are seeking financial gain, while others expressed support for the alleged victims.
The sexual abuse claims against Michael Jackson will return to TV next month, as a sequel series to Leaving Neverland has been given a release date, leaving outraged fans divided; Jackson pictured in 1993
The sequel will be one hour long and will cover the personal troubles that Safechuck and Robson endured after taking their allegations public.
Leaving Neverland 2 will also see the accusers and their attorneys waging a legal battle with MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures – with access to hearings.
The blowback that Safechuck and Robson received from Jackson’s fans will also be part of the subject matter of the upcoming documentary.
One fan criticizing the upcoming sequel wrote on X, ‘There is a “Leaving Neverland 2?” WTF? The dastardly media just won’t stop with their character assassination of this man. #LeaveMJAlone.’
‘Leave him alone,’ someone else added with a crying emoji.
‘I see some people need money…’ another wrote.
‘They had nothing to say when he was alive. Poor man, he will never rest in peace.’
‘Give it a rest.’
‘Omg I wish people would leave MJ alone. This is why I get concerned about people doing Prince documentaries. Whether things are true or not they’re not here to defend themselves. Leave them both alone. Talk about their music. Talk about the good they did for people.’
‘Miking a made up story for more money.’
‘We back with this again.’
Wade Robson (left) and James Safechuck (right) both appeared in the original 2019 HBO documentary Leaving Neverland, detailing their allegations of abuse against Jackson
The announcement left fans deeply divided, with some vehemently defending Jackson’s innocence and claiming the accusers are seeking financial gain
However, others expressed support for the alleged victims
‘Enough! You already stated your peace. Let this man RIP.’
However, other fans were happy to get an update in regards to the accusations, and called the alleged victims ‘incredibly brave.’
‘Great to see we’re getting an update on the trials against Michael Jackson’s companies. Wade and James are incredibly brave and persistent in pursuing justice. The enablers who allowed MJ to abuse children will be exposed!’
‘Can’t believe so many people defend him. He’s clearly guilty,’ another claimed.
‘I’m looking forward to it,’ yet another fan added.
After HBO ran the original Leaving Neverland series, it was sued for $100 million by Jackson’s estate, which accused the network of breaching a 27-year-old contract.
Specifically, Leaving Neverland was said to have violated a non-disparagement clause in the 1992 deal HBO struck to air a TV special of Jackson’s Dangerous tour.
In the wake of the legal battle, HBO is not airing Leaving Neverland 2, which will premiere on the UK broadcast Channel 4 next month instead.
The sequel is directed by British filmmaker Dan Reed, who also helmed the original series, as well as HBO documentaries about January 6 and Alex Jones.
Leaving Neverland was showered with acclaim upon its initial release, receiving an Emmy for outstanding documentary of nonfiction special.
Robson, pictured with Jackson in an undated photo, was five when he met the pop star and went on to appear in three Jackson music videos
Safechuck, pictured with Jackson in an undated photo, said he was ten when he and his family were invited into the singer’s fairy-tale existence as his career reached its peak
Jackson’s rape accuser Safechuck is pictured here speaking on Leaving Neverland where he said Jackson told him that his marriage to Lisa Marie Pressley was for show
In the film, Safechuck claimed he was 10 when Jackson started molesting him for four years. Robson, who was five when he met Jackson and who then featured in three of the pop star’s music videos, says he was seven when his own alleged abuse began.
Months after Leaving Neverland first aired in 2019, a Broadway jukebox musical of Jackson’s hit songs received an official opening date for the following year.
Although the production was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, MJ The Musical did eventually open on Broadway in 2022 and emerged as a box office success.
In late 2020 it emerged that Leaving Neverland’s director was filming Wade and Safechuck’s legal efforts against Jackson’s companies MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures at the Los Angeles Superior Court, via Deadline.
As of this past December, Jackson remained one of the top 50 most followed artists on Spotify, a whopping 15 years after his death.
