A Michael Jackson concert film was posted to the singer's YouTube channel by his estate during Sunday night's premiere of HBO's explosive documentary Leaving Neverland. Directed by Dan Reed, the documentary centers on interviews with Wade Robson and James Safechuck, both of whom accuse Jackson of sexually abusing them when they were young boys. In response to the documentary, Jackson's estate has sued HBO for $100 million.
A superstar performer in the 1980s thanks to albums like Thriller and Bad, Jackson later developed a reputation for eccentricity that turned him into a punchline, with many of the jokes centering on Jackson's friendships with young boys. Things took a decidedly darker turn when allegations of sexual abuse of young boys began hounding the singer beginning in 1993. Charges were actually brought against Jackson in 2003 but he was ultimately acquitted. Now thanks to HBO's Leaving Neverland, the case against Jackson has been re-opened in the public, with new rounds of shocking allegations that paint a picture of the dark secrets the late singer hid within the walls of his famed hideaway Neverland Ranch.
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In a clear response to the damning documentary, Jackson's estate on Sunday night prevailed upon his fans by posting a concert film to the official Michael Jackson YouTube channel (via THR). The concert in question features Jackson performing in Bucharest during his "Dangerous" tour in 1992. On Monday night, as episode two of Leaving Neverland airs, the channel will post another concert film from Wembley Stadium. Michael Jackson's Twitter page posted the announcement, which can be seen below:
HBO previously responded to the Jackson family's lawsuit, saying their airing of Leaving Neverland "will allow everyone the opportunity to assess the film and the claims in it for themselves." For their part, the Jackson family accuses Wade Robson and James Safechuck, as well as the documentary's director Dan Reed, of being "opportunists" who are engaged in "character assassination." After Monday night's airing of Leaving Neverland, HBO and OWN will run an interview conducted by Oprah Winfrey with Robson and Safechuck.
Though Jackson clearly remains a hugely popular figure worldwide, thanks to HBO's Leaving Neverland, the tide of public opinion seems to be turning strongly against the singer at least in America. Of course, there are many diehard Jackson fans who will continue to defend him regardless of the newly revealed allegations. Jackson himself strongly denied the allegations right up to his death in 2009. Now Jackson's family is carrying on the defense, but it's getting harder and harder to maintain the singer's innocence in the face of so much damning testimony by his accusers.
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Source: THR, Michael Jackson/YouTube, Michael Jackson/Twitter