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AP

Michael Jackson’s Accusers Receive ‘Solemn’ Standing Ovation

Jan 25, 2019  •  Post A Comment

Amid the charged atmosphere surrounding a controversial new film about Michael Jackson, two of his accusers took the spotlight at Sundance, where they fielded questions following the film’s screening.

“It’s not uncommon for audiences at the Sundance Film Festival to give standing ovations, but the ceremonial act took on a solemn air as two men who accuse Michael Jackson of molesting them as boys walked onstage following the festival’s only screening of ‘Leaving Neverland,’ a documentary about their stories,” the AP reports. “Wade Robson, who says Jackson abused him from ages 7 to 14, and James Safechuck came forward as adults with their abuse allegations after Jackson’s death in 2009.”

The four-hour documentary is headed to HBO this spring. The AP describes it as “a sprawling account of how their lives intersected with Jackson’s at the height of his fame in the 80s and early 90s, and then later as adults when the trauma of what happened in their youth started to emerge in serious ways.

“In addition to accounts from Robson and Safechuck themselves, the film also interviews family members including the boys’ mothers, wives and Robson’s brother and sister. Jackson’s voice is heard in the film, through voicemails he left for Robson and an ‘interview’ Safechuck did with Jackson aboard his private plane, and the film also shows some of the many faxes he sent to Robson.”

Robson is quoted saying in a Q&A after the screening: “We can’t change what happened to us. And we can’t do anything about Michael.” But the AP adds that Robson said he hopes the movie “makes other survivors feel less isolated and raises awareness for anyone who is responsible for children.”

One Comment

  1. The “documentary” leaves out a lot of background facts about the accusers here that would question their honesty, but more their motivation when you realize that both were unable to collect money from the estate, when they tried. There was a different truth when Michael was alive and the truth now, when they can make some money by changing their story. Before this is presented as a “documentary” more research should be presented that there are some questions about all of the “facts” as presented.

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