Leaving Neverland Director Condemns Michael Jackson Biopic

In January 2019, Reed’s docuseries “Leaving Neverland” captured the nation. In it, two males alleged that Jackson groomed and sexually assaulted them over a span of years after they have been younger.

Mark Robson claims that he was seven years outdated when Jackson first abused him, whereas James Safechuck was allegedly ten. Each males detailed Jackson befriending them and their total households, inviting them to remain at his Neverland Valley Ranch.

“Nobody is speaking about ‘cancelling’ this film, which is able to glorify a person who raped youngsters,” wrote Reed in a scathing condemnation for The Guardian.

“What the full absence of shock accompanying the announcement of this film tells us is that Jackson’s seduction continues to be a dwelling drive, working from past the grave,” he continued. “It appears that evidently the press, his followers and the huge older demographic who grew up loving Jackson are keen to put aside his unhealthy relationship with youngsters and simply associate with the music.”

The brand new documentary movie is being produced by Graham King, Oscar-winning producer of “The Departed” and the Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” alongside the co-executors of Jackson’ property, John Branca and John McClain.

With the involvement of the latter two males, Reed cited a Hollywood Reporter article that questioned how the movie may handle the extra controversial features of his life. The property has maintained Jackson’s innocence, as he did earlier than his loss of life. The singer was by no means convicted of any wrongdoing.

Reed questioned this “light elevating of eyebrows,” as he described THR’s strategy to the subject, which he stated has been typical of press protection.

“In an period when full-throated outrage accompanies something that smells of delegitimization or insensitivity in opposition to a weak group, it quantities to a deafening silence,” he wrote.

To those that do not consider Jackson did something improper, Reed introduced up the uncontested reality he would invite younger youngsters into his bed room at night time. Jackson’s admission of this in Martin Bashir’s 2003 documentary “Dwelling with Michael Jackson” triggered the sequence of investigations which might dominate his story till the tip of his life.

Each documentaries, Bashir’s and Reed’s, have been met with criticism. Bashir was accused of manipulating his last edit to color Jackson in a adverse gentle. Jackson countered with a response piece for Fox the place he offered unused footage that was extra complimentary, and supporting interviews of his parenting and habits.

Like Bashir’s documentary, “Leaving Neverland” was criticized as being one-sided as its focus was virtually solely on Jackson’s accusers and their largely unsubstantiated tales. Lawsuits filed by each males based mostly on their allegations have been dismissed.

Within the wake of the documentary, different younger males who’d frolicked with Jackson together with Macauley Culkin, Aaron Carter and Corey Feldman all asserted that nothing sexual occurred with them.

Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson has been tapped to play his late uncle within the forthcoming biopic. The Lionsgate movie titled “Michael” might be directed by Antoine Fuqua, who introduced Jaafar’s casting Monday on Instagram.

Fuqua, and members of Jackson’s household shared a photograph of Jaafar in what appears like a dance rehearsal, placing an iconic MJ pose.

Prince Jackson expressed his pleasure and assist of the undertaking, captioning the picture, “I am assured we’re all going to do our greatest to point out the world part of my father they’ve by no means seen and that they should see.”