The long-awaitedMichael Jacksondocumentary has finally arrived — and it was met with quite a strong reaction.
Leaving Neverland, a four-hour exposé centered around two particular cases of Jackson’s alleged sexual abuse, premiered atSundance Film Festivalon Friday.
The emotional film was only halfway through when viewers began sharing their thoughts on the “sickening” claims from James Safechuck andWade Robson, both of whom say they endured years of Jackson’s inappropriate behaviors and manipulation.
“it’s halftime at the four-hour Michael Jackson doc and I’m already gonna need 400 showers to ever feel clean again. #Sundance”David Ehrlich, a Senior Film Critic at Indie Wire, tweeted after the doc’s first two hours.
“On a 10-min break halfway through Sundance’s 4-hour Michael Jackson child sex abuse documentary,” wroteKevin Fallon,Senior Entertainment Reporter at The Daily Beast. “Whatever you thought you knew or were aware of, the content of this is more disturbing than you could imagine. And again, we’re only halfway through.”
JournalistGerrick D. Kennedydescribed the film as “Painful. Brutally upsetting. Triggering” and added, “My heart is incredibly broken. I’m sorry y’all. This hurts. Bad.”
In response, fans argued back that there was “no evidence” and that people “never tried to understand Michael and see who he really was.”
“You are falling for the wrong stuff & you are being played and you will see that pretty soon! Wait on it,” wroteone fan.
“It is all very disturbing but the realizations that the sustained abuse Michael Jackson allegedly inflicted on Wade Robson occurred when he was only 7 just makes you want to vomit,” tweetedVanity FairwriterNicole Sperling.
TheLos Angeles Times‘Amy Kaufmannoted that there was an “incredibly emotional reaction from the audience” after the screening, which prompted one viewer to open up about his own traumatic experience.
“One audience member says he was molested as a child and that Robson and Safechuck ‘are going to do a lot more f–king good in the world than Michael f–king Jackson,'” she wrote.
But again, more fans quickly snapped back. “No, they don’t. No evidence, nothing that can be considered a prove.. Just two guys telling a story. Michael Jackson was found innocent on a fair trial. That’s the only fact here,” wroteone Twitter user.
“I’m having an incredibly emotional reaction from myself right now,”added another fan. “this is 1993 all over again and the only thing that has changed is, that Michael is not even here to defend himself. The “victims” are STILL lying and their only motivations STILL are money and attention.”
“They’re only making things worse. Michael is innocent. Examine your own obsession to continually try to prove a dead man guilty for something even the FBI couldn’t prove,”wrote someone else.
RELATED VIDEO: Choreographer Wade Robson Claims Michael Jackson Ran the ‘Most Sophisticated Child Sexual Abuse’ Operation in History in New Complaint
Fans weren’t the only people to slam the film and allegations.
Jackson’s estate issued a statement to PEOPLEearlier this month, ahead of the Sundance premiere, and blasted the documentary for it’s “pathetic attempt” to make money off of the pop singer.
“This is yet another lurid production in an outrageous and pathetic attempt to exploit and cash in on Michael Jackson,” the statement read.“Wade Robson and James Safechuck have both testified under oath that Michael never did anything inappropriate toward them. Safechuck and Robson, the latter a self-proclaimed ‘master of deception’, filed lawsuits against Michael’s Estate, asking for millions of dollars.Both lawsuits were dismissed.”
“This so called ‘documentary’ is just another rehash of dated and discredited allegations,” the statement continued. “It’s baffling why any credible filmmaker would involve himself with this project.”
Jackson’s family also spoke up on social media about the allegations. The singer’s nephewTaj Jacksonclaimed Robson and Safechuck were “acting” in the film and slammed the media for “condemning an innocent man.”
“After years of coaching and studying for these roles, I’m sure Wade (self proclaimed “Master of Deception”) and Jimmy both gave Oscar winning performances today,” he wrote. “Media, please do a 10 minute google search before you condemn an innocent man who is no longer here to defend himself.”
In addition, he created aGoFundMe pagein support of his uncle to create a new documentary, which plans to “conclusively destroy decades of salacious myths which have been told and sold about Michael Jackson.” The campaign has since raised over $26,000.
Despite the passionate reactions from viewers, family, and fans alike, Robson, 36, and Safechuck, 40, reportedly received a standing ovation at Sundance after the film had ended,according toTMZ.
Jackson was 50 years old when he wasfound deadon June 25, 2009, in his L.A. mansion.
Leaving Neverlandwill premiere on HBO this spring.
source: people.com
