HBO's Michael Jackson Doc 'Leaving Neverland' Has Sparked an Extreme Reaction
Part One of the HBO's Leaving Neverland debuted Sunday night, and almost immediately it split the internet into two camps: those who believe the contents of the documentary and those who relentlessly defend Michael Jackson. While there are always people taking both sides in high-profile celebrity scandals, the discussion surrounding the Jackson documentary, and the level to which fans are rallying behind the pop star, appear to be a bit more extreme.
The two-part documentary tells the story of Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who claim the late singer sexually abused them when they were young boys, and Jackson's 2005 trial, where he was found not-guilty of multiple counts of felony molestation. Before Sunday night, Jackson fans rallied around the singer with the intent of creating more backlash than support for the documentary. The ire and tenacity of Jackson fans were expected for weeks leading up to the documentary's debut. The New York Times reported that billboard and bus-side ads for a site called MJInnocent.com were purchased ahead of its airing. The site's webpage leads with the words: "Facts don't lie. People do."
But the attempts to stifle viewership were not enough to keep fans and dissenters alike from watching part one on Sunday night. As expected, Jackson family members, super fans, and general skeptics launched into a complete dissent of what the documentary presented.
You are right. I’ve been around my uncle only thousands and thousands of hours. And since my uncle is not here to defend himself, the credibility of the accusers matter. And Wade and James have none. https://t.co/fF0OgYXUBz
- Taj Jackson (@tajjackson3) March 4, 2019
Wade Robson- “Macaulay Culkin replaced me.”
Macaulay- “I was never molested” #LeavingNeverland pic.twitter.com/19xrGcRSlH- Our Mission 🎠 (@asap_rickey) March 4, 2019
Since #MeToo purported victims have been given extraordinary credibility. That's a good thing. Still, when allegations are made by those-like accusers of #MichaelJackson-who've strongly testified opposite is true-& who've a strong profit motive to lie-disbelief can't be suspended
- Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) March 4, 2019
My thing with this “documentary” is that they were grown when they testified that MJ never did anything to them. You wait 10 years after his death to bring about these accusations and he can’t defend himself. I will not be watching this shit. #LeavingNeverland
- Jen (@jen_kristinj) March 4, 2019
“Wade Robson is lying through his teeth” Mrs Jackson defends her son, the King Of Pop, Michael Jackson pic.twitter.com/W8CU97xvsz
- #MJINNOCENT (@MJStarOfficial) March 4, 2019
The lead-up to the documentary has been complex, to say the least. Amid the premiere at Sundance Film Festival in January, the Jackson estate immediately released a statement slamming the film and the motivations behind it. The tension escalated after the Jackson estate filed a $100 million lawsuit against HBO, re-listed the Neverland Ranch at a much lower asking price, and released a Michael Jackson concert to presumably compete with the Leaving Neverland airing.
Sunday night on Twitter, many came to both the documentary and its subjects' defense.
Michael Jackson super fans are really going hard in my comments for simply sharing an article by a cultural critic who shared his opinion on the doc. This is one of the kindler, gentler comments. I mean, Annie, are you okay? ‘Cause this is a lot. 🥺 https://t.co/GWQIIPiyKa
- Ava DuVernay (@ava) March 4, 2019
“Michael would like it if you would bend over & he would masterbate”#LeavingNeverland
This is some foul nasty shit- MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) March 4, 2019
As a former child actress, I can’t help but watch this documentary and think about how wrong it is for children to be put in the position of performing for the soul purpose of pleasing adults. It’s such a slippery, dangerous, often abusive slope. #LeavingNeverland
- Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) March 4, 2019
No matter how beloved the abuser, it is imperative to believe survivors. #MJ #LeavingNeverland
- go find yourself (@BlairImani) March 4, 2019
Speechless. #LeavingNeverland
- andy lassner (@andylassner) March 4, 2019
The second half of Leaving Neverland airs Monday night on HBO.
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