Michael Jackson Biopic Will Address Sexual Abuse Allegations: Report
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The post Michael Jackson Biopic Will Address Sexual Abuse Allegations: Report appeared first on Consequence.
The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael has the approval of his estate and will even star his own nephew, Jaafar Jackson, but according to a new report, it’ll also mark the very first time any estate-affiliated project will address Jackson’s allegations of sexual misconduct — albeit in such a way to cast doubt on his accusers.
According to Puck News’ Matthew Belloni, who obtained an early script of the biopic, the film is quite flattering of Jackson and “wants very much to convince you Michael is innocent.” To that end, it addresses the controversies very directly, even beginning with a depiction of Jackson being raided by police in the aftermath of Jordan Chandler’s allegations in 1993.
As Belloni describes it, the script for Michael — which may be far from the finished product, he noted — goes to “great lengths to minimize and downplay the actual claims and eviscerate the Chandlers.” Throughout, Belloni explains, the script portrays Jackson as a misunderstood and exploited figure with child-like innocence, who was the “the actual victim” of the events.
Of course, as Belloni points out, the Jackson estate has several motivations for supporting this narrative. The timing of the film’s targeted-2025 release date could coincide with the civil trial pertaining to Wade Robson’s and Jimmy Safechuck’s own allegations against Jackson. Belloni also noted that the film’s lead producer, Graham King (Bohemian Rhapsody), shares a law firm with Jackson’s estate, and that the latter entity’s “only reasons” for existing are “to launder M.J.’s image… and [make] money.”
Read the full report from Puck News here.
Michael has begun production in Los Angeles, with Jaafar Jackson — Jermaine Jackson’s son — in the staring role and Antoine Fuqua as director. The film will be distributed by Lionsgate in the US, and Universal internationally.
Jackson died 14 years ago, but his complicated legacy has remained a hot topic. 2019’s Leaving Neverland features harrowing descriptions by Robson and Safechuck of how Jackson sexually abused them and used a “mixture of affection, coercion, and even outright threats” to keep them silent.
In February 2023, after the announcement of Michael, Dave Reed, director of Leaving Neverland, wrote a piece for The Guardian criticizing “the total absence of outrage accompanying the announcement of this movie.” He asserts that the biopic “will glorify a man who abused children.”
If you or someone you know has been impacted by sexual misconduct, you can reach out for support:
RAINN Hotline
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
http://www.rainn.org
Crisis Text Line
SMS: Text “HERE” to 741-741
http://www.facebook.com/crisistextline (chat support)
Michael Jackson Biopic Will Address Sexual Abuse Allegations: Report
Jo Vito
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