Barbra Streisand claims she believes Michael Jackson's accusers – but says they were 'thrilled' to be there

Barbra Streisand has drawn criticism after claiming that Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who have accused Michael Jackson of sexual abuse, were "thrilled" to be in his company.

The 76-year-old singer has said that she has watched the two-part documentary Leaving Neverland and that she "absolutely" believes the two men, who say that Jackson groomed them and regularly sexually assaulted them when they were children.

In an interview with The Times, she described watching it as "too painful". However, she added that, "His sexual needs were his sexual needs, coming from whatever childhood he has or whatever DNA he has."

“You can say ‘molested’ but those children, as you heard them say [the grown-up Robson and Safechuk], they were thrilled to be there. They both married and they both have children, so it didn’t kill them.”

When asked if she was angry with Jackson, she said, “It’s a combination of feelings. I feel bad for the children. I feel bad for him. I blame, I guess, the parents, who would allow their children to sleep with him. Why would Michael need these little children dressed like him and in the shows and the dancing and the hats?”

She also described how Jackson was on the few occasions that she met him, saying he was "very sweet, very childlike".

Streisand's comments have attracted criticism on social media, with Leaving Neverland director Dan Reedtweeting "'It didn't kill them', @BarbraStreisand, did you really just say that?'" He later followed it up with the question: "Is pedophilia tolerated in parts of the entertainment industry?"

One user wrote, "People like Barbra Streisand are the reason I never came forward about being raped and molested throughout my childhood."

Another said, "Oh god no. This is horrible. I feel sick. @BarbraStreisand is my idol and I look up to her so much. This breaks my heart that she would say this. Because this is such a wrong and hurtful thing to say. Ugh."

Streisand is scheduled to headline British Summer Time Festival in London this summer.

Since the documentary aired, various companies have removed their associations with Jackson. Multiple radio stations have pulled Jackson's music from their playlists. The Simpsons' episode Stark Raving Dad, which featured Jackson, has been removed from circulation. Drake has also stopped performing his track Don't Matter To Me, which featured Jackson, during his concerts.