Fans defend Jackson on London bus ads
ADVERTS protesting Michael Jackson’s innocence have appeared on London buses in the week when an explosive documentary made fresh claims that the late pop star was a paedophile.
An online crowdfunding campaign started by a Derry-born ‘super fan’ has raised more than £14,000 (€16,000) to put the banners on red double-deckers across the British capital.
The controversial posters read: ‘Facts don’t lie... People do’, next to a picture of Jackson’s face with ‘innocent’ written across his mouth. They come in response to the shocking documentary Leaving Neverland, which aired on Channel 4 this week. Fans were left divided after the harrowing fourhour film in which James Safechuck and Wade Robson both alleged Jackson sexually abused them when they were children.
The campaign to clear the singer’s name is being led by former Big Brother contestant and Jackson fanatic Seány O’Kane – a Derry native who even travelled to California to watch the pop star being acquitted of child abuse charges in 2005. Mr O’Kane has already amassed over £14,000 of his £20,000 target from a GoFundMe page, which was set up to deny ‘seriously questionable declarations from people who stand to gain a lot financially from their untruths’.
He said previously: ‘I feel like some kind of social work firefighter... trying to put out the flames of injustice.’
Jackson’s nephew Taj, 45, showed his approval for the adverts, tweeting: ‘The pride of seeing my words on a London bus, next to my uncle Michael’s image... Facts don’t lie, people do.’ However, many have criticised Transport for London for allowing them to be displayed.
‘This is a disgrace. I don’t want to see Michael Jackson’s face all over the streets,’ said one Twitter user.
Another wrote: ‘This is a slap in the face for victims of child abuse. Unbelievable.’
A TfL spokesman said the campaign complied with its advertising policy. Since the film aired, a number of radio stations around the world have banned Jackson’s songs.