Shocked and saddened by revelations

I’d like to congratulate TVNZ 1 on its screening of Leaving Neverland. I defy anyone who watched it not to be shocked, saddened, and emotionally touched by it. And, perhaps, finally have their eyes opened to a grown man who (according to this programme) presented a carefully constructed childlike image to the world, and then used and abused the fame and the power that image brought him, to get away with being a child predator behind closed doors. Leaving Neverland left me in no doubt that his accusers – Wade Robson and James Safechuck – were telling the truth, as were the boys who came after them. Child sexual abuse is more common than we’d like to believe. Friends do it. Family members do it. Famous people do it. Sadly, Michael Jackson (it seems) was one of them.

Linda P. (Otautau)

Seeing that Leaving Neverland, a programme about a pop star’s supposed paedophile activities, had replaced the excellent Victoria made my blood boil. Surely the programmers could have found a better slot for it, possibly replacing the vacuous so-called ‘reality’ junk that we are inundated with. It’s no surprise that fewer people are watching television these days.

Victoria fan (Whangarei)

The documentary Leaving Neverland was unbelievable and so needed telling. I put the full blame on to both those boys’ mothers. How could they let them sleep with Michael knowing they were in his bed and one mother was in the next room? It was totally their fault.

Judith (Ashburton)

Leaving Neverland was tough watching. I believe the two men and what they said happened to them when they were boys. But where was the balanced coverage? I would like another programme hearing from Michael Jackson’s family, employees and all the workers at Neverland. Would they all say the same thing?

BR (New Plymouth)