GROOMED FOR STARDOM
Wade Robson was a child performer befriended and mentored by superstar Michael Jackson in the 1990s ... and central to the revealing documentary Leaving Neverland
MICHAEL Jackson was the world’s biggest pop star of his time.
But a decade after his death his reputation is in tatters following the release of the documentary Leaving
Neverland which details allegations of shocking sexual abuse the singer is said to have committed.
The documentary, which aired this month, focuses on two men – Jimmy Safechuck and Brisbane’s Wade Robson — who both say Jackson repeatedly sexually assaulted them while they were children in the 1990s.
While the Jackson estate has slammed the film, it has led to many radio stations dumping the one-time King of Pop’s music from playlists while The
Simpsons episode in which he guest appeared has been removed from circulation.
Robson’s identity and links to Jackson first came to light in January 1993 when he gave an exclusive front-page interview to the Gold Coast Bulletin in which he and his mother Joy spoke about life under the singer’s tutelage.
Jackson and Robson first met in 1987 when the boy won a dance competition and was invited on stage by the singer.
They met again in 1989 at Jackson’s studios in Los Angeles.
Robson spoke to the press in early 1993 after a global search to identify the young dancer, who had been cast as a young Jackson in a commercial for soft-drink giant Pepsi.
It had been reported that Jackson had insisted that a young caucasian boy play him rather than allowing for file footage of him from the music video I’ll Be There to be used.
Robson, who described himself as someone who “eats sleeps and breathes” Michael Jackson, was selected.
Wade’s mother strongly refuted claims from international press that Jackson had wanted to cast a white boy to play in him the video.
She told the Bulletin that Wade had been chosen because of his strong resemblance to the young Jackson.
For the commercial he was required to wear an afro wig and his skin colour was digitally made darker.
The Slacks Creek boy was just 10 at the time of the interview, which he gave while at home on a three-week holiday before returning to Hollywood.
“I want to be big in the industry and try and touch other people of all ages in the world, just like Michael,” he told the Bulletin.
Robson had already appeared in three of Jackson’s video clips including Black or
White and Heal the World and briefly spoke of his time at Jackson’s Neverland estate.
“It is there the two enjoy time together away from the Hollywood hype playing video games, shooting each other with water pistols and having pillow fights,” the story said.
Mrs Robson said that Jackson had described her son as “a kid with a black soul”.
“He says ‘I know you are going to be big in the music industry and I just want to get you ready for it’,” said Wade at the time.
“He just tells me what will happen, he teaches me a lot, he educates me.”
Mrs Robson told the Bulletin it was her son’s “intensity” that had attracted casting directors.
“And that’s what drew Michael to him because he could see himself all over again,” she said.
Today, Robson, 36, is a dancer and choreographer who lives in the US.