New documentary revives Jackson allegations
Men accuse singer of sexually abusing them as children, estate denies claims
LOS ANGELES A lawyer representing two Michael Jackson accusers who appear in an upcoming documentary says their allegations of sexual abuse have not been discredited, as the Jackson estate says, and deserve to be heard.
Vince Finaldi, who represents Wade Robson and James Safechuck in lawsuits alleging Jackson molested them, said the suits were dismissed on technical grounds, not on the credibility of the men’s claims, and they are now under appeal.
“There were never any rulings to the court as to their testimony,” Finaldi said Thursday. “We stand by our clients, and we believe them and we fully expect them to be vindicated.”
The stories of Robson and Safechuck, who came forward as adults to say Jackson had sexually abused them for years when they were boys, will be heard again in the twopart, four-hour documentary Leaving Neverland, which will stream in Canada on HBO and Crave in the spring. It premières Jan. 25 at the Sundance Film Festival.
The Jackson estate released a statement saying the documentary is “just another rehash of dated and discredited allegations.”
“Wade Robson and James Safechuck have both testified under oath that Michael never did anything inappropriate toward them,” the statement said, adding that both had filed lawsuits that have been dismissed.
Jackson in 2005 was acquitted of criminal molestation charges, which did not involve Robson or Safechuck. Robson testified at that trial, saying he had slept in Jackson’s room many times, but Jackson had never molested him. Safechuck made similar statements to investigators as a boy.
Then in 2013 Robson filed a lawsuit that said stress and trauma had forced him to face the truth that he was sexually abused by Jackson, who died in 2009. Safechuck filed a similar lawsuit the following year.
The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they come forward publicly, which Robson and Safechuck have done in multiple ways.
Leaving Neverland director and producer Dan Reed said, “It took great courage for these two men to tell their stories, and I have no question about their validity.
“If there’s anything we’ve learned during this time in our history, it’s that sexual abuse is complicated, and survivors’ voices need to be listened to.”