Sunday People

It is a horror film... a sexually explicit story of two boys JACKO WED’ ABUSED BOY New sex claims against singer in shock documentar y

- By Patrick Hill

MICHAEL Jackson staged a full mock wedding with a boy, complete with vows and a diamond ring, says a new documentar­y.

The pop star’s twisted service involving pre-teen James Safechuck is one of a string of fresh allegation­s made against the singer in Leaving Neverland.

The graphic four-hour documentar­y also detailed the abuse of young boys, including Jackson giving them jewellery in exchange for sex acts.

The film focuses on the accounts of Wade Robson and Mr Safechuck, who were given a standing ovation at its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. The controvers­ial film will be shown on Channel 4 at a later date.

The pair have long claimed they were raped and molested by the singer at his Neverland Ranch in California. The documentar­y threatens to finally destroy Jackson’s legacy and his still thriving business empire.

Jackson died aged 50 in 2009.

Jeff Wells, of Hollywood Elsewhere website, said: “Leaving Neverland is a horror film – an intimate, obviously believable, sometimes sexually explicit story of two boys who became Michael Jackson’s special ‘friends’ – ie, lovers – while their oblivious parents went along. Jackson was a fiend – a smooth predator, a monster.”

Indiewire critic David Ehrlich added: “Spoiler alert: Michael Jackson 100% sexuall y abused a l ot of children.”

Jackson denied all allega- tions he abused underage boys during his lifetime and his estate has done the same since his death.

Last night the late singer’s estate issued a statement branding the film: “The kind of tabloid character assassinat­ion Michael Jackson endured in life, and now in death.” It also accused Mr Robson and Mr Safechuck of being “two perjurers”, in reference to sworn statements they gave while Jackson was alive stating he had not molested them.

Responding to criticism, Australian­born Robson, now 36, said: “I don’t feel like there’s anything I need to say to them except that I understand it’s hard for them to believe.”

He added: “We can only accept and understand something when we’re ready, maybe we’ll never be ready, maybe we will. That’s their journey.”

Jackson was cleared of ten child abuse charges against teen pal Gavin Arvizo after a trial in June 2005. The star sold more than 350 million records after shooting to fame in the 60s with the Jackson 5.

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