Jacko estate tries to block ‘Leaving’ sequel – report

Michael Jackson’s estate is reportedly trying to keep the “Leaving Neverland” director from reporting on more allegations from two men who accused the late pop star of sexually assaulting them when they were children.

Dan Reed has been filming a sequel to the Emmy-winning documentary in Los Angeles Superior Court as Wade Robson and James Safechuck pursue legal cases against the estate of Jackson (inset) — who died in 2009 — but the singer’s lawyers are trying to hold up the production and discredit Reed as biased, Deadline reported Wednesday.

Jackson’s companies claim Reed is not a “legitimate journalist,” according to Deadline, and demanded that he turn over all of his material. Lawyers have also tried to ban Reed from court, where he has been following the proceedings.

“The follow-up documentary for which I am currently filming in these cases is about current events taking place partly in public view and will be an unfolding narrative with multiple points of view,” Reed said in his formal response.

The director also argued that he invited Howard Weitzman, a lawyer with MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures, to appear in the new documentary, but was turned down.

“Understandably, the MJJ companies are not happy with ‘Leaving Neverland’ or the making of the follow-up documentary,” Louisa Compton, head of news and current affairs for the U.K.’s Channel 4, which aired the original documentary, said, according to Deadline. It aired in the U.S. on HBO in March of 2019.

“It is easy to see why they do not want the subject matter of these films to be reported to the public,” she said. “However, as much as they may dislike the messages that are being conveyed by these documentaries, we strenuously oppose their efforts to ’shoot the messenger.’”

The 2019 “Leaving Neverland” gave air to Robson and Safechuck, who claimed Jackson subjected them to repeated sexual assault at Neverland Ranch when they were both minors.

Jackson’s estate filed a $100 million lawsuit against HBO in February 2019, accusing the network of violating a 1992 agreement never to disparage Jackson’s public image. Several of the late singer’s friends, including Madonna, continued defending him.