Michael Jackson's estate slams Emmys over outstanding documentary award for 'Leaving Neverland'
HBO's controversial documentary titled 'Leaving Neverland' which details the sexual abuse allegations made against pop icon Michael Jackson recently won the Outstanding Documentary Emmy Award.
The 'Thriller' singer's estate has now slammed Emmy voters for choosing to give the prize to them. As per a statement that was obtained by People, a spokesperson for the Jackson estate shared, "For a film that is a complete fiction to be honored in a nonfiction Emmy category is a complete farce."
"Not one shred of proof supports this completely one-sided, so-called documentary which was made in secrecy and for which not one person outside of the two subjects and their families were interviewed," the statement continued.
The HBO documentary featured two of Michael Jackson's accusers—James Safechuck and Wade Robson—who detailed the nature of the abuse they allegedly suffered at the hands of the pop icon. Safechuck claimed that Jackson had shown him how to masturbate while Robson said that MJ performed oral sex on him and kissed him when he was just five years old.
Robson also claimed that Jackson told him, "You and I were brought together by God. We were meant to be together. This is how we show love." The two have also alleged that Jackson had told them that they would go to jail if anyone got to know about their sexual abuse.
Michael Jackson's family has constantly refuted the claims made by Safechuck and Robson. They also called the documentary "yet another lurid production in an outrageous and pathetic attempt to exploit and cash in on Michael Jackson." The director of the documentary, Dan Reed, has stood by the claims made by Safechuck and Robson.
"None of this would have been possible without the incredible courage and determination of Wade and James and their families, and I wanted to salute that," Reed shared, as reported by Deadline.
