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In the wake of the screening on Friday of the explosive four-hour documentary Leaving Neverland, critics and fans are at odds on whether it is finally time to #MuteMichaelJackson in the same way many decided to #MuteRKelly recently.
After premiering at the renowned Sundance Film Festival in Utah in the US, the film by Dan Reed has blown the lid on the lived experience of two adult men who allege they were victims of years of sexual abuse at the hands of the planet’s biggest pop star when they were boys.
And the aftermath – on social media at least – has been divided yet brutal, with some users calling for fans to respond with the same outrage elicited by the airing of the equally devastating documentary series Surviving R Kelly a few weeks ago, which saw many fans, including acclaimed musicians, removing the singer’s music and their collaborations with them from their playlists.
In Leaving Neverland, Wade Robson, a celebrated 36-year-old choreographer, and 41-year-old James Safechuck tell the story of how they had to come to grips with what they had experienced as boys at the hands of the so-called King of Pop, after allegedly enduring years of grooming and sexual molestation.
“In separate but parallel stories that echo one another, two boys were each befriended by Jackson, who invited them into his singular and wondrous world. Seduced by the singer’s fairytale existence and enthralled by their relationship with him, both boys’ families were blind to the manipulation and abuse that he would ultimately subject them to,” the film’s synopsis reads.
It continues: “Through gut-wrenching interviews with the now adult men and their families, Leaving Neverland crafts a portrait of sustained exploitation and deception, documenting the power of celebrity that allowed a revered figure to infiltrate the lives of starstruck children and their parents.”
According to The Daily Beast, “Robson and Safechuck recount incidents of masturbation, kissing, oral sex (at least once while Safechuck was sleeping), being forced to caress Jackson’s nipples, bending over for him while he pleasured himself, and being coaxed into painful anal sex.”
They also claim that Jackson brainwashed them into keeping the sexual activity a secret and had carefully put plans in place to prevent being caught. The pair had actually reportedly defended Jackson years ago when he was accused of child molestation by other young men.
Huffington Post reported that, midway through the screening, which was divided into two parts, reporters and film critics remarked about the documentary’s emotional intensity, and audience members walked around in shock during the intermission.
Representatives of Jackson’s estate, however, have lashed out, saying the film was “another lurid production in an outrageous and pathetic attempt to exploit and cash in on Michael Jackson … just another rehash of dated and discredited allegations. It’s baffling why any credible film maker would involve himself with this project.” – Staff reporter
