Period,” begins the 53-page lawsuit, before delving into the 2005 trial in which Jackson was charged with and found not guilty of molesting a 13-year-old boy. The Jackson estate has vehemently opposed the documentary, calling it “the kind of tabloid character assassination Michael Jackson endured in life, and now in death.”Īlso Read: 'Leaving Neverland' Director: 'This Isn't a Film About Michael Jackson' (Video) The film premiered during the 2019 Sundance Film Festival last month, and the screening required extra security amid fears that protesters would try to disrupt the film. “Leaving Neverland,” which is set to premiere on HBO on Sunday, March 3, is a four-hour documentary by director Dan Reed that features detailed accounts from two men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who say Jackson molested them when they were underage boys. Had they made an objective film it would have allowed viewers to make up their own minds about these allegations, instead of having a television network dictate to them that they must accept these false claims about Michael Jackson.” “HBO and the director were well aware of their financial motives and that ample opposing facts are available from numerous sources, but made the unconscionable decision to bury any evidence casting doubt on their chosen narrative. Yet they are still seeking money, having appealed,” Weitzman continued. “Nearly four years after Michael died they suddenly changed their recollections, sued the Estate of Michael Jackson for hundreds of millions of dollars and had all of their lawsuits dismissed. Jackson did nothing inappropriate to either of them.”Īlso Read: 'Leaving Neverland' Trailer: Michael Jackson Accuser Wants to 'Speak the Truth as Loud as I Had to Speak the Lie' (Video) Instead they chose to fund and produce a film where they knew the two subjects had for many years testified under oath and told family, friends and law enforcement that Mr. “HBO could have and should have ensured that ‘Leaving Neverland’ was properly sourced, fact checked and a fair and balanced representation. “HBO breached its agreement not to disparage Michael Jackson by producing and selling to the public a one-sided marathon of unvetted propaganda to shamelessly exploit an innocent man no longer here to defend himself,” the estate’s attorney Howard Weitzman said in a statement. In the lawsuit, the estate says that with the “Leaving Neverland” documentary, HBO has violated a non-disparagement clause that was part of an agreement the two sides had which granted HBO the right to air Jackson’s Dangerous World Tour live. “HBO will move forward with the airing of the two-part documentary on March 3 and 4. This will allow everyone the opportunity to assess the film and the claims in it for themselves.” “Despite the desperate lengths taken to undermine the film, our plans remain unchanged,” HBO said in a statement. The estate is seeking damages that it says could exceed more than $100 million.
The Estate of Michael Jackson continued its fight against HBO and its new documentary “Leaving Neverland” on Thursday, suing the cable outlet for violating the terms of an agreement HBO had with Jackson dating back to 1992.