Audiences around the world tuned in to watch James Safechuck and Wade Robson detail their harrowing sexual abuse allegations against Michael Jackson as the controversial documentary Leaving Neverland made its television debut on HBO this week.
The four-hour film is airing over two nights, starting Sunday, March 3 and ending Monday, March 4, following an interview with Oprah Winfrey and the film’s two accusers.
Twitter was erupting with opinions on Part 1 of the documentary Sunday night, in which Safechuck and Robson describe how they went from MJ’s biggest fans to his closest friends — and how the King of Pop allegedly used manipulation and grooming tactics to abuse them for years.
Related: ‘Leaving Neverland’ Facing Lawsuit Threat From MJ Backer
Take a look at some of the most shocking revelations from Part 1 of Leaving Neverland (below) — along with some alarmed reactions.
Contents [hide]
- 1 Jackson Allegedly Eased Into Sexual Misconduct With The Boys
- 2 Jackson Allegedly Distanced His Victims From Their Families
- 3 Neverland Ranch Wasn’t The Only Location Where Alleged Sexual Activity Would Ensue
- 4 Jackson Allegedly Staged His Public Relationships With Women
- 5 Jackson Allegedly Staged Mock Wedding With One Victim & Professed Love For Both
- 6 Jackson Allegedly Told His Victims They Would Go To Jail If They Got Caught
- 7 Jackson Allegedly Pressured Both Boys To Testify In His Defense
Jackson Allegedly Eased Into Sexual Misconduct With The Boys
Both men, now married adults with sons of their own, claim that the sexual misconduct with Jackson didn’t start right away. Safechuck and Robson allege that, when they were 10 and 7 years old, respectively, Jackson would initiate intimate contact with them, like hugs and hand holding.
Robson remembered that this seemingly innocuous behavior “seemed normal” but “escalated rapidly.” Soon, Jackson allegedly started engaging in kissing, rubbing, mutual masturbation, and oral sex with the boys, claiming to introduce them to something that “everyone does but no one talks about,” according to Robson.
Later on, it was claimed Jackson introduced the boys — who were always kept separate from one another — to porn an alcohol. Safechuck claims he remembers “getting really drunk” with the superstar. Eventually, Jackson attempted to have anal sex with each of them when they were young teenagers.
Jackson Allegedly Distanced His Victims From Their Families
The mens’ mothers, who were also interviewed in the doc, claim that, at first, Jackson would foster intimate friendships with them as he got to know their sons, talking to each of them on the phone for hours and writing them friendly emails.
During their conversations, Jackson allegedly made promises to each mother that he would help launch their sons’ careers in show business. This was, of course, allegedly all part of his plot to make the parents feel comfortable with letting their sons spend so much time with him.
But, as his alleged sexual relationships with each boy grew, Jackson made an effort to put physical and emotional distance between the child and their families. Safechuck’s mother recalled how her hotel room would get moved further and further away from Jackson’s, where her son would spend the nights during the Bad Tour.
Safechuck explained:
“At the same time as the sexual relationship is growing, he’s working on pushing you away from your parents and pushing you away from everybody else and it feels more like it’s just you and him. You start to think that your parents are bad and that Michael is good.”
As the boys grew further apart from their parents, the singer would allegedly insert himself as their new parent figure. Robson remembered:
“He started calling me son. And for me, the idea of Michael Jackson being my dad was the most incredible in the world.”
Neverland Ranch Wasn’t The Only Location Where Alleged Sexual Activity Would Ensue
Both men claim that a number of incidents took place in locations all over Jackson’s famous Neverland property: a California ranch featuring zoo animals and amusement rides, as well as, according to the men, private bunks and several hidden areas to watch porn.
But Jackson would also invite the boys over to another location where activity would ensue. Robson and Safechuck claim, at times, they stayed the night at another apartment located along the Avenue of the Stars in Century City, Los Angeles.
Jackson Allegedly Staged His Public Relationships With Women
While the alleged sexual relationships with the pair were unfolding, the Beat It singer had public relationships with Lisa Marie Presley and Debbie Rowe. As you might remember, he eventually married and divorced both women.
But, according to Safechuck, these public relationships were staged to misdirect the public from what was really going on. He recalled:
“I remember Michael saying to me that he’s going to have to public relationships with women so people don’t think anything. He would always say he’s going to get married, he’s going to have to go get married but it won’t mean anything.”
Jackson Allegedly Staged Mock Wedding With One Victim & Professed Love For Both
Safechuck claims that Jackson staged a “mock wedding ceremony… in his bedroom.” Allegedly, Jackson gave him a wedding ring — “a row of diamonds in a gold band.” Safechuck still has the jewelry Jackson allegedly used to control him with. He claims he would perform sexual acts in order to “earn the gift.”
Safechuck later claimed that, while holding hands, he and Jackson would scratch the other’s palm to let them know they were thinking of each other in a “sexual” way, claiming Jackson told him that it was “a very accepted way of expressing your love.”
Robson also claimed that Jackson “started talking about how much he loves me.”
Jackson Allegedly Told His Victims They Would Go To Jail If They Got Caught
The singer allegedly threatened his victims with jail time to prevent his alleged dirty misdeeds from being exposed. Robson claims that Jackson would tell him that “other people are ignorant and they would never understand” their relationship. He added:
“If they ever found out what we were doing — about this sexual stuff — he and I would be pulled apart and never see each other again. And that he and I would go to jail for the rest of our lives.”
Safechuck also remembers similar threats, explaining:
“It was very much a secret and he would tell me that if anybody found out his life would be over and my life would be over. And that’s something he tells you over and over again.”
Jackson Allegedly Pressured Both Boys To Testify In His Defense
When Jordan Chandler accused Jackson of child sexual abuse in 1993, Jackson allegedly turned to Robson and Safechuck for help. Robson claims he was instructed by Jackson to lie to police after allegations became public — and he did, recalling:
“[As] soon as the cops started asking me these questions, the first thing that came to mind for me was everything Michael started saying to me when I was seven — you know, if anyone ever found out that we were doing any sort of things, these sexual things, that he and I would go to jail for the rest of our lives. It was terrifying.”
Safechuck claims he was prepped for the police interview by Jackson’s lawyers, remembering:
“They did a mock interview, kind of role-playing the policeman or lawyer. ‘We know you guys have done this. We have photos, so just tell us about it.’ ‘That’s a ploy, they don’t know, they don’t have photos so just tell them no.’ That’s the golden rule, just don’t tell them and they don’t actually know or they can’t prove it… He asked me to testify — there was like, a pretrial, so I went to court. I remember going in there and being very robotic. Like I said, I rehearsed it so much that it was just going through the motions. They asked and I said no, of course. Just like, part of my job, to do that for Michael.”
After new allegations surfaced in 2003, causing Jackson to be charged with molesting a child, Safechuck claims the singer once again tried to get him and his parents to testify in his defense. When he declined, he said Jackson “got really angry at me and he threatened me. I had never seen him this angry and it was like, ‘OK, you’re an enemy now.'” He added:
“He threatened me with his lawyers and said I had perjured myself years ago.”
Robson also remembers telling Jackson he didn’t want to be involved in the trial before being subpoenaed to appear in court, alleging:
“At some point, I worked up the courage to tell Michael I don’t want to testify. I remember silence on the phone for awhile. He said, ‘I know. I understand. It’s really hard to go through this with all the media and everything. But we can’t let them do this to us. We can’t let them take us down.'”
Wow.
The Jackson family has denied all of the allegations made in Leaving Neverland, claiming both accusers are just after fame and money.
And seemingly in hopes of deterring viewers from watching the doc, MJ’s estate dropped two-hour long concert footage, Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour, on YouTube.
His official Twitter account announced:
“Don’t miss the magic from the King of Pop himself! Immerse yourself in Michael Jackson. Live in Bucharest and Live at Wembley Stadium available for a limited time on Michael Jackson’s @youtube!”
See (below):
Don’t miss the magic from the King of Pop himself! Immerse yourself in Michael Jackson. Live in Bucharest and Live at Wembley Stadium available for a limited time on Michael Jackson’s @youtube!
Watch Now – https://t.co/fnD2IonLsP pic.twitter.com/z9heNX3AGP
— Michael Jackson (@michaeljackson) March 4, 2019
Needless to say, the damning allegations had people talking on Twitter. See some of the reactions (below) and share your thoughts in the comments.
https://twitter.com/ambertamblyn/status/1102379571897356288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1102379571897356288&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpeople.com%2Fmusic%2Fmichael-jackson-documentary-leaving-neverland-twitter-reactions%2F
https://twitter.com/andylassner/status/1102399792536158208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1102399792536158208&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpeople.com%2Fmusic%2Fmichael-jackson-documentary-leaving-neverland-twitter-reactions%2F
Anyone who wants to believe this dude wasn’t a Nasty MF needs to watch this shit.#LeavingNeverland
— MichaelRapaport (@MichaelRapaport) March 4, 2019
It’s amazing how brainwashed MJ fans are even now. I believe Wade & Jimmy. MJ was not a saint or God he was a fallible human being just as capable of evil as anyone else. #LeavingNeverland
— Golden Librarian ???????????????? (@dimplesofdoom) March 4, 2019
https://twitter.com/TheRealMnJean/status/1102389922797776897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1102389922797776897&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpeople.com%2Fmusic%2Fmichael-jackson-documentary-leaving-neverland-twitter-reactions%2F
https://twitter.com/penntoface/status/1102389526134247425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1102389526134247425&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpeople.com%2Fmusic%2Fmichael-jackson-documentary-leaving-neverland-twitter-reactions%2F
https://twitter.com/ScottMiller701/status/1102389363282010112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1102389363282010112&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpeople.com%2Fmusic%2Fmichael-jackson-documentary-leaving-neverland-twitter-reactions%2F
Latoya changed her story about Michael's abuse.
Michael changed his story about paternity & surgery.
The family changed their story about Joe's abuse.
Everyone is allowed to change their story, except traumatized sexually abused boys?? #LeavingNeverland
— STOP CSA (@HelpEndCSA) February 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/LuckySchwartz/status/1102387116858884097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1102387116858884097&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpeople.com%2Fmusic%2Fmichael-jackson-documentary-leaving-neverland-twitter-reactions%2F
[Image via Chris Connor/WENN.]
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