‘Leaving Neverland,’ an HBO documentary about Michael Jackson in which two men accuse pop star Michael Jackson of sexually molesting them at his ranch while they were children opened to positive reviews.
Police at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday were prepared for angry protesters at the premiere of HBO’s controversial Michael Jackson documentary, “Leaving Neverland.” But they didn’t show up.
“Police outnumbered protesters,” Variety reported. “As press and attendees flooded into the Egyptian Theatre, they walked past two women holding placards that read ‘Seek Truth.’”
Before the four-hour film began, Slate editor Sam Adams tweeted: “#Sundance head John Cooper announces there are mental health counselors on hand for people upset by Leaving Neverland’s ‘explicit depictions of sexual abuse involving minors. ’”
The film “ details the (alleged) abuse James Safechuck and Wade Robson say they suffered from Jackson, who was their childhood friend and idol,” Time says.
“While Jackson was alive, at least two young boys claimed the King of Pop molested them. For at least one of the cases, Safechuck and Robson testified in Jackson’s defense, swearing under oath that the singer had never touched them inappropriately.
“But years after Jackson’s death, the two claimed the pop star did in fact sexually abuse them, filing lawsuits against Jackson’s estate that were eventually dismissed in court.
