Cape Town - The Jackson family have launched legal action against American broadcaster HBO over a documentary into Michael Jackson’s alleged molestation of young boys, The Guardian reports.
Leaving Neverland, is a two-part, four-hour film that features the testimonies of James Safechuck and Wade Robson alleging the Thriller singer sexually abused them as children.
It’s due to air on 3 and 4 March.
However, Jackson’s estate have filed a 53-page complaint, arguing that the documentary should not be aired as they regard it as “a one-sided marathon of unvetted propaganda to shamelessly exploit an innocent man no longer here to defend himself”.
His estate also spoke out against the airing of the documentary at January’s Sundance festival, calling the documentary a "public lynching" and labelled Jackson's accusers as “admitted liars”.
The Jackson estate are suing HBO for $100m (R713 million) over tell-all documentary as they claim the network is breaching a 1992 non-disparagement contract.
That year, when Michael Jackson in Concert in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour aired, it’s alleged the network agreed to a clause that precluded them from disparaging the singer in future works.
HBO have come out fighting, saying despite the pending lawsuit, they will be going ahead with showing the documentary. “Despite the desperate lengths taken to undermine the film, our plans remain unchanged,” the network said in a statement to CNN.
“HBO will move forward with the airing of 'Leaving Neverland,' the two-part documentary, on March 3rd and 4th. This will allow everyone the opportunity to assess the film and the claims in it for themselves.”
Meanwhile, Michael nephew, Taj Jackson has called out Wade Robinson’s credibility on social media. He provided proof that despite allegations made against the late singer, the choreographer still kept in contact with MJ’s children and even went to his funeral in September of 2009.
Sources: The Guardian, USA Today, CNN
