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PreviewAdvancedSpecial charactersHelpHeadingLevel 2Level 3Level 4Level 5FormatInsertLatinLatin extendedIPASymbolsGreekGreek extendedCyrillicArabicArabic extendedHebrewBanglaTamilTeluguSinhalaDevanagariGujaratiThaiLaoKhmerCanadian AboriginalRunesÁáÀàÂâÄäÃãǍǎĀāĂ㥹ÅåĆćĈĉÇçČčĊċĐđĎďÉéÈèÊêËëĚěĒēĔĕĖėĘęĜĝĢģĞğĠġĤĥĦħÍíÌìÎîÏïĨĩǏǐĪīĬĭİıĮįĴĵĶķĹĺĻļĽľŁłŃńÑñŅņŇňÓóÒòÔôÖöÕõǑǒŌōŎŏǪǫŐőŔŕŖŗŘřŚśŜŝŞşŠšȘșȚțŤťÚúÙùÛûÜüŨũŮůǓǔŪūǖǘǚǜŬŭŲųŰűŴŵÝýŶŷŸÿȲȳŹźŽžŻżÆæǢǣØøŒœßÐðÞþƏəFormattingLinksHeadingsListsFilesDiscussionReferencesDescriptionWhat you typeWhat you getItalic''Italic text''Italic textBold'''Bold text'''Bold textBold & italic'''''Bold & italic text'''''Bold & italic textDescriptionWhat you typeWhat you getReferencePage text.<ref>[https://www.example.org/ Link text], additional text.</ref>Page text.[1]Named referencePage text.<ref name="test">[https://www.example.org/ Link text]</ref>Page text.[2]Additional use of the same referencePage text.<ref name="test" />Page text.[2]Display references<references />↑ Link text, additional text.↑ Link text=== Posthumous child sexual abuse allegations === [[File:Michaeljackson1.jpg|thumb|alt=A smiling Jackson wears a blue baseball cap and a red shirt. On his right are two women. One holds a pen, and one holds a small purse. On his left, a young boy looks off-camera. He is dressed in a red shirt, too. Jackson's hand is on his shoulder.|Jackson and Safechuck (right) in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1988]] In 2013, choreographer [[Wade Robson]] filed a lawsuit alleging that Jackson had sexually abused him for seven years, beginning when he was seven years old (1989–1996).<ref>{{cite news |title=Choreographer: Michael Jackson 'sexually abused me' |work=[[Today (American TV program)|Today]] |date=May 16, 2013 |access-date= October 21, 2017 |url=https://www.today.com/video/choreographer-michael-jackson-sexually-abused-me-30450243877}}</ref> In 2014, a case was filed by James Safechuck, alleging sexual abuse over a four-year period from the age of ten (1988–1992).<ref>{{cite news |first=Alroy |last=Menezes |title=James Safechuck Alleges Sexual Abuse By Michael Jackson, Sues Singer's Estate |work=[[International Business Times]] |date=August 6, 2014 |access-date= May 30, 2019 |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/james-safechuck-alleges-sexual-abuse-michael-jackson-sues-singers-estate-1650260}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Ken |last=Stone |title=Sex abuse by long-dead Michael Jackson? Judge rejects lawsuit |website=MyNewsLA.com |date=July 7, 2017 |access-date= March 15, 2019 |url=https://mynewsla.com/crime/2017/07/07/sex-abuse-by-long-dead-michael-jackson-judge-rejects-lawsuit/}}</ref><ref name="indie abuse">{{cite news |first=Jenn |last=Selby |title=Michael Jackson hit with new child sex abuse claims more than five years after his death |newspaper=The Independent |date=August 6, 2014 |access-date= March 15, 2019 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/michael-jackson-hit-with-new-sex-abuse-claims-five-years-after-his-death-9650832.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/michael-jackson-hit-with-new-sex-abuse-claims-five-years-after-his-death-9650832.html |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live}}</ref> Both had testified in Jackson's defense during the 1993 allegations; Robson did so again in 2005.<ref>{{cite news |first=John M. |last=Broder |title=2 Witnesses Say They Shared Jackson's Bed and Were Never Molested |newspaper=The New York Times |date=May 6, 2005 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/06/us/2-witnesses-say-they-shared-jacksons-bed-and-were-never-molested.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first=Nicole |last=Sperling |title='Michael Is Everywhere': Two Michael Jackson Accusers Explain Why They're Speaking Out in HBO's ''Leaving Neverland'' |magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date=February 21, 2019 |access-date= March 15, 2019 |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/02/michael-jackson-accusers-explain-speaking-out-hbo-leaving-neverland}}</ref> In 2015, Robson's case against Jackson's estate was dismissed as it had been filed too late. Safechuck's claim was also time-barred.<ref>{{cite web |title=Safechuck Ruling Demurrer Dismissal |via=[[Scribd]] |date=June 28, 2017 |access-date= May 28, 2019 |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/353219745/Safechuck-Ruling-Demurrer-Dismissal}}</ref> In 2017, it was ruled that Jackson's corporations could not be held accountable for his alleged past actions.<ref>{{cite press release |first=Andrew |last=Dalton |title=APNewsBreak: Michael Jackson Sex Abuse Lawsuit Dismissed |agency=Associated Press |date=December 20, 2017 |access-date= December 21, 2017 |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/entertainment/articles/2017-12-19/apnewsbreak-michael-jackson-sex-abuse-lawsuit-dismissed}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Michael Jackson sex abuse lawsuit dismissed |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=December 19, 2017 |access-date= December 21, 2017 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/michael-jackson-molestation-lawsuit-dismissed-1.4457632}}</ref> The rulings were appealed. On October 20, 2020, Safechuck's lawsuit against Jackson's corporations was again dismissed. The judge ruled that there was no evidence that Safechuck had had a relationship with Jackson's corporation, nor was it proven that there was a special relationship between the two.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/10/21/michael-jackson-judge-dismisses-leaving-neverland-accusers-lawsuit/3722576001/ |title='Leaving Neverland' accuser James Safechuck's lawsuit against Michael Jackson's companies dismissed |first=Andrea |last=Mandel |newspaper=USA Today |date=October 21, 2020 |accessdate=January 13, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=Lawsuit of Michael Jackson sexual abuse accuser dismissed |work=Associated Press News |date=October 23, 2020 |access-date= October 26, 2020 |url=https://www.apnews.com/article/los-angeles-lawsuits-james-safechuck-michael-jackson-california-4cd85607e8dc1366f09ae51a8af6d1d2}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Kate |last=Feldman |title=Michael Jackson estate tries to block documentarian from filming 'Leaving Neverland' sequel: report |newspaper=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |date=October 21, 2020 |access-date= October 31, 2020 |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/snyde/ny-finding-neverland-michael-jackson-20201021-7dvxdgtqibbpvgkq2lcbg5srca-story.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Jake |last=Kanter |title='Leaving Neverland' Director Dan Reed Fights Subpoenas as He Shoots Sequel to Channel 4/HBO's Michael Jackson Film |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=October 21, 2020 |access-date= October 31, 2020 |url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/leaving-neverland-director-dan-reed-shooting-follow-up-film-1234599714/}}</ref> On April 26, 2021, Robson's case was dismissed because of a lack of supporting evidence that the defendants exercised control over Jackson.<ref>{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Dalton |title=Judge tosses lawsuit of man who alleged Jackson molestation |work=ABC News |agency=Associated Press |date=April 27, 2021 |access-date= April 28, 2021 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/judge-tosses-lawsuit-man-alleged-jackson-molestation-77329272}}</ref> Robson and Safechuck described their allegations against Jackson in graphic detail in the documentary ''[[Leaving Neverland]]'', released in March 2019.<ref>{{cite news |first=Charlie |last=Haynes |title=Michael Jackson 'abused us hundreds of times' |date=February 28, 2019 |access-date= March 8, 2019 |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47403951}}</ref> Radio stations in New Zealand, Canada, the UK and the Netherlands removed Jackson's music from their playlists.<ref name="PR blitz">{{cite news |first=Lanre |last=Bakare |title=Michael Jackson estate launches PR blitz as documentary airs in UK |newspaper=The Guardian |date=March 7, 2019 |access-date= March 8, 2019 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/mar/07/michael-jackson-estate-adverts-lawsuits-interviews-leaving-neverland-airs}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Eleanor Ainge |last=Roy |title=Michael Jackson songs pulled from radio stations in New Zealand and Canada |newspaper=The Guardian |date=March 6, 2019 |access-date= March 8, 2019 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/mar/05/michael-jackson-abuse-allegations-canada-radio-stations-ban-music}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Janene |last=Pieters |title=First Dutch radio station boycotts Michael Jackson music |work=NL Times |date=March 6, 2019 |access-date= April 14, 2019 |url=https://nltimes.nl/2019/03/06/first-dutch-radio-station-boycotts-michael-jackson-music}}</ref> Jackson's family condemned the film as a "public lynching",<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Michael Jackson's Family Calls 'Leaving Neverland' Documentary a 'Public Lynching' |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=January 28, 2019 |access-date= January 29, 2019 |url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/michael-jackson-family-leaving-neverland-public-lynching-1203120387/}}</ref> and the Jackson estate released a statement calling the film a "tabloid character assassination [Jackson] endured in life, and now in death".<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Daniel |last=Kreps |title=Michael Jackson Estate Slams 'Leaving Neverland': 'Tabloid Character Assassination' |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=January 26, 2019 |access-date= July 21, 2019 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/michael-jackson-estate-leaving-neverland-tabloid-character-assassination-784968/}}</ref> Close associates of Jackson, such as [[Corey Feldman]], [[Aaron Carter]], Brett Barnes, and [[Macaulay Culkin]], said that Jackson had not molested them.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Corey Feldman Guards Michael Jackson After 'Leaving Neverland' Airs |magazine=Vibe |date=March 4, 2019 |access-date= September 21, 2019 |url=https://www.vibe.com/2019/03/corey-feldman-michael-jackson-leaving-neverland}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Maeve |last=McDermott |title=Aaron Carter defends Michael Jackson after saying the star did one 'inappropriate' thing |newspaper=USA Today |date=May 22, 2019 |access-date= September 21, 2019 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2019/05/22/aaron-carter-defends-michael-jackson-after-comment-makes-waves/3765213002/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Leaving Neverland: who is Brett Barnes, Michael Jackson's 'other boy'? |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=March 8, 2019 |access-date= September 21, 2019 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/leaving-neverland-brett-barnes-jacksons-boy/ |archive-date= January 10, 2022 |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/leaving-neverland-brett-barnes-jacksons-boy/ |url-status= live}} {{cbignore}}</ref> Documentaries such as ''[[Square One: Michael Jackson]]'', ''[[Neverland Firsthand: Investigating the Michael Jackson Documentary]]'' and ''[[Michael Jackson: Chase the Truth]]'', presented information countering the claims suggested by ''Leaving Neverland''.<ref>{{cite news |title='Square One', el documental que "desmonta" las acusaciones de pederastia sobre Michael Jackson |date=October 16, 2019 |url=https://www.abc.es/play/cine/noticias/abci-square-documental-desmonta-acusaciones-pederastia-sobre-michael-jackson-201910161743_noticia_amp.html |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Wallis |title=Jackson family responds to 'Leaving Neverland' in 30-minute YouTube documentary |publisher=[[Global News]] |date=April 8, 2019 |access-date= October 31, 2020 |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5141785/neverland-firsthand/}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first=Andrew |last=Trendell |title=New documentary 'Chase the Truth' defending Michael Jackson is released |magazine=[[NME]] |date=August 15, 2019 |access-date= October 31, 2020 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/new-documentary-chase-truth-defending-michael-jackson-released-2538518}}</ref> Jackson's album sales increased following the documentary screenings.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jack |last=Shepherd |title=Michael Jackson albums climb the charts following Leaving Neverland broadcast |newspaper=The Independent |date=March 9, 2019 |access-date= July 21, 2019 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/michael-jackson-album-charts-leaving-neverland-child-sex-allegations-a8815081.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/michael-jackson-album-charts-leaving-neverland-child-sex-allegations-a8815081.html |archive-date=May 14, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Billboard'' senior editor Gail Mitchell said she and a colleague interviewed about thirty music executives who believed Jackson's legacy could withstand the controversy.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jonathan Jr. |last=Landrum |title=Michael Jackson's popularity endures, even after new scandal |newspaper=[[The Japan Times]] |date=June 24, 2019 |access-date=July 21, 2019 |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2019/06/24/entertainment-news/michael-jacksons-popularity-endures-even-new-scandal/ |archive-date=July 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721070116/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2019/06/24/entertainment-news/michael-jacksons-popularity-endures-even-new-scandal/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In late 2019, some New Zealand and Canadian radio stations re-added Jackson's music to their playlists, citing "positive listener survey results".<ref>{{cite web |first=Teresa |last=Ramsey |title=Michael Jackson songs back on New Zealand radio airwaves |website=[[Stuff (company)|Stuff]] |date=November 14, 2019 |access-date= November 29, 2019 |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/117143093/michael-jackson-songs-back-on-new-zealand-radio-airwaves}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Marc-André |last=Lemieux |title=Fin du boycottage de Michael Jackson |newspaper=[[Le Journal de Montréal]] |date=October 29, 2019 |access-date= December 30, 2019 |url=https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2019/10/29/fin-du-boycott-de-michael-jackson |language=fr}}</ref> On February 21, 2019, the Jackson estate sued HBO for breaching a non-disparagement clause from a 1992 contract. The suit sought to compel HBO to participate in a non-confidential arbitration that could result in $100{{nbsp}}million or more in damages awarded to the estate.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Eriq |last=Gardner |title=Michael Jackson Estate Sues HBO Over 'Leaving Neverland' Documentary |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=February 21, 2019 |access-date= September 21, 2019 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/michael-jackson-estate-sues-hbo-violating-disparagement-deal-1188759}}</ref> HBO said they did not breach a contract and filed an anti-[[Strategic lawsuit against public participation|SLAPP]] motion against the estate. In September 2019, Judge [[George H. Wu]] denied HBO's motion to dismiss the case, allowing the Jackson estate to arbitrate.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Claudia |last=Rosenbaum |title='Leaving Neverland' Judge Sides with Michael Jackson Estate, Compelling HBO to Arbitration |magazine=Billboard |date=September 20, 2019 |access-date= May 6, 2021 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/legal-and-management/8530658/leaving-neverland-ruling-michael-jackson-hbo-arbitration/}}</ref> HBO appealed, but in December 2020 the appeals court affirmed Wu's ruling.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Ashley |last=Cullins |title=HBO Loses Appellate Bid to Avoid Arbitration with Michael Jackson Estate in 'Leaving Neverland' Dispute |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=December 14, 2020 |access-date= April 11, 2021 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/hbo-loses-appellate-bid-to-avoid-arbitration-with-michael-jackson-estate-in-leaving-neverland-dispute}}</ref> In 2020, a state law passed in California which granted plaintiffs in child sex abuse cases an additional period to file lawsuits. In October 2020 and again in April 2021, the [[Los Angeles County Superior Court]] ruled that MJJ Productions Inc. and MJJ Ventures Inc. employees were not legally obligated to protect the two men from Jackson. In August 2023, California's Second District Court of Appeal overturned the ruling, and the case was approved to move forward to [[trial court]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/18/arts/music/michael-jackson-sexual-abuse-lawsuits.html |title=Sexual Abuse Suits Against Michael Jackson's Companies Are Revived |first1=Christopher |last1=Kuo |date=August 18, 2023 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). 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