Michael Jackson: Chase the Truth, a documentary challenging the allegations of Leaving Neverland and asserting omissions and inconsistencies in that account, was released in August on Amazon Prime Video. Some dismissed the film as one-sided and questioned its veracity the Jackson estate condemned it as a "tabloid character assassination", while Jackson's fans organized protests. Leaving Neverland triggered a media backlash against Jackson and a reassessment of his legacy. It received acclaim from critics, winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, but mixed reviews from viewers. Following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2019, it was broadcast in two parts on HBO and as a shortened version on Channel 4 in March 2019.
The film is a co-production between the UK broadcaster Channel 4 and the US broadcaster HBO. It focuses on two men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who allege they were sexually abused as children by the American singer Michael Jackson. Now that Michael is no longer here to defend himself, Robson, Safechuck and their lawyers continue their efforts to achieve notoriety and a payday by smearing him with the same allegations a jury found him innocent of when he was alive.Leaving Neverland is a 2019 documentary film directed and produced by British filmmaker Dan Reed. Because despite all the disingenuous denials made that this is not about money, it has always been about money – millions of dollars - dating back to 2013 when both Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who share the same law firm, launched their unsuccessful claims against Michael’s Estate. This film, however, does those victims a disservice.
'We are extremely sympathetic to any legitimate victim of child abuse. Conveniently left out of Leaving Neverland was the fact that when Robson was denied a role in a Michael Jackson themed Cirque du Soleil production, his assault allegations suddenly emerged. His family benefitted from Michael’s kindness, generosity and career support up until Michael’s death. 'For 20 years, Wade Robson denied in court and in numerous interviews, including after Michael passed, that he was a victim and stated he was grateful for everything Michael had done for him. By choosing not to include any of these independent voices who might challenge the narrative that he was determined to sell, the director neglected fact checking so he could craft a narrative so blatantly one-sided that viewers never get anything close to a balanced portrait. In doing so, he intentionally avoided interviewing numerous people over the years who spent significant time with Michael Jackson and have unambiguously stated that he treated children with respect and did nothing hurtful to them.
'Tellingly, the director admitted at the Sundance Film Festival that he limited his interviews only to these accusers and their families. They have provided no independent evidence and absolutely no proof in support of their accusations, which means the entire film hinges solely on the word of two perjurers. The two accusers testified under oath that these events never occurred. The film takes uncorroborated allegations that supposedly happened 20 years ago and treats them as fact. These claims were the basis of lawsuits filed by these two admitted liars which were ultimately dismissed by a judge. 'Leaving Neverland isn’t a documentary, it is the kind of tabloid character assassination Michael Jackson endured in life, and now in death.