Post by Admin on Jan 10, 2019 19:05:37 GMT -4
Michael Jackson's estate slams upcoming 'Leaving Neverland' documentary about his accusers
The estate of Michael Jackson is denouncing a documentary about two of his sexual-abuse accusers that will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival later this month, calling it "just another rehash of dated and discredited allegations."
In a statement Wednesday, Jackson's estate said that the documentary, "Leaving Neverland," ''is yet another lurid production in an outrageous and pathetic attempt to exploit and cash in on Michael Jackson."
The Sundance Institute announced earlier Wednesday that the documentary had been added to the festival's 2019 lineup Wednesday, in addition to a documentary about Steve Bannon called "The Brink."
HBO announced Thursday that "Leaving Neverland" will premiere on the cable network this spring.
The film tells the story of two men now in their 30s who had long-running relationships with Jackson at ages 7 and 10 when Jackson was at the height of his fame. The names of the Jackson accusers profiled in the documentary were not released.
Jackson was acquitted of molestation charges in a 2005 trial.
An after-hours email to a representative seeking comment from the film's director, Dan Reed, wasn't immediately returned.
The documentary comes on the heels of Lifetime's "Surviving R. Kelly" docu-series, which details disturbing allegations of sexual abuse against the 52-year-old R&B singer.
The Sundance Film Festival kicks off on Jan 24 and runs through Feb. 4.
The estate of Michael Jackson is denouncing a documentary about two of his sexual-abuse accusers that will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival later this month, calling it "just another rehash of dated and discredited allegations."
In a statement Wednesday, Jackson's estate said that the documentary, "Leaving Neverland," ''is yet another lurid production in an outrageous and pathetic attempt to exploit and cash in on Michael Jackson."
The Sundance Institute announced earlier Wednesday that the documentary had been added to the festival's 2019 lineup Wednesday, in addition to a documentary about Steve Bannon called "The Brink."
HBO announced Thursday that "Leaving Neverland" will premiere on the cable network this spring.
The film tells the story of two men now in their 30s who had long-running relationships with Jackson at ages 7 and 10 when Jackson was at the height of his fame. The names of the Jackson accusers profiled in the documentary were not released.
Jackson was acquitted of molestation charges in a 2005 trial.
An after-hours email to a representative seeking comment from the film's director, Dan Reed, wasn't immediately returned.
The documentary comes on the heels of Lifetime's "Surviving R. Kelly" docu-series, which details disturbing allegations of sexual abuse against the 52-year-old R&B singer.
The Sundance Film Festival kicks off on Jan 24 and runs through Feb. 4.
