Is Michael Jackson in Neverland?
CAST your mind back to 2019 when the late Michael Jackson was the subject of the controversial documentary Leaving Neverland.
The two-part film - made by British filmmaker Dan Reed - centred around two people who accused the late King of Pop of sexual abuse.
Is Michael Jackson in Leaving Neverland documentary?
Leaving Neverland went into production back in 2017, long after Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009.
Therefore, he never knew about the documentary, or was able to be interviewed for it.
However, he does feature heavily through videos and photos taken during the time he was alive.
Past interviews he conducted are also used in the doc.
Read more on Leaving Neverland
Neverland Ranch, now renamed Sycamore Valley Ranch, is located 40 miles from Santa Barbara, California, and was owned by a joint venture between Jackson's estate and a fund managed by Colony Capital, a property investment trust.
But it sold for $22million to billionaire Ron Burkle in December 2020.
Jackson paid £14.6m for the Los Olivos property in 1987 and lived there for 15 years.
What is Leaving Neverland about?
The documentary's synopsis said that Michael Jackson, began long-running relationships with two boys, aged seven and ten, and their families at the height of his stardom.
It continued that the two boys, who were now adult men, alleged that he sexually abused them.
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The documentary caused huge shockwaves around the world and divided opinion on the late star.
Accusers Wade Robson and James Safechuck say they suffered abuse in Jacko's enormous California mansion he called Neverland.
Who is in the Leaving Neverland cast?
Wade Robson
Wade Robson - now 39 - is a choreographer known for his work with Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake.
In the documentary he claimed he was molested at the Neverland Ranch by Jackson when he was just seven.
Robson previously sued Jackson's estate for £1.2billion over the abuse but the lawsuit was dismissed when the judge ruled the estate of Jackson couldn't be held responsible for the allegations made by the dancer.
In court filings from 2013, Robson revealed how Jackson raped him from the age of seven before "losing interest" in him when he turned 14.
However, Robson denied he was abused in the King of Pop’s 2005 molestation trial.
James Safechuck
James Safechuck - now 44 - met Jackson when he was nine in 1987 while filming for his Pepsi commercial.
He appeared as a mini-me performer during Jackson’s Bad Tour.
Safechuck claims he was sexually abused by the King of Pop for years.
He alleges in the documentary Leaving Neverland that he “married” Jackson when he was 10 – complete with vows and a diamond ring.
In the documentary Safechuck claimed the mock wedding took place a year after he met Jackson on the set of a Pepsi ad.
Safechuck said: “So we were like this married couple.
“We did this in his bedroom and we filled out some vows like we would be bonded forever. It felt good. And the ring is nice.
“It has a row of diamonds. The wedding ring.”
Safechuck had originally defended Jackson and claimed he was never assaulted, but in 2014 he filed a lawsuit against his estate claiming therapy helped him realise he was sexually abused by the pop star.
Joy Robson - Wade's mum
Joy was working as a hairdresser when she entered her son Wade Robson into a dance contest sponsored by Jackson’s tour company - which he won and met the King of Pop.
She moved Wade and his sister Chantal from Brisbane, Australia, to Los Angeles and was able to get a permanent resident visa.
After she moved two of her three kids to the US, she split up her family and left her third child and husband Dennis behind.
When Jackson was in court for his 2005 child abuse case, Joy testified for him as a character witness, as her son had not yet told her the truth about the alleged abuse.
In the documentary Joy reveals how she took her son to see Jackson in LA where Wade, who was seven years old at the time, was allegedly allowed to sleep in the same bed as the singer during their stay with him, whilst his mum slept in another room.
At one point, Wade recounted how the Robsons left him at Neverland Ranch with Jackson for five days while they went camping in the Grand Canyon
It is then claimed by Wade that this is when the sexual abuse started.
Upon their return Jackson is alleged to have asked Joy: “Will you leave Little One [his nickname for Wade] with me for a year?”
Initially Joy declined, but she claimed that Jackson told her: “I always get what I want.”
She said she responded: “Not this time. I will share Wade with you, but I am not going to leave him with you.”
It was after this, with promises from Jackson that Wade would have a film career, that Joy uprooted her young family from Australia to move to LA.
Stephanie Safechuck - James's mum
Stephanie was working as a hairdresser at the time she was introduced to Jackson.
Her son James, aged nine, appeared in a 1993 Pepsi advert with Jackson, who then befriended him and Stephanie, and became “part of the family”.
In Leaving Neverland she described her relationship with Jackson as “one of my children – another son”.
Stephanie revealed how the family were treated to lavish trips across the world as James took part in Jackson’s world tour.
At first she said that she wouldn't allow James to sleep in the same room as Jackson.
But when they went on tour with him she allowed it after being told that she would be given a "better suite" that would be more suited to her.
But as James' parents’ hotel rooms moved further away from Jackson, this is where his alleged abuse began.
How can I watch Leaving Neverland?
The controversial documentary Leaving Neverland is available to watch on All 4 right now.
The two-parter originally aired on March 7 and 8, 2019.
You can also watch Leaving Neverland on Netflix.
