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Michael Jackson defended against Leaving Neverland sex abuse claims in new Amazon Prime documentary
The counter documentary will play on Amazon Prime Video next month
THE bombshell documentary Leaving Neverland left Michael Jackson’s reputation in tatters.
But loyal fans of the late pop icon have retaliated with a counter documentary to be broadcast next month.
It picks holes in the stories of Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who claimed Jackson sexually abused them.
A TV source said: “The footage will question a lot of the accounts from Wade and James.
“Its makers claim some of their stories would have been impossible — mainly because there were so many people close to Michael and surely they would have witnessed such behaviour.”
Jackson’s ex-bodyguard Matt Fiddes has revealed he is among many defenders of Jackson, including the star’s pal Mark Lester and Jacko biographer Mike Smallcombe, to be interviewed for the new film.
Fiddes, who guarded Jackson for ten years, strongly refuted the abuse accusations. He said: “It was all about Neverland’s security — trying to get past security was physically impossible. A hundred people would’ve had to turn a blind eye.
“Plus you had nannies with us and cameras above the bedroom doors. My brother-in-law was the night-time bodyguard so he’d stand outside Michael’s bedroom door and of course we’d overhear things. If there were kids in the room and anything untoward was going on, we would hear it.”
A TV source said: “Amazon Prime Video is the highest on their list of companies they want to air it on. But they’re hoping it goes all round and it’s picked up everywhere.”
Leaving Neverland, shown on Channel 4 in March, led to some radio stations pulling Jacko’s music and even his friend Oprah Winfrey siding with his accusers.
But Barbra Streisand and Boy George spoke out in defence of the star.
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Emilia's Khaleesi on the eye
GAME Of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke looks a world away from Westeros as she arrives at the Jimmy Kimmel Live! studios in LA.
The actress, who plays Daenerys Targaryen – aka Mother of Dragons and Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea – admitted filming sex scenes with Kit Harrington in the hit series was difficult, because her brother works in the camera department.
She said: “There are some days when he’s like ‘Oh I’ll swing by’ and I’m like ‘No, it’s good! You can stay there’.”
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WHAT? The Graham Norton Show, BBC1, 10.35pm
WHY? Taron Egerton and Jamie Bell talk about Rocketman. Kylie Minogue, Suranne Jones and Keanu Reeves also join Graham.
BBC PLAN CROUCH TV SHOW
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PETER CROUCH’S telly presenting skills had better not be as robotic as his dance moves.
I can reveal the Burnley soccer ace is in talks with the BBC to front his own TV show, after the success of his Radio 5 Live podcast, which he presents alongside Tom Fordyce and Chris Stark.
Bosses are sifting through programme ideas and a telly insider said: “The podcast has been a huge hit, with listening figures through the roof.
“Peter’s really come into his own, with his effortless jokes and hilarious anecdotes.
“BBC bigwigs want him to front his own show, most likely with a fun football backdrop, with the same kind of fun and banter.”
It comes as Peter’s model wife Abby Clancy is just weeks away from giving birth to their fourth child.
The BBC might give him another baby to juggle then.
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LOVE Island 2017 winner Kem Cetinay appears to have forgotten how landing that £25,000 has changed his life. He said of the show: “I wouldn’t go in now. There’s too much hype around it. It’d stress me out. I’d bottle it last minute.”
Ben's mad for Andre
PETER ANDRE’s cheesy pop tunes are enough to send anyone bonkers.
But Ben Foden found a new soothing use for his most famous one on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
The rugby player sang one of Peter’s tracks to get him through the interrogation stage of the Channel 4 show.
He said: “I definitely know I sang Mysterious Girl at one point. I was delusional, I think I was going mad.
“Your head starts making things up. So at one point I started thinking I was in a cave and could actually see some trolls walking around. It was insane, I actually thought I was looking at trolls.”
I don’t know what’s worse – seeing trolls running around or subjecting yourself to Peter’s pop tunes.
Gord's head in the mixing bowl
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CHEF Gordon Ramsaty looks like he’s used his mixing bowl to shape this retro haircut. The foul-mouthed star recreated a geeky childhood photo for a US cookery show.
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MASTER storyteller Stephen Fry is off on a 19-date tour – his first in 40 years. He said: “I am shivering and quivering with excitement at the thought of a UK tour, taking astounding stories and characters from Greek myth.”
SOAPBOX
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HE may be about to get his free bus pass but Billy is partying like life begins at 60 at The Vic in EASTENDERS.
He gets steaming drunk after trouble with Honey, then stumbles on a piece of gossip that could change everything.
In the countryside, Sean calls an ambulance for Jean after she falls unconscious due to the nasty cut to her leg.
On CORONATION STREET, Gemma is still determined to keep Chesney in the dark about her pregnancy and vows to return to her old estate to live with her mum.
Paul begs her to stay and when Ches arrives, he interrupts with his own plea.
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