New child molestation claims against Michael Jackson
theGRIO REPORT - Wade Robson, celebrity choreographer and former friend of Michael Jackson, filed a claim against Jackson’s estate alleging that the pop star molested him for seven years...
In 2005, Robson first came into the spotlight for his relationship with Jackson when Blanca Francia, a former maid for the pop singer, told a Santa Barbara County Court she witnessed the two showering together around 1989 or 1990. Robson would have been around 8 years old at the time.
Francia said she saw Robson’s “underwear on the bathroom floor next to Jackson’s white cotton briefs,” and heard the two “playing around” in Jackson’s shower. She could not confirm whether or not touching was involved. Her son also professed to have been molested by Jackson.
During the trial, Robson took the stand and denied Francia’s allegations, admitting only that he’d shared a bed with Jackson on occasion.
Robson, an Australian, was the first witness for the defense at the trial according to Fox News. He testified that he’d known Jackson since he was five years old and had stayed at Neverland Ranch “over 20 times, sleeping in Jackson’s bedroom on all but three or four of those visits.”
Additionally, he said the two “played video games, watched movies, talked and sometimes had pillow fights.”
Tom Mesereau, Jackson’s attorney for the criminal proceedings, told CNN the new allegations were “absurd,” adding that Robson was “one of the strongest witnesses for the defense at Michael Jackson’s criminal trial in 2005. He was adamant under oath that he had never been molested at any time.”
Jackson was acquitted on all 14 charges in the 2005 case.
Strange bedfellows
The timing of Robson’s claims incidentally coincide with the beginning of the trial for Jackson’s wrongful death case, in which his mother and children are suing concert promoter AEG Live. Testimony with dancer Alif Sankey, who participated in the This Is It production, began Wednesday morning.
Mesereau calls it “suspicious” that Robson would come forward now, given AEG’s lawyers have reportedly warned they would be bringing up molestation charges to prove their case.
A background check on Robson
Robson has had a lengthy career as a choreographer and television personality. He created and hosted MTV’s The Wade Robson Project in 2003, a hip-hop dance talent search competition, and has choreographed numerous projects for film, stage and television, including the American Idols LIVE! Tour, MTV Video Music Awards, Criss Angel’s Cirque de Soleil show, and You Got Served.
Notably, Robson choreographed pieces for the second and third seasons of So You Think You Can Dance, garnering two Primetime Emmy Awards for his work.
Currently, he is the creative director for pop star Demi Lovato.
In the past, Robson has commended Jackson, telling Entertainment Tonight in 2009, the year of Jackson’s passing, that their relationship was admirable.
“I learned so much from him, as an artist and as a kind human being, and it’s my goal to just try and continue as much as I can in my own little world that legacy,” Robson remarked. “We talk so much about him as the pop legend, which is important, but it’s nice to remember that he was a man, that he was a father.”
Follow Courtney Garcia on Twitter at @CourtGarcia
