Michael Jackson’s family releases documentary on YouTube

Michael Jackson’s family has maintained the star’s innocence ever since the HBO documentary, Leaving Neverland, aired in February where two men accused the singer of childhood sexual abuse. Now, Jackson’s family is fighting back by releasing their own documentary, Neverland Firsthand, which gives their account of what transpired at the ranch.

Dawn Onley

Apr 8, 2019

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Michael Jackson’s family has maintained the star’s innocence ever since the HBO documentary, Leaving Neverland, aired in February where two men accused the singer of childhood sexual abuse. Now, Jackson’s family is fighting back by releasing their own documentary, Neverland Firsthand, which gives their account of what transpired at the ranch.

Neverland Firsthand, which was directed by Eli Pedraza and posted on YouTube over the weekend, includes interviews with Jackson’s nephew, Taj Jackson, niece, Brandi Jackson, and Brad Sundberg, who worked as a technical director for the singer and also worked at Neverland Ranch, according to Vanity Fair.

“Not in a million years did I ever see a child around Michael Jackson that looked like they had been distressed, hurt, abused,” Sundberg said in the 30-minute film, responding to an interview question by producer Liam McEwan. “[Neverland] was such a peaceful, safe, fun place.”

Jackson’s family’s documentary seeks to present their side to shocking allegations made in two-part HBO documentary against the late singer. Wade Robson and James Safechuck accused Jackson of sexually abusing them when they were children. Robson and Safechuck never made allegations against Jackson while he was alive, although other men did. Jackson was acquitted of sexual abuse charges after a 2005 trial.

In Neverland Firsthand, Brandi Jackson addresses specific allegations made by Robson, whom she claims to have dated for more than seven years. “He has always been a bit of an opportunist,” Brandi said, alleging Robson is after the money, according to Vanity Fair. “He knows how to position himself into different situations that will benefit him in a financial way.”

And Taj says his uncle’s only crime was being too nice and that he is the true victim here. “When you have a certain niceness, people take advantage of it,” Taj said in the documentary.

Previously, in an interview with Billboard, Vince William Finaldi, who represents Robson, said that Brandi “was not with Wade and Michael Jackson when the sexual abuse occurred, and as such, she has nothing relevant to say about the topic.”

Jackson’s estate has filed a $100 million lawsuit against HBO. Robson and Safechuck are both appealing lawsuits against Jackson’s estate that were dismissed in 2017.