This is by far the most compelling documentary on allegations of Michael Jackson's sexual abuse. Make no mistake, it is entirely focused on exposing Jackson in what critics will claim as being a one-sided presentation without any interviews of Jackson's family members or other children who stayed at Neverland. The video's length of 4 hours, which some argue is too long, was in my opinion necessary to present enough detailed information to build the credibility of the two witnesses, Wade Robson and Jimmy Safechuck. If you've never heard of Michael Jackson and watched this video with no bias, I am convinced that you will find the testimony very believable.
While I am no fan of Michael Jackson, I did find some of his music and videos entertaining and would certainly never deny Jackson was talented. But like most people who grow up with influences by superstars like Jackson, we tend to become intoxicated with their fame and bigger than life persona - to such a degree that we cannot possibly come to grips that allegations of sexual abuse by these people is even possible, because by doing so, we essentially admit we were gullible enough to swallow the public narrative with hook, line and sinker. And yet we want to consider ourselves intelligent, reasonable and not influenced by emotional forces that we very much align with, even if we cannot admit that there is a very real possibility that we are wrong.
What makes Leaving Neverland compelling is that it touches on the side of human nature that you will almost never see in a courtroom. If you've ever wondered why these two witnesses gave a different testimony in court when Jackson was charged, this film goes into a lot of depth to explain why that happened. The details are so graphic, that it cannot be recommended for children.
What makes the testimony of Robson and Safechuck very believable is that they were willing to lose something of significant value by coming forward, and that was their relationships with their mothers. Long before this film was even made, they both went through a long and devastating psychological turmoil of coming to grips with the abuse that happened by Jackson. It was only after Jackson died were they able to find the freedom to confront their family about it. The impact this had on their relationships with their mothers was overwhelming. Robson's own sister feared that their mother would commit suicide. Both these mothers had to face the fact that they were oblivious with the abuse because they could not believe that it was possible, in spite of the fact that any normal human being would be very appalled to learn that their son was sleeping in the same bed as a strange man. If anything, this really drives the point home that we are easily blinded by someone's fame. It should be noted that even at the end of the film, there isn't a real reconciliation between the two witnesses and their mothers. These women have to now live with the fact that they failed their children. But I will give them credit for being candid and willing to go on camera for the record.
Jackson was a pedophile and went to his grave with a glorious funeral memorial broadcast to billions around the world. It's how he would have wanted to be remembered. But at the end of the film, Dobson showed us how he remembered Jackson and how we all should. Jackson told him one day as a child to take any jacket out of his closet and could keep it as a gift. Robson took the famous red jacket that Jackson wore in the Thriller video. But at the end of the film, he took it, along with all the other memorabilia and burnt it. That is how we should remember Jackson. Not as a talented superstar, but as a pedophile who caused a lifetime amount of harm to countless children. His name should be obliterated. To Robson and Safechuck, I commend them for being brave to come forward even after all these years. It's never too late. They will no doubt inspire many others to do the same. If anything, this film and the testimony of Robson and Safechuck should inspire anyone who has experienced abuse, whether that be sexual, physical or psychological.
While I am no fan of Michael Jackson, I did find some of his music and videos entertaining and would certainly never deny Jackson was talented. But like most people who grow up with influences by superstars like Jackson, we tend to become intoxicated with their fame and bigger than life persona - to such a degree that we cannot possibly come to grips that allegations of sexual abuse by these people is even possible, because by doing so, we essentially admit we were gullible enough to swallow the public narrative with hook, line and sinker. And yet we want to consider ourselves intelligent, reasonable and not influenced by emotional forces that we very much align with, even if we cannot admit that there is a very real possibility that we are wrong.
What makes Leaving Neverland compelling is that it touches on the side of human nature that you will almost never see in a courtroom. If you've ever wondered why these two witnesses gave a different testimony in court when Jackson was charged, this film goes into a lot of depth to explain why that happened. The details are so graphic, that it cannot be recommended for children.
What makes the testimony of Robson and Safechuck very believable is that they were willing to lose something of significant value by coming forward, and that was their relationships with their mothers. Long before this film was even made, they both went through a long and devastating psychological turmoil of coming to grips with the abuse that happened by Jackson. It was only after Jackson died were they able to find the freedom to confront their family about it. The impact this had on their relationships with their mothers was overwhelming. Robson's own sister feared that their mother would commit suicide. Both these mothers had to face the fact that they were oblivious with the abuse because they could not believe that it was possible, in spite of the fact that any normal human being would be very appalled to learn that their son was sleeping in the same bed as a strange man. If anything, this really drives the point home that we are easily blinded by someone's fame. It should be noted that even at the end of the film, there isn't a real reconciliation between the two witnesses and their mothers. These women have to now live with the fact that they failed their children. But I will give them credit for being candid and willing to go on camera for the record.
Jackson was a pedophile and went to his grave with a glorious funeral memorial broadcast to billions around the world. It's how he would have wanted to be remembered. But at the end of the film, Dobson showed us how he remembered Jackson and how we all should. Jackson told him one day as a child to take any jacket out of his closet and could keep it as a gift. Robson took the famous red jacket that Jackson wore in the Thriller video. But at the end of the film, he took it, along with all the other memorabilia and burnt it. That is how we should remember Jackson. Not as a talented superstar, but as a pedophile who caused a lifetime amount of harm to countless children. His name should be obliterated. To Robson and Safechuck, I commend them for being brave to come forward even after all these years. It's never too late. They will no doubt inspire many others to do the same. If anything, this film and the testimony of Robson and Safechuck should inspire anyone who has experienced abuse, whether that be sexual, physical or psychological.