As the controversial Michael Jackson biopic Michael hits theaters, the director of the explosive documentary Leaving Neverland is speaking out, accusing the public of willfully ignoring the pop star's alleged history of child sexual abuse. Dan Reed, whose 2019 HBO film profiled two men who claimed Jackson abused them as children, didn't hold back in a new interview, comparing Jackson unfavorably to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“A lot of people will swallow any misgivings and completely ignore the fact that this guy was worse than Jeffrey Epstein,” Reed said, arguing that fans are willing to separate the allegations from their love of Jackson’s music. “His work is part of the soundtrack of people’s lives. They’re convinced that he was this pure, godlike figure, a sort of transcendent, childlike genius who had no sexual identity and was somehow very pure, and they identify with that.”
Reed’s comments come in response to recent remarks by Michael director Antoine Fuqua, who in a New Yorker profile suggested that the accusers might be motivated by money. Reed fired back, calling Fuqua’s accusation of “gold digging” ironic. “For Antoine Fuqua to accuse people of gold digging is kind of ironic. It seems to me all the people involved in this movie are just making bank,” Reed said. He also pointed out that the two accusers featured in Leaving Neverland “have never made a cent from their accusations.”
The biopic, which stars Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson in the lead role, has been panned by critics and currently holds a dismal 37% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite the negative reviews, the film is projected to earn $150 million worldwide in its opening weekend, thanks in part to a massive $200 million production budget. The movie notably omits any reference to the abuse allegations, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from Reed and others. Colman Domingo and Miles Teller also star in the film.
Reed’s documentary Leaving Neverland was removed from HBO Max after Jackson’s estate invoked a non-disparagement clause from 1992. “HBO has a license only until 2029. So after that, I can resell it and make it available again,” Reed explained. The filmmaker, who also directed the Peabody Award-winning The Truth vs. Alex Jones, accused the Jackson estate of intimidating anyone who challenges the singer’s carefully crafted public image.
“Jackson was genuinely a very nasty man and hurt a lot of children,” Reed concluded. “And he may have been a great entertainer, but those two things don’t cancel each other out.” The debate over Jackson’s legacy shows no signs of fading, as the biopic’s box office success clashes with the ongoing scrutiny of his past. For more on the controversy, check out our coverage of the biopic's critical reception and Jaafar Jackson's performance.
