In 2019, the documentary Leaving Neverland gave voice and spotlight to Wade Robson and James Safechuck, two individuals who claimed to have been victims of sexual abuse by Michael Jackson when they were prepubescent. Against the singer, who passed away 15 years ago, there is little that can be done. For this reason, both have now sued the companies owned by the Thriller performer, which are part of his $3 billion inheritance managed today by individuals who were once in his trust.
The accusers claim that these top executives were witnesses to these alleged sexual abuses but remained silent. This is also reiterated in the second part of the documentary, Leaving Neverland 2, recently released. They reveal that they will go to trial in 2026.
Leading this case is Wade Robson, a 42-year-old Australian dancer and choreographer who became close to Jackson at the age of five. It was the 90s, and the singer's strange closeness to minors was already well-known. However, in 2005, he defended the singer when he was sued by Gavin Arvizo's family, a boy who lived with the singer when he was 13. They accused him of molestation, and Robson stood up for his idol in court. He admitted they had slept together but denied any misconduct.
He completely changed his story in 2013, over four years after Jackson's death. He then claimed he had been touched and penetrated twice: once at seven and again at 14. "Michael is dead. There's nothing that can be done about him or his actions now, but he had a big corporation around him that allowed him to abuse children," he now asserts.
James Safechuck, now 47, also recounts abuse episodes that began when he was chosen to star in a Pepsi commercial with Jackson. It was the 80s, he was 10, and he says the abuse continued until he became an adolescent. Allegedly, Jackson lost interest at that point.