The new musical film about Michael Jackson has been smashing box-office records across the globe.
Telling the story of his life and career from the 1960s to the late 1980s, it is introducing a new generation of fans to the King of Pop.
But ‘Michael’ has also been criticised for sanitising the superstar’s life and making no mention of the child sexual abuse accusations that dogged his career.
Jackson was accused of molesting several young boys, but never convicted of any sexual offences against children.
He settled out of court with one young accuser, while jurors cleared him of molestation charges relating to another boy.
Jackson, who found fame as part of The Jackson Five, vehemently denied any wrongdoing up until his death in June 2009.
Several alleged victims later came forward claiming he had molested them when they were youngsters.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck told the 2019 ‘Leaving Neverland’ documentary they were abused at his Neverland Ranch.
Jackson’s family and supporters dismissed the allegations, saying the pair were lying.
But as one of the only journalists to ever be invited inside Neverland ranch, I believe they were telling the truth.
I can reveal for the first time the chilling throwaway remark from a Jackson employee which made me convinced he was a predatory paedophile.
Back in 2004 I was working for a press agency in Los Angeles and was tasked with covering Jackson’s upcoming child molestation trial.
A young boy, Gavin Arvizo, had told detectives a year earlier that he had been abused by the singer at Neverland.
Police carried out a dramatic raid on the ranch in November of that year and charged Jackson with seven counts of child molestation the following month.
His first court appearance in Santa Maria, 160 miles north of Los Angeles, in January 2004 predictably turned into a media circus.
Journalists from across the world descended on the small town, as did thousands of delirious ‘Jacko’ fans.
Jackson, accompanied by Nation of Islam bodyguards, arrived late for the Friday morning hearing and was scolded by the judge.
Meanwhile outside the courtroom, his minders were quietly handing out invites to an afternoon party at Neverland.
The A5-sized posters read: ‘In the spirit of love and togetherness, Michael Jackson would like to invite his fans and supporters to his Neverland Ranch.’
A photographer colleague managed to bag two of the invites before Jackson emerged from court, climbed onto the roof of his SUV and blew kisses to his fans.
I jumped into my car and followed the Jackson convoy as it sped towards Neverland, followed by TV helicopter crews.
