Panorama: MICHAEL JACKSON (IN ENGLISH:
http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sqprsl ) - original article here -
https://www.panorama.it/musica/michael-jackson-la-verita-dubbi-sul-documentario-leaving-neverland/
Michael Jackson: i dubbi sul documentario "Leaving Neverland"
Gabriele Antonucci - January 26, 2019
Almost ten years after his death on 25 June 2009 due to an overdose of Propofol administered by his curative doctor Conrad Murray (then sentenced to four years in prison), there continues to be no peace for Michael Jackson , from many considered the greatest performer ever.
On January 25, at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City (Utah), a documentary focusing on the alleged sexual abuse that Michael Jackson perpetrated against two children aged 7 and 10, now in their thirties, was shown: Wade Robson and James Safechuck .
Entitled Leaving Neverland, the 233 minute documentary was directed by Dan Reed, a director who had previously been involved in this issue with the docu-film "The Pedophile Hunters" ("The Hunters of Pedophiles").
Some of the singer's fans protested in front of the Egypianian Theater in Park City, showing placards with the words "Innocente" and "Seek the Truth".
The documentary will be broadcast in the spring, in two episodes, on Channel 4, on British TV, and on HBO pay TV in the US.
Considering that on June 25, 2019 will occur 10 years after the death of the King of Pop, Leaving Neverland , starting from the suspect timing and the names of the two protagonists, appears as yet another opportunity to throw mud at a dead person who, as such, he can not reply to these terrible accusations.
The documentary, ignoring the "artistic" aspect, from a cinematographic point of view (as well as ethical) leaves really perplexed: interview only the two protagonists and their close relatives, with close-ups, pragmatic tears and musichette of atmosphere, not offers that plurality of voices and that deepening that are essential elements for every documentary worthy of the name.
Moreover, in the face of very serious accusations, it seems incredible that the director did not take the trouble to listen to or report the facts of one of the legal representatives or the foundation that takes care of Jackson's interests : the right to defense, in case of criminally relevant accusations, is constitutionally guaranteed in every western state, in the US as in Italy.
From the feature film, of a paroxysmal duration (4 hours!), No concrete evidence emerged, which gives credibility to the testimonies, but only one frayed cuts and sews images and declarations whose sole objective is to discredit Michael Jackson.
In short, Leaving Neverland , more than a documentary, seems a perfect example of "mockumentary" , a particular cinematographic genre that simulates the style and the documentary process, concealing the construction of a fiction, between the scandal and the fantastic.
Marcos Cabotà, a director present at the first, slammed Leaving Neverland , giving 1 to 10 as a vow: "After witnessing the first, it is clear that this is a mockumentary (fictional documentary) instead of a documentary. I can not believe just one word from the two "victims." Poor acting, sometimes shameful, the direction and the lyrics are even worse 1/10 ".
The nephew Taj Jackson , a member of the 3T, has promoted a crowdfunding campaign to create a film-truth in response to that of Dan Reed , to defend the reputation of his uncle. We need at least 777,000 dollars (about 681,000 euros): at the moment the donations amount to 30,000 dollars.
The sons and brothers of the King of Pop, for now, have not made any statements about it.
After the premiere at the Sundance Festival, it was not long before the Jackson Summer hit, which denounced the claims against the singer and the documentary as a whole.
"Leaving Neverland" is not a documentary, it's a kind of murder of the tabloid character that Michael Jackson endured in life, and now in death. The film deals with unproven claims for things supposedly happened 20 years ago and treats them as fact. These statements were the basis of complaints filed by these two liars, who were finally rejected by a judge. The two accusers had (previously) testified under oath that these events never occurred. (In the film) they did not provide any obvious evidence and absolutely no evidence to support their accusations, which means that the entire film is based solely on the word of two perjuries.
It is significant that the director admitted to the Sundance Film Festival that he limited his interviews only to these accusers and their families . In doing so, he intentionally avoided interviewing numerous people who, over the years, have spent significant time with Michael Jackson and have unequivocally stated that he has always treated children with respect and has done nothing wrong with them. Choosing not to include any of these independent voices that could challenge the narrative that was determined to sell, the director neglected to do the verification of the facts thus creating a narration so obviously one-sided that the audience will never have anything close to a balanced portrait .
For 20 years, Wade Robson denied in court and in numerous interviews, even after Michael's death, that he was a victim and said he was grateful for all that Michael had done for him. His family benefited from Michael's kindness, generosity, and support for his career until Michael's death. Regardless of "Leaving Neverland", consider the fact that when Robson was denied a role in a production of Cirque du soleil-themed Michael Jackson, his harassment accusations suddenly emerged.
We are extremely supportive of any effective victim of child abuse. This film, however, makes a disservice to those victims. Because despite all the false denials that this is not about money, there has always been talk of money - millions of dollars - dating back to 2013 when both Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who share the same law firm, have unsuccessfully launched their statements against Michael's Summer.
Now that Michael is no longer here to defend himself, Robson, Safechuck and their lawyers continue their efforts to gain fame and get paid by covering them with the same charges a jury found him innocent when he was alive " (The Summer of Michael Jackson)
But let's take a closer look at who the protagonists of the documentary are.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck were two children attending Neverland, the home of Michael Jackson from 1988 to 2005 , in Santa Barbara County, California, about 150 miles from Los Angeles.
Neverland
The property consisted of 22 structures and a land of almost 1,300 hectares containing a villa with 6 bedrooms and 30 medical beds where children with serious illnesses could receive treatment and see films on the big screen, a zoo, a playground , a train station, a swimming pool, a tennis court and a basketball court, a 50-seat movie theater and two artificial lakes.
Neverland was not the sordid frame where its forbidden meetings took place, as many media have suggested, but a place that for a short period welcomed seriously ill children (even terminals) and their families, giving them moments of joy and fun .
Neverland was always full of people, so you do not really understand how the singer could have committed abuse with dozens of eyes constantly focused on him, including those of the parents of the guests.
Actor Macaulay Culkin spoke recently about his relationship with Michael Jackson during Michael Rosenbaum's "Inside of You" podcast: "In the end, it's pretty easy to say that [our report] was weird or otherwise, but it was not because it made sense. In summary, we were friends. I know that for anyone else it may seem like something, but for me it was just a normal friendship. The charges against Michael are absolutely ridiculous ".
Alfonso Ribeiro, famous worldwide for the role of Carlton Banks in the sit-com "Willy, Prince of Bel-Air", said: "I do not care what people say, I will never believe that Michael did that which they accused him. I was a child of 12, 13, 14 years too. I met Michael, I went out with him and never anything like this happened. Nothing controversial has ever happened . I simply do not believe it . "
Thesis confirmed by sound engineer Rob Hoffman, one who Michael knew him closely: " I spent almost 3 years working with him, and I never questioned his morals, I never believed in any of the allegations that were made to him And at that time I was not even a fan of his, I saw him interacting with his brothers' children, the children of the others and, at some point, even with the children of my girlfriend, I spent a whole day at Neverland. Michael is a truly incredible human being, always looking for a way to improve the lives of all children Every weekend at Neverland, different groups of children were hosted - children with AIDS, children with cancer, etc. And most of the time Michael was not there either . "
Same opinion as Bill Whitfield, Jackson's b odyguard from 2006 to 2009: "When you spend 3 years with someone as a personal bodyguard, they trust and depend on you. You can see their true character, their soul and their heart. Mr. Jackson I knew I knew he could never do or think such a thing would never have abused or harmed a child. He was not like that. He was a good boy and not because I think so but because I know. "
Curious as hundreds of children have attended Neverland, but only four have accused of abuse Michael Jackson: Jordan Chandler, Gavin Arvizo, Wade Robson and James Safechuck.
And that only they have brought millionaire lawsuits, often many years later.
Who is the accuser Wade Robson
The dancer and coregraph Wade Robson, who previously worked with Britney Spears and appeared in the So You Think You Can Dance on Fox series, was called to testify in 2005 in the Arvizo trial, then firmly denying that Jackson had ever bothered him. stating under oath that "never anything inappropriate had happened with Mr. Jackson".
Thomas Mesereau, the brilliant lawyer who defended Michael Jackson, chose Wade Robson as the first witness for Jackson's defense, who now claims to have been molested by MJ when he was a child.
In 2005, Robson - as stated by Mesereau - was "adamant" about the fact that Jackson had never done anything wrong with him.
Robson's mother and sister also said the same things.
The Robsons flew from Australia for the trial. They remained at Neverland, and Mesereau interrogated them repeatedly.
Mesereau, after the premiere of Leaving Neverland , said: " I found Wade eloquent and likeable. He strenuously defends Michael. His mother and sister supported him with their statements . On the witness stand, Wade was referred to a fierce public prosecutor. I am shocked that he has taken a position that is so different from what he told me and that he testified in court. "
When the singer died on June 25, 2009, Robson wrote on the social media: " Michael Jackson has changed the world and, more personally, my life forever, which is why I dance, the reason I play music and one of the main reasons why I believe in the pure goodness of mankind.It has been a close friend of mine for 20 years.Your music, his movement, his personal words of encouragement and inspiration and his unconditional love will live forever in I will miss him immensely, but I know that now he is at peace and enchants the sky with a melody and a Moonwalk ".
Michael Jackson's Summer trusted him and involved him in 2012 in working on the Cirque du soleil show dedicated to Michael, the lucky Immortal , but later fired him, dissatisfied with his work.
In 2013, Robson, four years after the death of the King of Pop, claimed abruptly that he had been molested when he was a child by Michael Jackson and filed two millionaire lawsuits for compensation for moral damages against the singer's Summer for alleged abuse.
In 2017 two different boards of judges rejected the charges brought against lack of evidence.
According to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff, in addition to the absence of the fact, the reason for the rejection of the accusations by the judge is that Robson has waited too many years to file a complaint against Jackson, even May 2013, almost 4 years after his death.
Truly singular that, with these precedents well known to the press, the Sundance film festival, directed by the expert Robert Redford, has agreed to project a documentary that seems very untrustworthy, even in the monstre duration of almost four hours, in a search too much evident of morbidity at all costs.
The truth about Jackson's relationship with children
But let's take a step back in time to 1993, to better understand how the urban legend was born of the supposed pedophilia of the artist, a bad story that has been self-perpetuated in time of poisons, suspects and falsehoods, to actually destroy its reputation and, consequently, his career.
Jackson was first accused in 1993, at the height of his success, by a 13-year-old Jordan Chandler.
Then the wiretaps immediately revealed that the boy's father, a former dentist who had been unlawed for illegal practices, had planned everything to take revenge on the singer, who had refused to finance him a film project. The man, who committed suicide in 2010, probably driven by guilt, even managed to give his son Amobarbital, a barbiturate with hypnotic properties, to make him "confess" before the judges.
The matter was resolved by an out-of-court agreement with the family, which Jackson will later regret, by paying a check for $ 22 million to quickly close the question on pressure from his record company, which did not want repercussions on the tour in Jackson's course.
The artist's lawyer, Tom Meserau, confided: "It's true that for him it was small change, but it was a very serious mistake, he created a precedent and someone must have thought, why work if you can extort money from Jackson? Michael was badly advised by his staff, whose only concern was to lose money, maybe be forced to cancel the shows because of the trial. "
The Garvin Arvizo process
Even more infamous were the accusations addressed years later by Gavin Arvizo, a 13-year-old who Jackson had helped to recover from cancer. Arvizo accused the King of Pop of sexual abuse on the wave of the media echo created by the television special Living with Michael Jackson by British journalist Martin Bashir, aired on 3 February.
A perfect example of bad journalism, in which, with a clever cut and sew of images and clips of interviews, was put in a bad light the former child prodigy of the Jackson Five.
The trial began January 31, 2005 and ended June 13 of the same year, when the jury issued a unanimous verdict of "not guilty" for all fourteen charges. The news of Jackson's acquittal was given by the media in a fleeting way, for them he has always been guilty and, as recent events show, he still is guilty.
Michael Jackson, who expressed all his anger at the fanciful journalistic reconstructions of his private life in the corrosive Tabloid Junkie , said: "The technique that the newspapers use is very simple: if you keep telling an absurd lie, the reader, at some point, he will begin to think that it is true " .
Journalist Aphrodite Jones followed the trial on behalf of Fox. She also considered the King of Pop guilty, but later changed her mind and wrote a book in 2007, from the unmistakable title The Plot . "When in that hall - reveals the journalist - the judge pronounced 14 times not guilty, I looked Jackson in the face and I realized that his expression was that of a grateful man, satisfied that justice had been done, because he was not guilty . There I changed my mind ".
The singer, although relieved of those terrible accusations, came out of him psychologically and artistically. Her physique did not sustain an overdose of Propofol, the substance that, incautiously administered by her attending physician Conrad Murray (convicted of culpable homicide), killed her on June 25, 2009.
The artistic legacy of the King of Pop
Today, almost 10 years after the tragic event, there is practically no contemporary r & b artist, from Pharrell Williams to Robin Thicke, from Bruno Mars to Justin Timberlake , who is not openly inspired by Michael Jackson's visionary and borderless pop.
His steps are taught in modern dance schools, his albums , both repertoire and posthumously, still sell thousands of copies and every year the number of his fans grows exponentially.
Everyone knows that belongs to him the best-selling album in history, the Thriller masterpiece, with a hundred million copies (although some claim that they are actually 66 million, however, the record does not change), a number that continues to grow in the year in the year.
A lesser-known but more important record is the Guinness record of the most philanthropic primates in show business, with nearly four hundred million dollars donated to charity and philanthropy , particularly hospitals and orphanages.
We hope that on the next 25th of June, the tenth anniversary of the singer's death, it will be a day in which Jackson's artistic genius will be celebrated all over the world, without sterile polemics on accusations that have already been largely denied during a trial.
