Dan Reed is reigniting controversy around Michael Jackson, and he’s not holding back. The filmmaker behind the 2019 documentary “Leaving Neverland” is making headlines after comparing the late singer to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a blistering new interview, while also taking aim at the upcoming Jackson biopic.
‘Leaving Neverland’ Director Slams Michael Jackson Biopic
Reed didn’t mince words when discussing the new film “Michael,” criticizing it for failing to address the long-standing accusations against the pop icon. “How can you tell an authentic story about Michael Jackson without ever mentioning the fact that he was seriously accused of being a child molester?” Reed told The Hollywood Reporter.
The director’s original documentary centered on interviews with Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who both alleged they were abused by Jackson as children, claims that have remained a major point of public debate.
Accusers Detail Allegations As Legal Battles Continue Against Jackson’s Estate
Once one of Jackson’s most vocal supporters, even taking the stand in his defense during the 2005 trial, Robson later filed a lawsuit against the estate in 2013, a case that has since gone through multiple dismissals and appeals. “Every time I was with him, every time I stayed the night with him, he abused me,” he said in the documentary, adding that he had fondled him, “touching my entire body,” and claimed he was forced to watch the singer performing a sex act.
Meanwhile, James Safechuck, who first met Jackson while filming a Pepsi commercial, has alleged extensive grooming, describing the relationship as initially feeling “loving” before later recognizing it as manipulative. He recalled being “thrilled” to be around Jackson at the time, a reaction he has since said is common in grooming situations, as his legal claims against Jackson’s companies are now set to go before a jury in November 2026.
Reed Doubles Down On His Beliefs About Jackson
Despite Jackson never being convicted of abuse or molestation, Reed made it clear he stands firmly behind the claims presented in his film. “I think Jackson was genuinely a very nasty man and hurt a lot of children,” Reed said, claiming that the singer was “worse than Jeffrey Epstein.”
“And he may have been a great entertainer, but those two things don’t cancel each other out,” he added. “The fact is that pedophiles exist, and he was one of them, and he made those choices. Many other people who’ve been abused as a child did not choose to abuse others.”
Director Reveals Legal Battle That Got ‘Leaving Neverland’ Pulled From HBO
Reed also shed light on why “Leaving Neverland” was pulled from HBO in 2024, pointing to a legal battle with Jackson’s estate. “The Michael Jackson estate had a contract, which Jackson had signed with HBO, for a concert recording in Budapest in 1992. The contract contained a non-disparagement clause,” Reed explained.
“The estate argued that the non-disparagement clause, which says, ‘You can’t say anything nasty about Michael,’ applied forever to everything that HBO would ever do, which is patently ridiculous,” he continued. “Somehow the estate managed to persuade HBO to come to an amicable settlement. And that involved, after six years on the platform, taking ‘Leaving Neverland’ down.”
‘Leaving Neverland’ Could Return As Director Plans Sequel And Rights Reclaim
While the film is currently unavailable, Reed revealed he expects to regain the rights in 2029 and plans to make it accessible to audiences again.
He’s also continuing the story, working on a follow-up project centered on Robson and Safechuck, who are pursuing a reported $400 million claim against Jackson’s estate. A sequel, “Leaving Neverland 2: Surviving Michael Jackson,” has already been released on YouTube.
Michael Jackson Estate Denies Allegations As Biopic Faces Backlash Over Omission
Jackson was never convicted of a crime, and his estate has consistently denied all allegations, previously filing a $100 million lawsuit against HBO and calling the documentary “a one-sided marathon of unvetted propaganda to shamelessly exploit an innocent man no longer here to defend himself.”
Meanwhile, the new biopic, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson, is already facing backlash, with critics calling out its decision to sidestep the allegations, keeping the conversation around Jackson’s legacy as polarizing as ever.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual abuse, help is available. In the US, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE or visit RAINN’s website.