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Michael Jackson Estate Bashes HBO Over 'Leaving Neverland' Documentary

Home / The Law / Michael Jackson Estate Bashes HBO Over 'Leaving Neverland' Documentary

By TheBlast Staff on February 8, 2019 at 1:11 AM PST

The Michael Jackson estate is hammering HBO over their decision to air the controversial "Leaving Neverland" documentary.

In a letter addressed to Richard Plepler, the CEO of HBO, Jackson attorney Howard Weitman refers to the film as a "one-sided, sensationalist program."

The estate says the two men featured in the documentary, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, have tried and failed numerous times to sue the estate. Weitzman says, "Had HBO actually complied with the most basic of journalistic ethics—rather than just accept their salacious allegations at face value—it would have discovered so much more long before it ever got involved in this disgraceful project."

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Weitzman attacks HBO over their decision to air the documentary, saying, "That HBO has now joined the tabloid media’s 'Michael Jackson cacophony' — ten years after his death — is truly sad. We know that HBO is facing serious competitive pressures from Netflix, Amazon and other more modern content providers, but to stoop to this level to regain an audience is disgraceful. We know HBO and its partners on this documentary will not be successful. We know that this will go down as the most shameful episode in HBO’s history. We know that Michael’s devoted fans, and all good people in the world, will not swiftly forgive HBO for its conduct."

The letter does not mention the possibility of a lawsuit but does say that the estate "would be happy to meet with HBO to discuss a solution."

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