In a bold new interview, the filmmaker of the contentious 2019 documentary “Leaving Neverland” has made a striking comparison, labeling Michael Jackson as “worse than Jeffrey Epstein.” The director, Dan Reed, didn’t hold back, not only drawing parallels between Jackson and the convicted sex offender but also criticizing the latest Jackson biopic, “Michael,” for sidestepping pervasive child abuse allegations surrounding the pop icon.
Reed, in a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, posed a pressing question: “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?” This inquiry underscores Reed’s frustration with narratives that omit significant aspects of Jackson’s controversial legacy.
“Leaving Neverland” made waves upon its release, offering an in-depth look at the claims of two men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who alleged they were sexually abused by Jackson during their childhood. The documentary’s substantial impact was evident, as it not only captured public attention but also clinched the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.
Despite the absence of any legal conviction against Jackson for child abuse or molestation, Reed remains steadfast in his personal conviction of the star’s guilt. This belief continues to fuel discussions and debates about Jackson’s legacy and the stories told about him.
The four-hour exposé was a huge hit upon its release and even won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.
While Jackson was never convicted of child abuse or molestation, Reed personally believes that the star is guilty of wrongdoing.
Leaving Neverland director Dan Reed has called Michael Jackson ‘worse than Jeffrey Epstein’ in a scathing new interview
‘I think Jackson was genuinely a very nasty man and hurt a lot of children,’ Reed said.
‘And he may have been a great entertainer, but those two things don’t cancel each other out. 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.’
Reed also revealed why Leaving Neverland is no longer available to stream or purchase anywhere, after it was abruptly yanked from HBO in 2024.
‘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.’
However, Reed clarified that he will get the rights to Leaving Neverland back in 2029, at which point he plans to resell it and make it available again for viewers.
He’s also working on a follow-up to Leaving Neverland, which will center on Robson and Safechuck once again. The pair are currently seeking a $400million payout from Jackson’s estate over their claims that the late singer abused them.
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Should films about Michael Jackson confront the abuse allegations or focus only on his music legacy?
In Leaving Neverland, Reed (center) interviewed two men, Wade Robson (left) and James Safechuck (right), who claimed that they were sexually abused as children by Jackson
Robson claims that Jackson groomed him from the age of seven until 14 after meeting the star when he won a Michael Jackson dance impersonation contest
Reed already released Leaving Neverland 2: Surviving Michael Jackson on YouTube last year.
Jackson was never convicted of a crime and his estate continues to deny the allegations against him. His estate also sued HBO for $100million and called Leaving Neverland ‘a one-sided marathon of unvetted propaganda to shamelessly exploit an innocent man no longer here to defend himself’.
Robson claims that Jackson groomed him from the age of seven until 14 after meeting the star when he won a Michael Jackson dance impersonation contest.
Despite claiming that Jackson abused him, in 2005, Robson took the stand and defended Jackson when he was accused of repeatedly molesting a 13-year-old boy, which led to a jury in Santa Barbara finding the star not guilty.
The new Jackson biopic, which opens this week, has received scathing reviews from critics, with many slamming the film for ignoring the abuse allegations against the singer.
However, despite the backlash, the movie is shaping up to be a huge box office hit.
According to Deadline, Michael is on track to open with $150million worldwide.
Leaving Neverland was removed from all streaming platforms by HBO in 2024 after Jackson’s estate cited a non-disparagement clause from 1992
The new Michael Jackson biopic has received scathing reviews from critics, with many slamming the film for ignoring the abuse allegations against the singer
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, best known for helming The Equalizer trilogy, Michael follows the legendary entertainer, beginning with his time in the Jackson 5 through to the beginning of his solo career.
The late Jackson is portrayed by his real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson.
Critics have slammed the film for its ‘sanitized’ portrayal of Jackson’s life, with BBC News calling it, ‘a bland and barely competent daytime TV movie’.
Daily Mail’s own Brian Viner was just as harsh, blasting the biopic as ‘simplistic, unchallenging and riddled with egregious omissions’.
According to Variety, the 127-minute film originally ended with investigators arriving at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch to search for evidence and that much of the film’s third act originally dealt with the fallout from the allegations.
However, the entire child abuse allegation plot was cut from the film after producers realized that there was a clause in a settlement with one of Jackson’s accusers, Jordan Chandler, that barred the depiction or mention of him in any movie.
Filmmakers were then forced to shoot a new ending, which delayed the movie’s release by roughly one year.
Several key figures in Jackson’s life refused to participate in the film, including his sister Janet and daughter Paris.
