HBO’s controversial documentaryLeaving Neverland, which chronicles the longtimeallegationsof child sexual abuseagainst the lateMichael Jackson, picked up the award for outstanding documentary or nonfiction special at Saturday’s Creative Arts Emmys — a prize the King of Pop’s estate quickly criticized.
“For a film that is a complete fiction to be honored in a nonfiction Emmy category is a complete farce,” the Jackson estate said. “Not one shred of proof supports this completely one-sided, so-called documentary which was made in secrecy and for which not one person outside of the two subjects and their families were interviewed.”
Michael Jackson with his black fedora and white glove.Phil Dent/Redferns
Leaving Neverlanddetails allegations from two men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck.
Both claim Jackson befriended them when they were children and that their relationships quickly turned sexual. Safechuck, who met Jackson when he was cast in the star’s 1986 Pepsi commercial, claims Jackson taught him how to masturbate, while Robson, who met Jackson when he was just 5 years old, says the star performed oral sex on him and kissed him.
Michael Jackson and Wade Robson.HBO
Jackson’s family has repeatedly denied all allegations put forth inLeaving Neverland, and said in a January statement the film was “another rehash of dated and discredited allegations,” calling it “yet another lurid production in an outrageous and pathetic attempt to exploit and cash in on Michael Jackson.”
Dan Reed.JC Olivera/WireImage
In his acceptance speech, he also praised them both.
“None of this would have been possible without the incredible courage and determination of Wade and James and their families, and I wanted to salute that,” Reed said, according toDeadline. “This is one of the first times we’ve been able to shine light on child sexual abuse….the pattern of how it unfolds is not an easy story to tell….it often remains undisclosed for so many decades, so I thank them from the bottom of my heart.”
—REPORTING BY Jordan Runtagh
source: people.com
