The director of Leaving Neverland has come under fire for his evolving story about alleged abuse involving the late Michael Jackson and two young boys.
The unsettling documentary features interviews with Australian dance star Wade Robson (now 36) and James Safechuck (now 41) who both allege they were abused for years by Billy Jean singer Michael (who died in 2009 aged 50).
Some fans have noted that some of the accusations presented in the film don’t quite ‘add up’ – including the revelation James said he was abused in the Neverland train station when he was 14, but planning documents show the building wasn’t constructed until he was 16.
Documentary maker Dan Reed, 54, has defended his work and stands by his two interviewees – here’s what he has said over the ‘evolving’ story.
Fans have poked holes in the Leaving Neverland documentary after it suggested James Safechuck was abused until he was 14 – with one incident taking place inside the train station found at Jackson’s sprawling Neverland Ranch home.
However, some have highlighted that the building in question would not have been built until James was 16.
Dan appeared to suggest some of the facts in his documentary were not correct as he tweeted: “Yeah there seems to be no doubt about the station date. The date they have wrong is the end of the abuse.”
This sparked many to suggest he was ‘backtracking’ on the claims made in his documentary – but the director stood firm.
“Progress – the stans seem to have conceded that Safechuck was molested and are now debating which rooms at Neverland the sex took place in + James’ age when it stopped. How about adding up total number of nights MJ slept with other people’s sons: was it hundreds or thousands?” he tweeted.
He continued: “1. James Safechuck was at Neverland both before and after the construction of the train station there. The two still photos of the station shown in #leavingneverland were in fact taken by James, who is very clear that he was abused by Jackson in multiple places over many years.”
Dan added: “2. #leavingneverland also makes clear that sexual contact between James and #MichaelJackson continued until James Safechuck was in his teenage years. The station at Neverland is just one of the many locations where James remembers sexual activity taking place.”
Leaving Neverland has been seen by some as an attempt for those involved to make gains, financially, with their allegations.
Dan admits the documentary is, in a way, about money – but that it is the Jackson estate that fears losing profits, not the alleged victims wanting to earn cash.
“Of course it’s all about money. It’s about the estate’s money. It made $400m last year [and] is trying to protect its main asset,” he told the Independent.
“I’m not making any allegations, but I think the question remains: how much did the family know?” he continued.
“When did they know it? It’s clear that a lot of people in the Jackson household saw things. On the record, they testified to that. [They] gave evidence in court. But the only noise I’m hearing from the Jackson camp is the estate hurling abuse at children who were raped by Michael Jackson. I think that’s shameful,” he said.
Asked by the NME if he think people can still view Michael Jackson as innocent, Dan said it would be impossible for his interviewees to have faked their whole story.
“It’s not just hearing the guys tell their stories – it’s seeing the impact it’s had on their mums, on their wives, on their sisters and brothers,” he said.
“[In each instance] the whole family has been devastated by learning what has actually happened. By the end of the fours hours, it’s really difficult to imagine that anyone would be able to dismiss such a consistent and emotional set of interviews. These people would have to be genius actors. Having your mum go on telly and say, ‘I f**ked up and I allowed my son to fall into the hands of a predatory paedophile’ – for the average son, that’s quite a move to pull if all you’re after is a bit of cash,” he added.