Made in an effort to squash Wade Robson and James Safechuck's sexual abuse claims, 'Neverland Firsthand' features interviews with Taj Jackson, Brandi Jackson and ex-technical director Brad Sundberg.
- April 8, 2019
AceShowbiz - Michael Jackson's family have released a documentary that investigates the child abuse claims made in "Leaving Neverland".
Directed by Eli Pedraza, "Neverland Firsthand: Investigating the Michael Jackson Documentary" was made in an effort to refute the allegations of Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who both claimed in the HBO film that Jackson sexually abused them as children.
The pop icon, who died in June 2009, repeatedly denied any wrongdoing prior to his death, and in 2005 was acquitted in a child sex abuse case levelled against him in California.
"Neverland Firsthand", which is 30-minutes long, features interviews with Michael's nephew Taj Jackson and niece Brandi Jackson, as well as with his former technical director Brad Sundberg, who regularly stayed at Michael's Neverland Ranch estate.
"Not in a million years did I ever see a child around Michael Jackson that looked like they had been distressed, hurt, abused," Sundberg said in an interview with producer Liam McEwan in the film. "(Neverland) was such a peaceful, safe, fun place."
Brandi, who alleged she dated Robson dated for seven years, accused him of being "an opportunist".
"He knows how to position himself into different situations that will benefit him in a financial way," she fired. "I find it fascinating that he thinks he's able to just erase 10 years of his life."
Robson's attorney responded to Brandi's allegations in a statement to Billboard, and said, "Ms. Jackson was not with Wade and Michael Jackson when the sexual abuse occurred, and as such, she has nothing relevant to say about the topic."
Before "Leaving Neverland" aired last month, Jackson's estate filed a $100 million (£76.8 million) lawsuit against HBO in an effort to stop the documentary from airing.
