Many felt that it was “misleading”
Ofcom has rejected over 200 complaints from viewers who found the controversial Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland to be “misleading”.
Leaving Neverland, which split opinion when it aired in the UK earlier this month, focuses on testimony by Wade Robson, 36, and James Safechuck, 41, who both claim that Jackson sexually abused them when they were children.
Now, media watchdog Ofcom have said that they won’t be investigating the 230 complaints that the two-part film was “misleading” and that it wasn’t made clear that “allegations of sexual abuse were not proven in court”. Ofcom found that the documentary ” clearly presented as personal testimonies”.
“We understand that this two-part documentary gave rise to strong opinions from viewers,” an Ofcom spokesman said. “In our view, the allegations were very clearly presented as personal testimonies and it was made clear that the Jackson family rejects them.”
This comes after the UK’s advertising watchdog announced the end of its investigation into outdoor posters controversially claiming Michael Jackson is innocent of child sex abuse.
Headlines were made over the weekend when Diana Ross defended Jackson and Barbara Streisand responded to the backlash of her saying that the accusers must have been “thrilled” to be with Jackson and that his “sexual needs were his sexual needs.”
While a large group of fans protested against the broadcast of the film in London, recent weeks have also seen his songs banned on numerous radio stations around the world, while the National Football Museum removed their statue of the ‘Thriller’ star. It has also emerged that Madame Tussauds will be keeping statues of the singer on display, and the Thriller Live musical will continue to run.
Earlier this month, Jackson’s nephew Taj confirmed to NME that he was working on a counter-documentary to dispute the claims made in Leaving Neverland. Jackson’s fans have also said that they plan to sue Wade Robson and James Safechuck for “sullying” Jackson’s memory.
Jackson denied any wrongdoing before he died in 2009.