Dan Reed, director of the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, has strongly criticised the new Michael Jackson biopic Michael, accusing it of portraying abuse allegations as lies. In an interview with Variety, Reed said the film creates a version of events that essentially paints accusers Wade Robson and James Safechuck as liars without explicitly stating so.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, Michael focuses on Jackson's early career with the Jackson Five and his solo success, culminating in a 1988 London concert. Reed, who received death threats after his documentary aired, described the film's portrayal of Jackson as an 'asexual plastic action doll' that offers no insight into his character, particularly regarding his relationships with children.
Reed argued that the film distorts Jackson's interactions with children, framing him as an eccentric, overgrown child rather than addressing predatory behaviour. He noted that Jackson's undisputed actions, such as sharing beds with young boys and locking doors, would likely be sufficient for a child sexual abuse conviction in court.
Fuqua, in a separate interview with the New Yorker, cast doubt on the accusers and suggested racism played a role in the controversy, drawing a comparison to Elvis Presley's relationship with his underage future wife. Reed rebutted this, calling Fuqua someone who 'made tens of millions pushing a false narrative around a man who's a paedophile.'
Released on Friday, Michael earned $217m (£161m) worldwide, setting box office records for a biopic. Jackson's daughter Paris criticised the script in September, denying involvement and accusing the film of pandering to a specific fanbase. Reed concluded that the film 'flips the truth on its head' and is impossible to take seriously.
