The property of Michael Jackson has filed a lawsuit towards HBO following the channel’s acquisition of the rights to Leaving Neverland. The doc revolves round two males who allege that Jackson sexually abused them after they have been kids.
According to the grievance, considered by Pitchfork, the property asserts that HBO is in breach of beforehand established contractual provisions that state “HBO shall not make any disparaging remarks concerning Performer [Jackson] or any of his representatives, agents, or business practices or do any act that may harm or disparage or cause to lower in esteem the reputation or public image of Performer.” They are in search of damages presumably exceeding $100 million.
The movie, directed by Dan Reed, was heavily criticized by the Jackson estate earlier than HBO picked it up for broadcast. Reed described it as “an account of sexual abuse, how sexual abuse happens and then how the consequences play out later in life,” when responding to the property’s feedback.
After HBO revealed Leaving Neverland would air on March three and 4, the property penned a 10-page letter condemning it, describing it as “sensationalist” and “disgraceful.” When reached for remark, the attorneys for the Michael Jackson property gave the next assertion to Pitchfork:
HBO breached its settlement to not disparage Michael Jackson by producing and promoting to the general public a one-sided marathon of unvetted propaganda to shamelessly exploit an harmless man not right here to defend himself. HBO may have and may have ensured that Leaving Neverland was correctly sourced, reality checked and a good and balanced illustration. Instead they selected to fund and produce a movie the place they knew the 2 topics had for a few years testified below oath and informed household, buddies and regulation enforcement that Mr. Jackson did nothing inappropriate to both of them. Nearly 4 years after Michael died they abruptly modified their recollections, sued the Estate of Michael Jackson for lots of of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} and had all of their lawsuits dismissed. Yet they’re nonetheless in search of cash, having appealed. HBO and the director have been properly conscious of their monetary motives and that ample opposing info can be found from quite a few sources, however made the unconscionable resolution to bury any proof casting doubt on their chosen narrative. Had they made an goal movie it will have allowed viewers to make up their very own minds about these allegations, as an alternative of getting a tv community dictate to them that they have to settle for these false claims about Michael Jackson.
HBO shared the next assertion with Pitchfork:
Despite the determined lengths taken to undermine the movie, our plans stay unchanged. HBO will transfer ahead with the airing of Leaving Neverland, the two-part documentary, on March three and 4. This will permit everybody the chance to evaluate the movie and the claims in it for themselves.
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