Audience members at the Sundance Film Festival were shocked by “Leaving Neverland” and the explicitly detailed claims of sexual abuse against Michael Jackson.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck received a standing ovation at the Sundance Film Festival premiere of the explosive documentary "Leaving Neverland,” which details their claims of sexual abuse by the late singer Michael Jackson.
Robson and Safechuck say Jackson began sexually abusing them when they were young kids while they toured with the pop star and had sleepovers at his Neverland Ranch.
Audience members at Sundance had visceral reactions.
“Feel sick to my stomach after watching part 1 of the documentary,” was one tweet. “It's so sexually explicit that counselors are in the lobby.”
“At the midpoint of 'Leaving Neverland,' audience seems slightly shellshocked,” was another tweet.
In the documentary, Safechuck claims Jackson gave him jewelry in exchange for sex acts and even staged a mock wedding with vows and diamond ring.
The Jackson Estate condemned the documentary as a "public lynching,” adding, “Michael Jackson was and always will be 100 percent innocent of these false allegations."
"People have always loved to go after Michael," the Jackson family told Complex in a statement. "He was an easy target because he was unique. But Michael was subjected to a thorough investigation which included a surprise raid of Neverland and other properties as well as a jury trial where Michael was found to be COMPLETELY INNOCENT. There has never been one piece of proof of anything. Yet the media is eager to believe these lies."
The four-hour documentary will air on HBO later this year.
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