Some people's perception of the King of Pop was forever changed in 1993 when he was accused of sexually abusing a then 13-year-old Jordan Chandler. While a settlement was reached between Jackson and the family outside of court for an undisclosed amount, it cast a dark shadow over his career for some.
He was once again accused in 2003. At the time, Jackson implored the public to reserve their opinions of him until he had his day in court; after which, all charges against the superstar were dropped.
In 2009, Jackson announced a gruelling series of shows at the London 02 Arena. Dubbed the "This Is It" tour, it was intended to simultaneously be the singer's comeback and his last hurrah before retiring. But just weeks before he was due to perform, the 50-year-old suddenly died at his Neverland Ranch from an accidental drug overdose.
Now, in the wake of the #MeToo Movement, which has exposed many famous faces as sexual predators, the allegations against Jackson have once again been brought to the forefront of public consciousness in a new documentary, Leaving Neverland.
And HBO has just dropped its first trailer. Check it out below:
In the trailer, one of Jackson's accusers, Wade Robson, who previously said under oath that the singer had not molested him, says, "He told me if they ever found out what we were doing, he and I would go to jail."
This is the documentary's synopsis:
"Leaving Neverland is a two-part documentary exploring the separate but parallel experiences of two young boys, James Safechuck, at age 10, and Wade Robson, at age seven, both of whom were befriended by Michael Jackson.
"Through gut-wrenching interviews with Safechuck, now 37, and Robson, now 41, as well as their mothers, wives and siblings, the film crafts a portrait of sustained abuse, exploring the complicated feelings that led both men to confront their experiences after both had a young son of his own."
Needless to say, the trailer sparked a lot of comments on social media:
Jackson's estate described the documentary as "yet another lurid production in an outrageous and pathetic attempt to exploit and cash in on Michael Jackson'. This so-called 'documentary' is just another rehash of dated and discredited allegations."
HBO announced that Leaving Neverland will be released over two days: Wednesday, March 6 and Thursday, March 7.