Aaron Carter has slammed the Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland, claiming the two accusers of Michael Jackson have a financial motivation for the allegations.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck are the two men in the HBO documentary who say they were sexually assaulted by Michael Jackson as children, and the revelation of Jackson's alleged acts have helped to swing public opinion against the pop star, who died in June 2009 at the age of 50.
Carter, who is now 31 years old and was a friend of Jackson's in his life, explained to TMZ via video on Monday that he was upset at how the singer was depicted in the documentary. Speaking to Harvey Levin on TMZ Live, Carter said he would like to fight Wade Robson for his role in the documentary, pointing out that both men had testified that Jackson hadn't molested them under oath in previous investigations.
"You're a grown man, and when Michael Jackson was alive, you are backing him, you are up his a**, you are kissing his a**, you are there to testify for him under oath, and then when he dies, you decide that's a good time to come out? No, what you're doing is, you're actually stomping on an icon and a legend's grave - you're stomping his grave."
Following on from this, Carter added that he felt the time to speak up would have been during Jackon's 2005 trial: "Why not do it when he was alive? Why not do it when he was being accused of all of these molestation charges. Why not do it then and actually indict a perpetrator?"
Cater also recalled his own experiences with Jackson from when he was a teenager, saying he used to stay with the singer and had no issues whatsoever. They shared the same vocal coach when Jackson was alive, and he said that the Thriller and Smooth Criminal artist had given him career advice.
"I remember having the time of my life with Michael, I was about 15 years old. I hung out with Michael Jackson, I stayed at his house, I stayed in his bedroom ... it's hard for me to understand that - how am I supposed to understand that when my own personal experience with him was gentle and beautiful and loving and embracing."
Carter's rage stems in part from a hoax social media exchange that implied that Carter was aware of his friend's alleged misdeeds, though it's since emerged that it came from a fake social media account claiming to be Wade Robson. Robson's lawyer said that since the documentary aired, Robson has been targeted by many fake social media accounts.
"He's trying to tie my name into this s***? I'm not that guy. I'm not the one. You lucky I got something to lose now, because I would punch you in your face - I would," said Carter.