Following the airing of HBO’s documentary “Leaving Neverland,” which focuses on allegations of sexual abuse against Michael Jackson, the pop icon’s children are reportedly considering taking legal action.
As reported by Page Six, Paris, Prince and Prince Michael Jackson II (a.k.a. “Blanket”) are looking into pursuing legal action against the two men who claim to have suffered sexual abuse at the hands of the late singer, Wade Robson and James Safechuck. The potential lawsuit would be for emotional distress, slander, fraud and misrepresentation.
According to sources close to the family, the children are not seeking money for financial gain but note that any awarded monies as a result of the possible suit would be donated to charity. The children would also like Robson and Safechuck to give an “apology” and accept “responsibility.”
“It’s very important to them they carry forward [their father’s] legacy of philanthropy and humility,” the family source shared with Page Six.
Both Robson and Safechuck appeared in the documentary, during which they detail allegations of being molested by Jackson when they were minors. They also both claim that they received no monetary payment for their involvement in the documentary, which premiered at Sundance on Jan. 25.
Last month, the Jackson estate filed a lawsuit suing HBO for breach of contract. The estate, which is seeking $100 million in damages, claims the cable network breached a non-disparagement contract made with Jackson back in 1992.
“HBO breached its agreement not to disparage Michael Jackson by producing and selling to the public a one-sided marathon of unvetted propaganda to shamelessly exploit an innocent man no longer here to defend himself,” Howard Weitzman, an attorney for the Jackson estate, said in a statement.
As previously reported, Robson, who attended Jackson’s funeral in 2009, testified in court in 2005 that the singer never molested him. Years later, in 2013, Robson sued the estate claiming abuse, with Safechuck attempting to take similar legal action soon thereafter. Both lawsuits were dismissed due to being past the statute of limitations.