Leaving Neverland new documentary on Michael Jackson

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you guys delusional?

This man was acquitted of all charges of child molestation in 2005. It was a media circus along with the media monitoring him for 10 years. They found 0 evidence of wrong doing. Allegations of this nature have been brought to court and he was found not guilty.

What new evidence is there?

Put away the pitch forks.

Bet you think OJ is innocent too

And R Kelly.

Didn't they find an R Kelly video? more proof

I haven't watched the documentary, but I do agree with someone upthread who discussed that this behavior become "normal" for these boys. So I can see how they wouldn't question it.

very confusing for children

They really didn’t know they were being abused. They thought he loved them, and they loved him. What child thinks that is sexual abuse?

[Anonymous]

Didn't read the thread, but watched the documentary and Oprah's piece After Neverland. Wasn't sure what to believe when the first accusations came out given the denials from other children. After watching the documentary, it's pretty clear that that man was a predator. Can't even write his name out, he's despicable and I hope he's rotting in hell.

[Anonymous]

I watched all of it last week and posted earlier in the thread. This is one of those things that stays in your head for a while, and I’ve had a couple more thoughts.

Some film critics have suggested that the film is too long. I think the the length plays an important role in the credibility of Wade and James and their families. Such detail, over such a long time, builds an amazingly consistent narrative. It wears down the viewers’ skepticism.

It has changed my perception of Jackson as a childlike, naive person. I think even many people in the past who recognized he might be guilty still thought of him as this sad child in a grown body who somehow wasn’t mature or aware enough, himself, to appreciate his crimes. The details of how he groomed the boys and families, set up alarm systems to avoid detection, and manipulated the boys into keeping his abuse secret all show a very canny, sophisticated, knowing predator. A full adult and a criminal.

Oprah was the first high profile person to talk about her sexual abuse. This was taboo and NEVER spoken about in public or even in private before. She initiated a public conversation that changed American culture. I think history will mark this documentary and her aftershow as the second landmark episode in the story of how society came to reckon with childhood sexual abuse. Oprah says herself how the documentary finally makes clear what this kind of abuse looks like, how seductive and complicated it is.

And that brings me to my last point— how grateful I am to Wade and James for their courage in doing this film. It is a HUGE public service. As a parent, I feel like I have more tools in my toolbox to keep my children safe because of what I learned from watching it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the people who are harping on about how the men denied it before: I was sexually abused when I was 13. I told nobody until I was 19, and when I did, I downplayed it and denied it was abuse. It wasn't until I got therapy when I was in my 30s that I finally was able to even use the word 'abuse' without getting ill to my stomach and having a panic attack. I couldn't have even typed this anonymously in my 20s, let alone have an interview about it. I would have denied it too.

And imagine how it would be when the molester is one of the most beloved figure in the music industry.

I am PP who wrote about abuse. I would not have had the courage to do a documentary like this to this day. I might still be denying it, if my abuser was MJ.

+1
I was sexually abused as a teenager and have complicated feelings about it to this day. I’ve often wondered what I would do if other victims of his exist and come forward. What would I do if asked to testify against him? A big part of me still loves him and might deny everything. Another part of me hates him. It is 10000% unsurprising to me that MJ victims initially denied the abuse.

[Anonymous]

Can we agree that Michael Jackson's lawyers KNEW that Michael had in fact molested these boys?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we agree that Michael Jackson's lawyers KNEW that Michael had in fact molested these boys?

Sure, as long as you add his family and all his employees. He was enabled every step of the way. No way dozens and dozens of people don't know this was going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we agree that Michael Jackson's lawyers KNEW that Michael had in fact molested these boys?

Sure, as long as you add his family and all his employees. He was enabled every step of the way. No way dozens and dozens of people don't know this was going on.

One of the maids testified she saw him showering with I think Wade, but Wade denied in court. These employees were probably paid well and also afraid of his power and money. He told those kids they would go to jail if anyone found out. He was a master manipulator, not a “man child” like some idiot pp said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cannot stop feeling sick while watching this. MJ is roasting in hell.

Yes I agree. All his charitable deeds in public were to mask how devious and disgusting he was in private.

[Anonymous]

All you chicks defending him who didn’t watch, please know that he didn’t like women. Told these boys not to trust women. And added especially their mothers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t decide which is more likely: that jackson didn’t molest Culkin and Feldman, or that he did and they are lying about it either willfully because they think it will hurt their image or careers or have buried the memories. I think it’s probablh more likely he did molest them and they aren’t admitting it.

My friend who is a psychologist pointed out that MJ might have purposely brought Macaulay Culkin into the mix and DID NOT molest him solely so he'd have a popular movie star (more credible) around to defend him. She has seen that in child sex abuse cases.

After watching the documentary, I thought for sure Culkin was abused and is lying (and I cannot blame the victim for his actions). But Michael was such a manipulator with well paid lawyers backing him. I wonder if he staged the "friendship" with Macaulay much like he staged his marriages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t decide which is more likely: that jackson didn’t molest Culkin and Feldman, or that he did and they are lying about it either willfully because they think it will hurt their image or careers or have buried the memories. I think it’s probablh more likely he did molest them and they aren’t admitting it.

My friend who is a psychologist pointed out that MJ might have purposely brought Macaulay Culkin into the mix and DID NOT molest him solely so he'd have a popular movie star (more credible) around to defend him. She has seen that in child sex abuse cases.

After watching the documentary, I thought for sure Culkin was abused and is lying (and I cannot blame the victim for his actions). But Michael was such a manipulator with well paid lawyers backing him. I wonder if he staged the "friendship" with Macaulay much like he staged his marriages.

very disturbing
But it completely makes sense - at least to me!

same might be said for Feldman . . . Early on he stayed neutral, claiming that Michael didn't harm him, but later, sort of came to the defense of the victims. So he and Culkin may have been the buffers.

wow

[Anonymous]

I read that his daughter tried to commit suicide over the weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t decide which is more likely: that jackson didn’t molest Culkin and Feldman, or that he did and they are lying about it either willfully because they think it will hurt their image or careers or have buried the memories. I think it’s probablh more likely he did molest them and they aren’t admitting it.

My friend who is a psychologist pointed out that MJ might have purposely brought Macaulay Culkin into the mix and DID NOT molest him solely so he'd have a popular movie star (more credible) around to defend him. She has seen that in child sex abuse cases.

After watching the documentary, I thought for sure Culkin was abused and is lying (and I cannot blame the victim for his actions). But Michael was such a manipulator with well paid lawyers backing him. I wonder if he staged the "friendship" with Macaulay much like he staged his marriages.

very disturbing
But it completely makes sense - at least to me!

same might be said for Feldman . . . Early on he stayed neutral, claiming that Michael didn't harm him, but later, sort of came to the defense of the victims. So he and Culkin may have been the buffers.

wow

NP. I believe this is spot-on. Members of our family were very close friends with a married couple for many decades. Unbeknownst to them at the time, the father/husband is a pedophile who was eventually convicted of molesting dozens of boys and is now in federal prison. Before any of this was discovered, the man spent hours alone with one of my male cousins and my brother, letting them play and work on his farm properties and taking them along on various adventures. He did not ever molest my brother or cousin, thankfully, and when the story finally came to light, both said they thought he was too smart to try anything with them, as they would instantly be believed. They DID both say he would ask a lot of questions that were most likely the same kinds of things he'd ask his victims, and that they believed he was practicing his grooming skills on them. When the case blew up, this man contacted both my parents and my aunt and uncle and asked if our families and my brother and cousin would testify to his good character (all refused). I suspect it's the same situation with Culkin and Feldman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read that his daughter tried to commit suicide over the weekend.

sad
She's a beautiful young woman.

I've always thought she resembled Lisa Marie Presley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read that his daughter tried to commit suicide over the weekend.

So sad.