Leaving Neverland director slams Michael Jackson movie for ignoring sexual assault allegations

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So, the new Michael Jackson movie is out, but it’s getting some heat. The guy who made ‘Leaving Neverland’, that documentary about the abuse allegations, is saying the movie totally glosses over all that stuff. It’s kinda awkward, honestly, seeing a big, celebratory film when there’s so much controversy surrounding him.

Okay, so I’ve been checking out the buzz around the new Michael Jackson movie, and it’s really divided people. Critics aren’t loving it – it’s sitting at around 40% on Rotten Tomatoes. But regular moviegoers? They’re giving it a whopping 96%! It’s pretty wild to see such a difference in opinion.

Michael Jackson’s daughter, Paris, criticized the movie, stating it contained many inaccuracies. Meanwhile, his nephew, Taj, defended it against negative reviews.

In a recent interview, Colman Domingo, who portrays Joe Jackson, explained why the film doesn’t address the publicly known accusations of sexual abuse against Michael Jackson. These claims were detailed in the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, and its director has now shared their opinion on the new film.

Leaving Neverland director calls Michael movie “hilarious”

Dan Reed, the director of Leaving Neverland, is surprised that the new film about Michael Jackson – covering his life up to the 1988 Bad tour – doesn’t address the accusations made by Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who both claimed he sexually abused them as children.

Reed found the situation amusing, comparing it to making a movie about Jeffrey Epstein but stopping before his crimes, or a Harvey Weinstein film that ends before his abuse comes to light. He thought the whole idea was a joke.

Looking back at everything, Reed pointed out something really disturbing: Michael started abusing James Safechuck when James was just 10 years old, and it happened during the Bad Tour. It’s heartbreaking to hear those details.

He explains it’s the glaring issue that any truthful documentary about Michael Jackson would have to address. He believes if the estate had a strong defense or explanation for Jackson’s relationships with young boys, they would have included it in the film.

The truth is, there’s no excuse for his actions. He engaged in sexual activity with minors, and I’m glad people are finally acknowledging that.

Dan Reed doubts there will be a Michael 2

The film concludes with a note that Jackson’s story isn’t over, and Colman Domingo has suggested a follow-up movie could cover the 1990s and his final years.

Reed doesn’t believe a sequel is likely. In a recent interview, he stated plainly, “There will never be a sequel.” He did suggest, however, that the creators might release additional music as a way to make more money if they chose to do so.

Ultimately, a sequel will only happen if it’s profitable. However, I’m certain any follow-up film won’t deal with the accusations of child sexual abuse, as the evidence strongly suggests the accused was guilty.

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2026-04-24 13:49