Lawsuit vs. Michael Jackson companies revived

[jobeterob]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...ather-son.html

Distressing to read this

It seems to me it might be a bit of a leap to find the companies liable

[jobeterob]

The description of what he did with those boys is sickening - but it’s quite a leap to hold a company liable for Jackson’s behaviour

It says the companies have made $3 billion since his death. I wonder how much these guys have got since all this blew up

[carlo]

This was all covered in the documentary, "Leaving Neverland". Being an MJ fan at the time, it was a difficult watch. I watched all four hours and didn't want to believe any of it. There are a bunch of investigative blogs and YouTube videos, discrediting some of the claims made in the documentary, which made me believe MJ was innocent. To this day, I still struggle with where I stand with this subject, as there is enough evidence to argue both sides of things. As an example, it's been said that the FBI did not find anything at MJ's home to lead them to believe he was a child predator. However, there are court documents that list the types of items found at his home. He owned a small handful of 'photography books' that featured nude young boys, and were hard to find books that were popular amongst child predators. Then there are specific claims made by both of these men, where the timelines don't lineup with actual facts, times and places. Then the previous two cases had solid proof of extortionism. I've read almost every article and book there is on this subject. There is no question that there's so many contradicting claims and facts in these cases, it's all very confusing and nothing is 100% conclusive.

After reading Lisa Marie Presley's book, I lost respect for him, solely based on the way she was treated by MJ and how calculating he was, with pursuing her for his own agenda.

Whether the abuse happened or not, I do think these two men are after a payday. If it was me and I had been a victim of such trauma, no amount of money would make me want to dedicate my entire life to re-telling the stories of abuse over and over, and wanting to be involved in drawn out court proceedings. It's one thing to want justice and have someone put behind bars, to prevent others from suffering. However, in this case, the man is dead, and after having been "proven" innocent twice in court, it's debatable if they'll get any payout, especially after all of these years later. This alone makes me question their authenticity.

BUT...why would any grown ass man want to exclusively hangout with white boys? We hear about MJ's supposed psychological profile, but it still just doesn't make sense to me and also makes me question his innocence. These days, I'm leaning more towards him being guilty.

[carlo]

Also, it's interesting, because I remember their court case was originally scheduled for next month. I didn't realize it got pushed to November 2026, and now that is being delayed once again...

[carlo]

Here is the previous thread, for reference...

https://soulfuldetroit.com/showthrea...-Neverland-HBO

[jobeterob]

This was all covered in the documentary, "Leaving Neverland". Being an MJ fan at the time, it was a difficult watch. I watched all four hours and didn't want to believe any of it. There are a bunch of investigative blogs and YouTube videos, discrediting some of the claims made in the documentary, which made me believe MJ was innocent. To this day, I still struggle with where I stand with this subject, as there is enough evidence to argue both sides of things. As an example, it's been said that the FBI did not find anything at MJ's home to lead them to believe he was a child predator. However, there are court documents that list the types of items found at his home. He owned a small handful of 'photography books' that featured nude young boys, and were hard to find books that were popular amongst child predators. Then there are specific claims made by both of these men, where the timelines don't lineup with actual facts, times and places. Then the previous two cases had solid proof of extortionism. I've read almost every article and book there is on this subject. There is no question that there's so many contradicting claims and facts in these cases, it's all very confusing and nothing is 100% conclusive.

After reading Lisa Marie Presley's book, I lost respect for him, solely based on the way she was treated by MJ and how calculating he was, with pursuing her for his own agenda.

Whether the abuse happened or not, I do think these two men are after a payday. If it was me and I had been a victim of such trauma, no amount of money would make me want to dedicate my entire life to re-telling the stories of abuse over and over, and wanting to be involved in drawn out court proceedings. It's one thing to want justice and have someone put behind bars, to prevent others from suffering. However, in this case, the man is dead, and after having been "proven" innocent twice in court, it's debatable if they'll get any payout, especially after all of these years later. This alone makes me question their authenticity.

BUT...why would any grown ass man want to exclusively hangout with white boys? We hear about MJ's supposed psychological profile, but it still just doesn't make sense to me and also makes me question his innocence. These days, I'm leaning more towards him being guilty.

I’m leaning more toward that view as well. There was too much smoke, too many detailed allegations.

But are these men decent, honourable people? I think they are as sordid as anything that went on.

For what it’s worth and it’s not much, I recall reading an interview with Diana Ross where she said she prayed that what she’d heard about Michael wasn’t true.

These men have got money in the past haven’t they?

Criminal proof is beyond a reasonable doubt - lots of guilty people with money and powerful lawyers go free. Civil cases are decided in a balance of probabilities - much easier to prove.

I still wonder how you make the leap to finding 2 companies liable.

[telekin]

Whether the abuse happened or not, I do think these two men are after a payday. If it was me and I had been a victim of such trauma, no amount of money would make me want to dedicate my entire life to re-telling the stories of abuse over and over, and wanting to be involved in drawn out court proceedings. It's one thing to want justice and have someone put behind bars, to prevent others from suffering. However, in this case, the man is dead, and after having been "proven" innocent twice in court, it's debatable if they'll get any payout, especially after all of these years later. This alone makes me question their authenticity.

BUT...why would any grown ass man want to exclusively hangout with white boys? We hear about MJ's supposed psychological profile, but it still just doesn't make sense to me and also makes me question his innocence. These days, I'm leaning more towards him being guilty.

I’m feeling much the same way these days. Back when his 2005 trial was underway, I leaned more towards his innocence, but these days post-#metoo and after watching Leaving Neverland, I lean towards him being guilty.

He had all the power and opportunity and there's just too much smoke there, as jobeterob says, for there to be no fire, so to speak.

Interesting that this is going on still and how they believe this is being timed in such a way as to come after a forthcoming documentary, backed by his estate. That said, I don’t think there’s any cancelling MJ outright. His music was too popular, and meant so much to so many. I think people have trouble believing their favourite artists have done terrible things, and I get it. I remember Fran Lebowitz saying sometime recently that there are no artists out there as loved as musicians, and I generally find that to be true.

I suppose there’s always a payday or the accusation of one, but given this latest proceeding, it certainly hasn’t come quickly or easily. And given how long this is dragging on, I’m sure a lot of it will be eaten up in legal fees, even if there is some sort of settlement. That only highlights the damning part of this for MJ. I don’t think there’s a whole lot to gain for the accusers, when you put that together with the public scrutiny, not to mention potential for harassment from the many fans who have taken MJ’s innocence as a cause. Regardless of what this does in court, there will always be the court of public opinion.

[telekin]

Here is the previous thread, for reference...

https://soulfuldetroit.com/showthrea...-Neverland-HBO

Thanks for linking to the old thread! Interesting to be reminded of the immediate reaction then.

[Boogiedown]

It's gotta be even harder to understand how your parents could've turned you over to this pervert. What betrayal.

[jboy88]

They need to let Michael RIP and quit rehashing this garbage. While he certainly had flaws, he never did anything wrong! I’ve lost respect for mainstream journalism and many other people because they insist on painting him as a monster.

[jobeterob]

It's gotta be even harder to understand how your parents could've turned you over to this pervert. What betrayal.

They were stupid and naive and probably motivated by money and the possibility of more money

If we read the articles, I think it becomes harder to believe MJ was innocent - there appears to be opportunity and inclination and you can’t make up all of these allegations by different people

But when testifying in criminal court, you need the dates and times and places down pat - and many times, some of those details get garbled

I still wonder how you suggest that companies owned by Jackson, who paid the employees, should be found liable for not protecting the boys. Was an employee to be required to go to child protection authorities or the police with suspicions or did some employees see Jackson doing something inappropriate. I see the allegations include that Jackson even raped these boys.

[telekin]

Just learned there's a follow-up documentary - Leaving Neverland 2 premiering this week on Channel 4 in the UK and YouTube in US/Canada. I suppose it will cover some of the latest legal proceedings.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/mar/14/dan-reed-fallout-michael-jackson-films-neverland

https://variety.com/2025/film/global...us-1236320924/

[jobeterob]

Thank you for the information about the follow up

I like some of Jackson’s music but his life is a sordid, tawdry mess and these young men, while being victims, seemed to have had little support from families

In due course, somehow, by settlement I suspect, but perhaps by trial, they will get even more money