Will the Michael Jackson estate follow through on its threat to sue Leaving Neverland producer/director Dan Reed?
In late February, the Michael Jackson estate made good on its promise.
The late King of Pop’s family sued HBO for $100 million at Los Angeles Superior Court.
With the cable network’s decision to air the controversial Leaving Neverland documentary, HBO apparently violated a 1992 non-disparagement agreement. The late pop singer’s family claims the documentary is based on false accusations.
In addition, Jackson’s accusers — two men who have previously claimed he never molested them — have been accused of having a financial motive to lie about the abuse.
Now, the Jackson family has asked a judge for arbitration instead of pursuing its promised $100 million suit.
The war against HBO and Dan Reed heats up.
In the documentary Leaving Neverland, director/producer Dan Reed investigates how the late pop singer reportedly started a relationship with two young boys – aged 7 and 10 – along with their families. At the peak of his fame, the two men – Wade Robson and James Safechuck – claim that the King of Pop sexually abused them multiple times over several years.
Soon after, HBO and the UK’s Channel 4 picked up the rights to air the controversial four-hour documentary.
The lawsuit eventually shifted to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Aiming to push the case back to state court, Jackson’s estate asked a California federal judge on Monday to send the lawsuit to arbitration. But a serious issue quickly emerged: under United States law, a deceased person can’t sue for defamation. And neither can that person’s estate.
That shifts the focus away from the most serious allegations. But there’s still a contract breach in question, though the Jackson family is now looking gun-shy.
As stated earlier, in 1992, HBO had agreed to never disparage the singer in exchange for exclusive footage from Jackson’s Dangerous World Tour.
But the family is now seeking an out-of-court resolution. Citing the Federal Arbitration Act, the estate has strongly pushed for arbitration,
“Apparently, HBO was happy to rely on the fact that deceased persons cannot sue for defamation, and thus saw no need to comply with any sort of journalistic ethics at all.
“Unlike HBO, the estate is not interested in playing games and wants a real process to expose HBO’s lack of journalistic integrity.”
Maintaining Jackson’s innocence, his family called the documentary “lies.” The petition further slammed Robson and Safechuck as “admitted perjurers.”
“Michael Jackson can never be silenced. His music and artistry live, as does his innocence.
“They will long outlast false claims, gossip, and allegations spread by those who seek to make money off him.“
Interestingly, HBO looks ready-and-willing to fight this one in court.
Fighting back against the motion to return the case to Los Angeles Superior Court, an HBO spokesperson said a federal court remains the “appropriate place” for the case.
Separately, speaking about the fallout in a new interview, Michael Jackson estate co-executor John Branca said he has considered suing Dan Reed.
“Those people made up a goddamn story because they wanted money and we will not allow that to go unchecked – it’s that simple.
“[Reed’s] documentary is replete with inaccuracies, lies, and stuff they knew not to be true. They should be ashamed of themselves”.
He added the laws surrounding defamation should change.
“Because the laws of defamation are what they are, there is nothing we can do or say. The man can be damaged, his kids can be hurt and theoretically, nothing can be done.
“I’m going to suggest the law should be changed to protect the deceased at least for a period of time. Because it’s about the truth, it’s about fairness, and it’s about balance.”
Featured image by Chief Mouse (YouTube screengrab).
The MJ Estate isn’t backing away from anything. They sought arbitration from the start as that’s the remedy specified in the contract. (It’s HBO that’s trying to dodge the lawsuit.) Do you folks ever do any actual research when it comes to Michael Jackson?
mj estate backed away from nothing matter of fact the won in court and hbo has to go to public arbitration where the otherside of the story will come out as fact with actual court documents, depositions, and police files. lets see how much credit reed and his accusers have left when this all goes public for everyone to see like their documentary. this is why they have been fighting arbitration because they know it shoots their film right in the ass.
Thank you for writing this. The analysis is very good, but the title stating they are backing off is not really supported unless there is something I am missing. The significance of the estate asking to move the case to arbitration does not mean they are backing away, in fact it would accomplish the opposite. Lengthy litigation would take several years to conclude between the Estate and HBO. Arbitration would allow them to continue the same claim for monetary damages, but more importantly resolve this significantly faster. Considering the Michael Jackson Estate is by all accounts in damage control mode, their request for arbitration is the opposite of backing off..
Face it, any 40 year old man who ONLY sleeps with 7 year old BOYS, day in and day out, for years, is a dam pedophile. Period.
Open your eyes. MJ bought off everyone with millions of dollars, he fired anyone who worked at Neverland who spoke against him.
Macaulay, who’s ruined his life with drugs and alcohol, is proof of what holding the “secret” can do to a person. One day Macaulay will talk, or we will be reading about Mac hung himself. Pedophilia RUINS people’s lives.
Porn and candy, thats the MJ legacy. He was a dam pedophile, all started by his pedophile dad, Joe Jackson, who was a BIG pervert, even Joe’s wife Kathryn admitted to Joe’s perversions.
Open your eyes people. Jordy was spot on correct.
Can you read? Jackson did not only sleep with boys day in and day out for years. Learn some facts. You are ridiculous.
Where is your evidence MJ molested 7-year-old boys and paid off everyone? MJ was tried in a court of law in 2003 and the witness for the state said under oath MJ had never harmed him but ticked him above the waist. That is not molestation. He was found Not Guilty. In the Chandler case the dad with to a lawyer, not the police. A grand jury was called after Sneddon heard about the civil case and they determined there was no evidence to indict MJ. The FBI followed MJ for over 10 years and never found any evidence he molested any child. The LA police never found any such evidence. Why are you coming up with he Molested hundreds of boys? The 93 settlement was made by MJ Insurance Carrier for a global claim of neglect, they insisted on settling. It is illegal to a settlement with someone to prevent them from filing charges. The settlement did not prevent that and is stated. Still, the Grand Jury found no evidence. That is what the media failed to tell most people and if they did the haters did not pay any attention. Wade did not change his story until he did not get the job with MJOne. Until then everything was fine with MJ. James entered the case a year after he heard about Wade filing for 1.5 billion. Everyone who accused MJ had wanted money for something first. Please bother to read something besides the tabloids.
You are as sick as the two accusers.
you are bang on the money. Take away the fact he is rich and famous and would anyone be okay with this? didnt think so. Its amazing that a guy hangs around with young boys all the time usually only one at a time and sleeps with them and people that like his music insist its all lies the door alarm alone should raise massive questions. Also if he really just wanted to sleep with the kids its weird he always insisted the parents stayed somewhere else. The quantity of accusations against him is not a good sign. Its laughable to think all these victims want to tear their lives apart years later just to get money
Really. Where’s Jordy now? And the biggest Jackson defense of all is, why didn’t Jordan Chandler testify for the prosecution against MJ in the 2005 molestation trial? Instead, he fled the US, where Sneddon and his lying, conniving pals couldn’t locate him. And imagine, the FBI had nothing, nada on MJ. Where did you do your research? Oh yeah, Harvey Weinstein University. LOL….
Michael does not have to be alive for his Estate to file a Non-disparagement case. to my understanding. That HBO could not slander the MJ business or touring company and causing it to harm to MJ estate Businesses. HBO ignored that by showing this ridiculous fake show called a documentary. Dan Reed intentionally made sure no one was in this documentary to show MJ’s side. That was unethical journalism. Wade lied when he said this show was not about money when he knew he appealed the 1.5 billion dollar case against the estate the court dismissed and made note of Wades lying in depositions. This show is promoting the Lynch Mobs Mentality. The concept that people are guilty until proven innocent. It is a dead man today but tomorrow it could be a lynching of a black man based on one accusation. The media has plenty of current cases of abuse it could cover ten times a day but the accused name is not known as MJ is and will not get clicks and MJ name is worth money. Money is all this is about. Not making sure children are protected. MJ is dead. Harvey Weinstein is Alive and the Judge is not allowing the press in. Harvey is White also. JMO.
Correction: Michael does not have to be alive for his Estate to file a Non-disparagement case. to my understanding. It is his company that HBO is accused of slandering and causing harm to MJ estate Businesses. HBO ignored the Estate by showing this ridiculous fake show called a documentary. Dan Reed intentionally made sure no one was in this documentary to show MJ’s side. That was unethical journalism. IMO Wade lied when he said this show was not about money when he knew he appealed the 1.5 billion dollar case against the estate the court dismissed and made note of Wades lying in depositions. This show is promoting the Lynch Mobs Mentality. IMO. The concept that people are guilty until proven innocent. It is a dead man today but tomorrow it could be a lynching of a black man based on one accusation. The media has plenty of current cases of abuse it could cover ten times a day but the accused name is not known as MJ is and will not get clicks and MJ name is worth money. Money is all this is about – Not making sure children are protected. MJ is dead. Harvey Weinstein is Alive and the Judge is not allowing the press in on his case so far. Harvey is White also. JMO.
Snooze, blow hard moron. You have zero clue as usual troll4life with no life nor a darn brain cell.
Oh, yeah? Do you know any? Fool!
You’re a total moron. You clearly didn’t read the article. You can’t research your way out of your filthy basement mental midget.
Foolish feined. The FBI did not investigate the dead ped who died a vile junkie. Weinstein has nothing do with with your Pedo God. Moron! Go kick ricks you UK sicko.
FBI files on Jackson investigation are available on internet. They have been released years ago. Check fool.
HBO, Dan Reed and Oprah need to be sued for participating in this Lynching of Michael Jackson an Innocent man.
Nobody is backing away from the $100 million dollar lawsuit. It seems the Writer does not understand what arbitration means.
To all people who think sharing bed means sex you are sick as fucks!
You back an adult that has audio alerts to people getting near only sleeps with boys and only has one boy around at a time yet believes he is innocent just because you like his music and we are the sick fucks? you have got to be some level of special to ignore all his accusers and all the facts and think its ok for a man to sleep in bed with another persons kid and have no relationship with any woman only with young boys