Michael Jackson estate claims Channel 4 broke its own guidelines in ‘sex abuse’ documentary Leaving Neverland

The Michael Jackson estate has sent a letter to Channel 4 claiming that a documentary on two men who accuse the singer of molesting them as boys violates the network’s programming guidelines.

The letter from lawyer Howard Weitzman alleges that Leaving Neverland, set to air next month, makes no attempt at getting a response to the accusers from Jackson’s estate, family, friends or others who have defended his reputation, as required by the channel’s standards for factual programming and journalistic ethics.

The letter cites a section of the publicly available guidelines which states that if a show makes “significant allegations” then “those concerned should be given an appropriate and timely opportunity to respond”.

“I think we can all agree that the false allegations being made in your ‘documentary’ are ‘significant allegations’,” the letter states, adding “it is hard to imagine more significant accusations that can possibly be made against anyone”. Yet no one was ever asked to respond, the letter says.

Channel 4 did not immediately reply to a request for comment. The film’s director Dan Reed has addressed criticism from the estate previously, saying in a statement that he intentionally focused on just Wade Robson and James Safechuck.

“Anyone who sees the film will know it is solely about hearing the stories of two specific individuals and their families in their own words, and that is a focus we are very proud of,” Mr Reed said.

Mr Robson and Mr Safechuck had previously told authorities that Jackson did not molest them, with Mr Robson testifying as much in Jackson’s 2005 trial, in which he was acquitted of molesting another boy.

Jackson died in 2009. Both men later filed lawsuits that were dismissed and are currently on appeal.