
“Other provisions in the Agreement require HBO to notify and consult with Jackson and Optimum Productions if it wishes to air additional programming about Jackson.” “In those non-disparagement provisions, HBO promised that ‘HBO shall not make any disparaging remarks concerning Performer or any of his representatives, agents, or business practices or do any act that may harm or disparage or cause to lower in esteem the reputation or public image of Performer,'” states the complaint. The year was 1992, and many media outlets were said to be chasing Jackson’s televised concert at that time.
Michael jackson hbo leaving neverland plus#
The law may give no recourse to dead individuals when it comes to reputation, but those managing the Jackson business have found a way to haul HBO into court over Leaving Neverland.Īfter going through attacks on Jackson’s two accusers - Wade Robson and James Safechuck, plus filmmaker Dan Reed and HBO - for failing to meet with them to address concerns about what the estate sees as a one-sided propaganda film, the plaintiffs discuss the old contract that HBO made to air a first-ever televised concert after the release of Jackson’s album Dangerous. Michael is an easy target because he is not here to defend himself, and the law does not protect the deceased from defamation, no matter how extreme the lies are.” Ten years after his passing, there are still those out to profit from his enormous worldwide success and take advantage of his eccentricities.
Michael jackson hbo leaving neverland trial#
“In 2005, Michael Jackson was subjected to a trial - where rules of evidence and law were applied before a neutral judge and jury and where both sides were heard - and he was exonerated by a sophisticated jury. Period,” begins the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. On Thursday, Optimum Productions and the two co-executors of the Jackson estate sued HBO and parent company Time Warner claiming the documentary constitutes a breach of a non-disparagement clause in an old contract.

According to the court filing, damages could exceed $100 million.The Michael Jackson Estate is hardly letting go of Leaving Neverland, the documentary about the late pop star’s alleged sexual abuse that is set to air next month on HBO. The Jackson estate filed a lawsuit against HBO earlier this year saying the cable network violated a non-disparagement agreement with the late pop star. “I believe for the accusers, the director and HBO this has always been about the money and ratings,” Weitzman continued. “Safechuck’s train station fiction is one of several lies in this film which shows that neither the director or HBO ever bothered to verify the claims made by these accusers,” said Howard Weitzman, an attorney for the Jackson estate, in a statement. The cases were dismissed and are currently under appeal, according to a lawyer who represents both Safechuck and Robson. Safechuck, now 41, along with “Leaving Neverland’s” other accuser, Wade Robson, 36, defended Jackson’s honor when the singer was alive but filed lawsuits against his estate asking for millions of dollars after his death. There is no train station, only a floral clock (top of image). This is a photo of the Neverland Ranch taken on Augby photographer Steven D Starr.

He referenced “source notes” in one of the cited books which he claimed clarified that the author’s “description of what Neverland might have looked like to visitors in 1990 was in fact based on a 2003 sheriff’s department video.” Smallcombe said the other publication “did not say the train station was there” in 1990 and was penned by a ghostwriter collaborating with two bodyguards who “did not start working for Jackson until the mid-2000s.” Those accounts were dismissed by Smallcombe on Tuesday morning. On Monday, The Mirror reported that “the story has taken another turn as it’s emerged that two Jackson biographers both wrote about another train station on the grounds of the estate, which was there in 1990.” And his sexual contact with Michael lasted into his teens. In fact he took photos of the completed station which we included in the doc.

James was present at Neverland before and after the train station was built.
