Leaving Neverland

Leaving Neverland is a 2019 documentary television film directed and produced by Dan Reed. It focuses on Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who say they were sexually abused as children by the American singer Michael Jackson. Following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2019, Leaving Neverland was broadcast in two parts on HBO. In March 2019, a shortened version was broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK. Leaving Neverland received acclaim, winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, but garnered mixed reviews from viewers. Leaving Neverland triggered a media backlash against Jackson and a reassessment of his legacy. However, it also boosted sales of his music. Jackson's estate condemned it as a "tabloid character assassination", while Jackson's fans organized protests. A number of rebuttal documentaries seeking to refute the allegations were released. In February 2019, the Jackson estate successfully sued HBO for breaching a non-disparagement clause by distributing the film. Leaving Neverland 2: Surviving Michael Jackson premiered on March 18, 2025.