Dan Reed, the filmmaker behind the explosive 2019 Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland, has hit out at the new biopic starring Jaafar Jackson as his uncle.
Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, opened in theaters on Friday to a 96 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes from more than 1,000 ratings despite being widely panned by critics. The film charts The King of Pop’s rise from Jackson 5 child star to 1980s icon, ending around 1988 and omitting the later abuse allegations he denied and was acquitted of.
“It says that people don’t care that he was a child molester. Literally, people just don’t care,” Reed told The Hollywood Reporter of the film in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
“I think a lot of people just love his music and turn a deaf ear. And short of having actual video evidence of Michael Jackson engaged in sexual intercourse with a seven-year-old child, I don’t know what would be sufficient to change these people’s minds.”
Reed’s film focused on two men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who allege they were sexually abused as children by Jackson, and was vehemently condemned by the singer’s estate.
In his interview with THR, Reed went on to criticize the media coverage surrounding the new biopic.
“I think clearly some of the press is sucking up to the Jackson machine because: A, the estate and the fan base has always ensured that the price of criticizing Michael is years of invective and smears and what have you,” he opined.
“And B, there’s a ton of money to be made by any kind of association with the Jackson IP. If you can get on board and be part of the success of this movie, then that’s going to be good for you.”
He continued: “So a lot of people, I think, will kind of swallow any misgivings they may have and just sort of say, ‘Oh well, it’s a great jukebox movie' and just completely ignore the fact that this guy was worse than Jeffrey Epstein.”
The Independent has contacted John Branca, the co-executor of the Jackson estate, for comment.
In a one-star review, The Independent’s film critic Clarisse Loughrey decried Michael as a “ghoulish, soulless cash grab.”
“If Michael exists to smooth out an icon’s legacy, it does so by eradicating anything that might indicate intent or agency beyond some nebulous idea that Jackson was a dreamer destined to ‘spread love and heal,’” wrote Loughrey.
However, theater audiences have rendered a different verdict, putting it on track to earn a $140-150 million worldwide opening, smashing records.
Michael is out now in theaters.
Cinemagoers defy dire Michael reviews as audiences lap up new biopic
Kat Graham reveals why she was cut out of Michael Jackson biopic
Colman Domingo defends Michael Jackson biopic amid claims it ‘whitewashes’ legacy
Jack Nicholson, 89, delights movie fans with rare new photo
