Michael Jackson fans online have slammed Netflix after it announced a new documentary. Weeks after the biopic, Michael, was released, the streaming giant released a trailer for a three-part docuseries.
Netflix announced the release of its docuseries titled Michael Jackson: The Verdict on Wednesday, May 20. The three-part series will stream on the platform from June 3. It will take the viewers through the 2005 criminal trial of Jackson, where he was found not guilty on allegations of child molestation.
The description of the show reads:
“In 2003, Michael Jackson — arguably the most famous and beloved figure in pop culture of all time — was charged with multiple counts of child molestation, setting off a media firestorm and courtroom proceedings that captivated millions.”
“His acquittal on all counts only further stoked public interest in the larger-than-life celebrity at the center of the trial, interest that continues to persist long after Jackson’s death in 2009,” it added.
This has led to a major social media outrage among Jackson’s fanbase. They have started a trend with the hashtag ‘#CancelNetflix’, urging the streaming giant not to release the docuseries. Comments on most of Netflix’s social media accounts see a similar backlash, as one X (formerly Twitter) user shared:
Here are some other such posts on X:
Notably, Michael Jackson was charged in 2003 for allegedly molesting Gavin Arvizo, who was 13 at the time. However, on July 13, 2005, he was declared not guilty after a high-profile trial. The likes of Macaulay Culkin, Chris Tucker, Jay Leno, and George Lopez were also called in as witnesses.
Why did Michael Jackson’s biopic not contain his child molestation charges?
The biopic, released in April, which has earned over $600 million globally, had no mention of the child molestation charges against Michael Jackson. It showed the story of how he grew up to become one of the most iconic names in the entertainment industry.
However, according to Variety, there was one scene depicting his 1993 child molestation charges. However, it was later scrapped due to a clause in the settlement between the Jackson Estate, producers of the biopic, and Jackson’s accusers. It barred them from mentioning Jordan Chandler, one of the superstar’s accusers.
Meanwhile, Coleman Domingo, who played Joe Jackson in Michael, also opened up about this in April and said:
“The film takes place from the ’60s to 1988, so it does not go into the first allegations. So basically, we centered it on the makings of Michael. So, it’s an intimate portrait of who Michael is … through his eyes. So, that’s what it is, that’s what this film is.”
“And there’s a possibility of there being a part two that may deal with some other things that happened afterwards. This is about the making of Michael, how he was raised, and then how he was trying to find his voice as an artist and be a solo artist. That’s what I have to say about that,” he added.
He and Nia Long opened up to the possibility of a sequel that could depict the second half of Jackson’s life. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Adam Fogelson has also hinted at a potential sequel.
Edited by Aditya Singh