New film violates UK’s networks standards, says Michael Jackson estate

Romar Fernando

February 12, 2019

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  Photo Credit: Variety

  The Michael Jackson estate has caught the attention of the Channel 4 in the United Kingdom on the case of the documentary about the late pop singer and his alleged abuse to two men, saying that it does violates the network’s programming standards.

  The Associated Press states that a letter was written by the estate lawyer named Howard Weitzman and released on Monday stating that the documentary, “Leaving Neverland” violates the guidelines on factual programming and basic journalistic ethics. According to Atty. Weitzman, the documentary production team did not make any attempts to get response from the Jackson’s estate, family or friends.

  “I think we can all agree that the false allegations being made in your ‘documentary’ are ‘significant allegations,’ it is hard to imagine more significant accusations that can possibly be made against anyone… This includes persons mentioned by name in your ‘documentary’ as having ‘replaced’ Robson and Safechuck as Jackson’s supposed victims of abuse. Those named persons eloquently and publicly deny ever being abused,” the letter states.

  Channel 4 replied in a statement saying that the documentary meets Britain’s broadcasting code. “On this occasion the person against whom the significant allegations are being made is deceased. It is therefore appropriate that his denials during life are included in the program,” the station said.

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