James Safechuck, one of two men whose allegations of child sexual abuse at the hands of Michael Jackson contributed to the 2019 HBO documentary Leaving Neverlandreleased a video message to other survivors of child sexual abuse, timed with the renewed publicity surrounding Jackson’s upcoming biopic Michael.
Distributed by Safechuck attorney John Carpenter of Los Angeles plaintiffs firm Carpenter & Zuckerman, the video addresses other survivors of child sexual abuse.
“the Michael “The movie comes out and gets a lot of promotion,” Safechuck, 48, says. “There are billboards and commercials and just people paying tribute to Michael and that can be motivating for survivors who have their own Michael in their lives, whether it’s the priest who is close to God or the sports coach who just helps the kids or the stepfather who supports the family.
He continues: “Our attackers are sometimes praised, even after we come out and tell the truth.” “I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone and that there are other survivors who understand what you are going through and are there for you. And if you are feeling all the feelings, turn to the people close to you, turn to the people who support you and give you love and know that you are not alone. … [T]Telling the truth and telling what happened is good and is part of your healing.
Safechuck is one of the plaintiffs in an ongoing civil lawsuit against Jackson’s corporate entities, MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures, which the California Court of Appeals revived in 2023 after years of dismissal.
Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jafar Jackson — Michael Jackson’s nephew — as the late singer, has already broken box office records heading into its opening weekend. Michael It earned $12.6 million in Wednesday and Thursday previews, putting it on track to open to over $70 million domestically, the highest start ever for a musical biopic.
Dan Reed, Director Leaving NeverlandHe said Hollywood Reporter In an interview, “People don’t care about that [Jackson] He was a child molester. “Literally, people don’t care.”
Jackson’s estate has consistently denied the allegations made by Safechuck and his associate Leaving Neverland The film’s subject, Wade Robson, said after the project won a 2019 Emmy Award: “The film takes unsubstantiated claims that supposedly happened 20 years ago and treats them as fact.”
says Safechuck’s attorney, Carpenter THR His client was “struggling with everyone celebrating his abuser,” which prompted him to produce the video. “The most successful abusers, whether they be Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein, priests, trainers, relatives, or Cesar Chavez, tend to have excessive power and/or influence, which translates into misplaced trust,” says Carpenter. “It’s very powerful. It’s very painful when people celebrate their abuser. And so I think that’s what’s happening now.”
Carpenter says he doesn’t expect Robson to issue a statement on that Michael. As for the pending trial, Carpenter says the date is currently “in flux” but he expects it to happen “sometime in 2027.”
