Dan Reed, the director of the documentary Leaving Neverland, has sharply criticized the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael for omitting the singer’s child molestation allegations. In a recent interview, Reed questioned how the film could portray an authentic story of Jackson without addressing the serious accusations.
“How can you tell an authentic story about Michael Jackson without ever mentioning the fact that he was seriously accused of being a child molester?” Dan Reed asked.
The biopic, which has been in development, has faced backlash from Reed and others who argue that ignoring the allegations amounts to sanitizing Jackson’s legacy. Reed’s documentary presented detailed accounts from two men who alleged they were abused by Jackson as children.
Critics of the film have expressed concerns that it will cater to fans who, in Reed’s words, “turn a deaf ear” to the molestation claims. The director’s remarks highlight the ongoing debate over how to handle Jackson’s controversial legacy in popular culture.