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Michael Jackson Documentary 'Leaving Neverland' to Air on Channel 4 in Early March

Last night, in London's King's Cross, Channel 4 unveiled a line-up of programming for the year ahead. This included airing a clip of Dan Reed's Leaving Neverland, the documentary that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, with one of the interviewees talking about the jewellery that Michael Jackson would give him in return for sexual favours.

Channel 4 Director of Programmes Ian Katz talked about personally proud he was that they were running the documentary, especially as how he had worked as a young reporter on the original first chapter of this story. He feels ashamed that, journalistically he and the rest of the media, failed to report this story sufficiently at the time, and sees this as some form of putting the record straight.

I was later told by Channel 4 Press representatives that the four-hour-long Leaving Neverland would show on Channel 4 in the first two weeks of March. I would expect production partner HBO to air it at the same time.

You can read Bleeding Cool's review here.

Channel 4 and HBO have co-produced award-winning director Dan Reed's LEAVING NEVERLAND, a two-part documentary about two men who recount their experiences of being sexually abused by Michael Jackson.

When allegations of abuse by Jackson involving young boys surfaced in 1993, many found it hard to believe that he could be guilty of such unspeakable acts. LEAVING NEVERLAND explores the experiences of two young boys, James Safechuck, at age ten, and Wade Robson, at age seven, who were both befriended by Jackson. They and their families were entranced by the singer's fairy-tale existence as his career reached its peak.

Director Dan Reed states, "If there's anything we've learned during this time in our history, it's that sexual abuse is complicated, and survivors' voices need to be listened to. It took great courage for these two men to tell their stories and I have no question about their validity. I believe anyone who watches this film will see and feel the emotional toll on the men and their families and will appreciate the strength it takes to confront long-held secrets."

Through gut-wrenching interviews with Safechuck and Robson, now in their 30s, as well as their mothers, wives and siblings, LEAVING NEVERLAND crafts a portrait of sustained abuse, and explores the complicated feelings that led both men to confront their experiences after each had a young son of their own. Playing out against the backdrop of our collective experience, the film documents the value of breaking silence, even when it implicates a powerful and revered figure.

Tom Porter, Channel 4 Commissioning Editor, says, "Dan Reed has succeeded in making an extraordinarily compelling, yet moving film about two men whose lives were changed forever by one of the most famous men who ever lived. Channel 4 is immensely proud to have commissioned this film and created the opportunity for James' and Wade's experiences to be so sensitively told."

LEAVING NEVERLAND's Channel 4 Commissioning Editor is Tom Porter. The two-part series is made by AMOS Pictures and directed by Dan Reed.

LEAVING NEVERLAND will premiere on HBO and Channel 4 this spring.

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