Leaving Neverland: Michael Jackson and Me

[SachaStark]

Anybody else planning to watch tonight? Part 1 of 2, 9pm, Channel 4.

I'm very intrigued to watch. I remember the Martin Bashir documentary being aired years ago, and the various backlashes/criticisms that happened afterwards.

AnchorDownDeepBreath no not aimed at you, it’s the huge Twitter army who are convinced MJ is innocent. I was a huge fan in the late 70s and I am finding this devastating but I want to know the truth.

Keep reading posts on social media criticising the parents.

The blame lies solely with the abuser.

Abusers can be charming, loving, caring, convincing.

There is no explanation whatsoever for a grown man to have special sleepovers with a series of young boys. Boys who he then discarded when they grow up.

I’m not surprosed Robson was angry when he didn’t get the job. He gave his childhood to Jackson and was besotted with him. He lied under oath for him. He must have felt very betrayed.

I can understand why it took many years for the cloud to shift in his mind.

I'm getting very tired of the 'But he was so childlike defence. I keep seeing trotted out online. I've known two paedophiles(I wasn't abused by them) and both could be described as seemingly naive, immature, a big kid, collected kid's toys etc. They were all of those things and were still paedophiles. According to a paper I read it is not uncommon for some paedophiles to be rather childlike in nature.

That should read ‘I keep reading...’

The paedophile apologists are disgusting.

And people wonder why survivors of abuse don't come forward sooner? Imagine being abused by the most famous person on the earth...

Wade can dance very very well.

That aside- why would the parents allow their son to become overly obsessed with Michael Jackson ? Why ?!

Also, weren't they worried about their son's education ? Jetting off to this place to the next, watching shows, sleepovers. I don't know what was going on on their minds to allow all of this.

As for them denying it at some point. A friend who suffered childhood abuse was in her early 30s before she was able to really accept that what a family friend did to her was abuse. He did it so seemingly 'lovely' and carefully and spoiled her that she wasn't frightened by most of it. Uncomfortable at times yes but he'd groomed her so carefully that it took her a very long time to be able to accept that he knew exactly what he was doing and that it was abuse. She didn't want to think of herself as a victim. It was terrifying for her to do so. She'd convinced herself that because no physical force was used that it was A)her fault and B) that it wasn't sexual abuse.

The parents are disgusting, who wouldn't have alarm bells going off in there heads. A man wanting there child to share a bed with him. If he wasn't famous and rich would they have let him, doubt it very much!

Lovely should read lovingly.

That reminds me Pickled, one of my friends was abused by her uncle. When others accused him in later life, her mum asked her if it had happened to her too and she said no.

To this day, no one in her family knows she was a victim.

Saddened that there is more criticism being hurled at the parents here than the actual paedophile. He groomed them all FFS. No wonder survivors struggle to come forward.

It’s just like R Fucking Kelly, hiding in plain sight.

Of course he groomed the parents but it still doesn't mean that you can't believe what the parents allowed.

If a parent can't provide some protection who can.

These men are very brave. The abuse being hurled at them is appalling. No surprise how few victims come forward.

I think we are critising the parents as it’s so unbelievable that they didn’t see an issue and the way they are talking and reflecting as if it was all positive. There are no words for abusers

And let's not forget these men admitted their abuse now as parents themselves. Having your own children is very, very triggering for survivors.

It's typical grooming behaviour but on a superstar level.

I'm sorry for your friend, MazDazzle. I think that the reaction of your friend and mine is far from uncommon, but so many people have their own idea of how a rape and/or child abuse survivor should behave and if they don't adhere to the script then they can't be trusted. It's frustrating that people can't realise how complex the effects can be and how complicated the relationship between the victim and their abuser can be. Even now my friend still has fond memories of outings that her abuser took her on and gave her all his attention and spoiled her with gifts. No one else paid her nearly so much attention as he did or made her feel so special, but he was still abusing her.

I don't think people are criticising the parents more. Mj was obviously the abuser. No doubt about that. But as a parent who on this earth would leave there child with a total stranger after spending the weekend with them just because he is famous and has money. They should take some responsibility that they failed to protect there child as they left them with a stranger and let him share a bed.

Too right I blame the parents.

No-one is an abuser until they get access to a child.

The parents gave their blessing for that access. It's heinous.

Most rock/pop stars in the 80s were throwing TVs out of hotel rooms, shagging endless women and taking drugs. MJ was building a theme park and getting young boys to sleep in his bed...............

Their stories are very consistent and similar

Exactly Twistin

Too similar not to believe them both.

And again, telling the child not to tell anyone or else they’ll both go to jail. Classic abuser tactics, silencing the victim.

A lot of detail