Op het Sundance Film Festival is Leaving Neverland in première gegaan. De docu draait rond James Safechuck en Wade Robson, twee vermeende slachtoffers van seksueel misbruik door Michael Jackson, en is later dit jaar te zien op HBO.

Het gevreesde protest tegen de vertoning bleef uit en de zaal zat vol. Na afloop van de vier uur durende docu kregen Safechuck en Robson een staande ovatie. Zij sleepten na Jacksons dood de nabestaanden van het popicoon voor het gerecht, maar de rechter oordeelde dat zij niet verantwoordelijk konden gesteld worden voor zijn gedrag.

Vanwege de shockerende inhoud van de film had Sundance therapeuten beschikbaar gesteld om het publiek op te vangen. Uit de reacties van de pers tijdens de pauze en daarna blijkt dat geen overbodige luxe geweest te zijn. De critici spraken namelijk van een “onrustwekkende”, “hartverscheurende” en “heel geloofwaardige” film.

https://twitter.com/tyburr/status/1088913282113581056

https://twitter.com/davidehrlich/status/1088901287570096128

I saw Leaving Neverland at #Sundance and it will leave people on both sides very upset. #LeavingNeverland

— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) January 25, 2019

https://twitter.com/OriginalFresca/status/1088869011247394817

Feel sick to my stomach after watching Part 1 of #LeavingNeverland doc. Michael Jackson witnesses/sex abuse victims coming off very credible. It’s so sexually explicit that counselors are in the lobby. #SundanceFilmFestival2019

— Mara Reinstein (@MaraReinstein) January 25, 2019

Shaking. Wow. We were all wrong when we cheered for Michael Jackson. He was a pedophile. #LeavingNeverland #SundanceFilmFestival2019

— Mara Reinstein (@MaraReinstein) January 25, 2019

https://twitter.com/katerbland/status/1088867826754936833

Many common parallels in victims’ stories: MJ grooming them to hate their parents and women in general, saying God brought them together, eventually “casting them out” for younger boys. “There was a lot of jealousy and hurt. You were no longer special.”

— Patrick Ryan (@PatRyanWrites) January 25, 2019

Incredibly emotional reaction from the audience after #LeavingNeverland. One audience member says he was molested as a child and that Robson and Safechuck "are going to do a lot more f–king good in the world than Michael f–king Jackson." #Sundance

— Amy Kaufman (@AmyKinLA) January 25, 2019

https://twitter.com/adambvary/status/1088899911020630017

LEAVING NEVERLAND (PART 1): Shocking, vivid, detailed, disturbing, lengthly accounts of *alleged* sexual abuse by pop superstar #MichaelJackson on underage minors — 2 of them now grown up & interviewed extensively. Similar seductive patterns w/ both families. #Sundance pic.twitter.com/vakXMTjbTR

— Scott Mantz 🖖 (@MovieMantz) January 25, 2019

LEAVING NEVERLAND (PART 2): Focuses on the aftermath of the alleged sexual abuse from #MichaelJackson on the lives of the now grown men, their never-ending psychological upheaval & trauma, plus the effect on their torn families. Shocking, sad, disturbing, devastating. #Sundance pic.twitter.com/1fZU5nLJ2Z

— Scott Mantz 🖖 (@MovieMantz) January 25, 2019

World premiere of #LeavingNeverland at #SundanceFilmFestival2019 Disturbing, damning portrait of #michaeljackson with in-depth interviews with two men who say MJ sexually abused them for years when they were boys. Wade Robson says he was 7 when MJ first abused him #SundanceFF pic.twitter.com/qkoZyuwWQa

— MattCarey (@MattCarey) January 25, 2019

James Safechuck, Wade Robson, their mothers and siblings are dealing with so much shame and guilt for not coming forward sooner or putting a stop to the abuse, I don’t see how you can watch #LeavingNeverland and feel they’re being insincere. #Sundance2019

— Fred Topel #MaskUp #Fight4Freelancers (@FredTopel) January 25, 2019

https://twitter.com/GerrickKennedy/status/1088899721408573441

#Sundance has provided health care professionals in the theater for audience members potentially upset by #LeavingNeverland’s explicit descriptions of sexual abuse against underage boys. They are in the wings ready with counsel.

— Matt Donnelly (@MattDonnelly) January 25, 2019

Bron: /Film