Michael Jackson Accusers Seeking To Open Sealed Records Including Shocking Photos Of Superstar
According to a recent write-up in People, the alleged victims of Michael Jackson’s sexual abuse are seeking to open sealed records regarding the case, which include fully nude photos of the now-deceased pop star.
Obviously, Michael Jackson’s production company, MJJ Productions, has attempted to block this request, citing invasion of privacy. This is clearly a highly sensitive matter, which is currently still unfolding in real-time.
Unsealing Documents
The accusers attempting to unseal the documents have been named as James Safechuck and Wade Robson, who previously appeared in the HBO documentary Leaving Neverland.
In the documentary, the pair, who are now in their forties, claim that Michael Jackson molested them throughout their childhood, leading to lasting trauma which has shaken the course of their lives.
Very Little Headway
Despite these claims, the accusers have made very little headway with earning restitution from the Jackson estate and MJJ Productions, which they claim is responsible for Michael’s actions during his life.
The images included in the sealed documents are held shut by a protective order from the Superior Court of Santa Barbara.
Photos Taken By Authorities
Apparently, the images, which include photographs of Michael Jackson’s nude body and up-close shots of his genitalia, were taken by authorities to be entered into evidence during the initial 2005 trial following accusations from Gavin Arvizo.
Robson was a character witness during this trial, and initially claimed that he had never been touched by the “Thriller” vocalist, before changing his tune years later.
Breach Of Privacy?
Likewise, Safechuck first testified on Michael Jackson’s behalf during a less-publicized molestation trial in 1993, before eventually joining Robson in suing the Jackson estate in 2013.
According to newly uncovered documents, the duo has been issuing subpoenas to reveal the sealed records since July 2018.
Reps from MJJ claim that, since the photographs were not taken with Jackson’s consent, and were the result of a criminal trial for which he was ultimately acquitted, the unsealing of the nude photos would be a massive breach of privacy, tantamount to revenge porn.
Mudslinging On Both Sides
Unsurprisingly, there has been a great deal of mudslinging on both sides of this case, with those in support of the Jackson estate claiming that Robson and Safechuck are simply ideologically inconsistent opportunists seeking to use Michael Jackson’s legacy as a cheap payday.
Others still claim that Jackson was guilty of child molestation and argue that those in charge of MJJ Productions were not only aware of the ongoing abuse but aided and abetted in the crimes and actively participated in a cover-up. Needless to say, none of these claims have been successfully proven in a court of law.
Controversy Raging
In addition to all this chaos regarding the legal dispute, the estate is likely trying to save face amidst the forthcoming Michael Jackson biopic Michael, which is poised to premiere in 2025.
A lawyer for Robson and Safechuck has expressed as much in a statement to the press, claiming that the estate are attempting to stifle the pair until after the film’s release.
With the controversy still raging on nearly two decades after the pop-star’s passing, it truly seems as though there’s no end in sight to the legal asterisks placed on Michael Jackson’s legacy.
Source: People
