Oprah Winfreywants thevoices of the two menaccusing the lateMichael Jacksonof sexual abuse to be heard, as she, herself, once did not feel brave enough to speak up aboutbeing molested as a child.
InLeaving Neverland, the highly anticipated documentary that premiered over the weekend on HBO, Wade Robson, 36, and James Safechuck, 40,allege Jackson molested themas boys.Leaving Neverlandgarnered significant buzz upon its premiere at theSundance Film Festivalin January, and was broadcast in two parts on Sunday and Monday. Winfrey’s specialOprah WinfreyPresents: After Neverlandaired immediately following the documentary andfeatured Winfrey supporting the alleged victimsdespite expected backlash from Jackson fans.
“It happened to me at 9, and then 10, and then 11, and then 12, 13, 14. You don’t have the language to begin to explain what’s happening to you,” theA Wrinkle in Timestar told PEOPLE for theMarch 12, 2018 cover story. “That’s why you feel you’re not going to be believed. And if the abuser, the molester, is any good, they will make you feel that you are complicit, that you were part of it. That’s what keeps you from telling.”
JB Lacroix/WireImage
Thanks to the #MeToo movement that picked up steam after theHarvey Weinstein scandalbroke in October 2017, hundreds of women in the entertainment, music and fashion industry, including Winfrey, came forward tospeak up about their own sexual harassment stories.
“Women all over the country have been in situations with domineering, brutish men and had to remain silent about it to keep food on the table,” she said about women always having to deal with brutish men in the workplace.
Women inspire women. Although Winfrey chose to keep the truth locked up for decades, she first felt the urge to reveal her story to comfort a sexual assault victim on her former talk show,People Are Talking.
“The moment I first confessed onTheOprah WinfreyShowto being molested, I confessed because there had been a time years before when a girl on thePeople Are Talkingshow I did in Baltimore had told the story of being molested, and I did not have the courage at that time to say out loud, ‘Me too,'” Winfrey revealed.
Oprah.Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
The mogul said she told the girl her similar experience after the show and said she “was scared to say that” when the girl questioned her for not speaking up. That moment stayed with Winfrey and she didn’t hesitate when she had a second chance in 1986 on her talk show. “And then one day on the show someone said it, so I felt compelled to speak up,” she recalled.
Winfrey’sinterview with Robson and Safechuckcomes 26 years after the host famously sat down with Jackson in February 1993 for a live interview that pulled in more than 90 million viewers, according toOprah.com. Five months later, in August 1993, accusations that Jackson had molested then 13-year-old Jordan Chandler were made public. Though Jackson denied the accusations, the case was eventually settled out of court for over $20 million.
Oprah and Michael Jackson.
Leaving Neverlandhasdrawn criticism from members of Jackson’s family, including his brothersTito, 65, Marlon, 61, and Jackie, 67, who emphaticallydeny any allegationsof abuse.
“I don’t care to see it,” Jackie, 67, said. “No, because I know my brother. I don’t have to see that documentary. I know Michael. I’m the oldest brother. I know my brother. I know what he stood for. What he was all about. Bringing the world together. Making kids happy. That’s the kind of person he was.”
Taj Jackson, 45, noted that he believed Robson and Safechuck were only coming forward to receive a payday.
“It’s always been about money,” he told King. “I hate to say it. When it’s my uncle, it’s almost like they see a blank check.”
Robson and Safechuck themselves appeared onCBS This Morningto talk with King on Thursday.
The King of Pop’s estate hasfiled a $100 million lawsuitagainst HBO over its planned broadcast of the documentary, alleging it violates a non-disparagement clause from a 1992 contract.
Michael Jackson.Michael Ochs Archive/Getty
source: people.com
