Netflix have denied that they almost pulled their controversial docuseries Michael Jackson: The Verdict days before it was released in June.
The three-part documentary from director Nick Green focused on the King of Pop’s 2005 trial, which eventually saw him acquitted of multiple counts of child molestation.
Variety reported earlier today that sources claimed Netflix executives debated pulling the series from air just a week before it arrived on the streaming service.
“It would have been very embarrassing to pull the series after you drop the trailer — it would have been a huge story,” a source told the publication.
The source claimed that executives got “cold feet” due to concerns that Jackson’s estate could potentially sue over claims made in the film, rather than worries about fan backlash.
“It was the fear of a lawsuit from the estate rather than the fans,” the source said. “[Netflix] was really scared of their financial muscle.”
However, a spokesperson for Netflix denied these claims, saying: “Characterizations that Netflix reconsidered the release or changed course because of outside pressure are inaccurate. The series launched as planned and reached the Netflix Top 10 for three weeks.”
In 2019, the Michael Jackson estate sued HBO Max over a separate documentary, Leaving Neverland. The film was eventually pulled from distribution in 2024.
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In a statement announcing Michael Jackson: The Verdict, the filmmakers behind the series said: “It has been 20 years since the trial of Michael Jackson in which he was found not guilty.
“Yet, to this day, controversy still rages. No cameras were allowed in court, and so the public’s view of the facts at the time were filtered by commentators and presented piecemeal. It was time to take a forensic look at the trial as a whole.”
During the court case, the prosecution called several boys who accused Jackson of molesting them to take the stand. For the defense, stars including Macaulay Culkin, Jay Leno and George Lopez testified to Jackson’s character. The jury deliberated for more than 30 hours across seven days.
The “Thriller” singer faced more than 20 years in prison before he was found not guilty of all 10 felony charges against him, including four counts of child molestation, four counts of giving alcohol to a minor in order to molest him, one count of attempted child molestation and one count of conspiring to kidnap a child and hold him hostage at Neverland Ranch.
