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Emmy-winning director Dan Reed expressed his dissatisfaction with the new biographical film Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, considering it a whitewashing of the late pop star Michael Jackson's image, while ignoring the child sexual abuse allegations addressed in his documentary Leaving Neverland.
In an interview with Variety, Reed stated that the film Michael presents a distorted picture of Jackson, portraying him as an eternal child victim of an authoritarian father, and concludes its narrative before the first abuse allegations emerged in 1988, thereby disregarding the accusations made by Wade Robson and James Safechuck in his documentary.
Commercial Success Amid Intense Controversy
The film Michael achieved significant box office success, grossing $219 million during its opening weekend. However, it provoked Reed's anger, who described the performance of the actor portraying Jackson as "wooden" and lacking psychological depth. He considered that the film creates a false narrative that denies the allegations against Jackson and depicts his victims as liars.
Rejecting the Whitewashing of Allegations
Reed explained that the film attempts to depict Jackson's relationship with children as innocent and motivated solely by goodwill, which he described as "disgusting," pointing out that this justification fails to explain the reality of Jackson being with young children in bedrooms—a well-known fact that cannot be ignored in the context of the allegations.
He added that the film does not offer a convincing alternative narrative but relies on portraying Jackson as an eccentric and developmentally delayed child, ignoring the evidence and testimonies provided by the sexual abuse victims.
The Importance of the Discussion Around the Film
Reed's statements come amid ongoing controversy surrounding Michael Jackson's persona and artistic legacy. The film Michael attempts to present a perspective different from that of Leaving Neverland, opening a broad discussion on how to address child sexual abuse issues in the context of celebrities' lives and their cultural impact.
This news has been re-edited based on a report published on variety.com, while maintaining the core facts presented in the source.
