Home / Arts and Entertainment / Filmmaker Slams MJ Biopic's 'Icky' Narrative
Filmmaker Slams MJ Biopic's 'Icky' Narrative
29 Apr
Summary
- Filmmaker Dan Reed criticizes biopic for omitting child abuse allegations.
- He describes the film's charitable portrayal of Jackson as 'icky'.
- Reed stresses respecting abuse survivors' stories alongside Jackson's legacy.
Filmmaker Dan Reed has sharply criticized the new Michael Jackson biopic, "Michael," for presenting a skewed and incomplete narrative surrounding the pop icon's alleged abusive behavior.
Reed expressed discomfort with scenes portraying Jackson's interactions with children as solely philanthropic, calling the depiction "icky." He argued that the film, by focusing on such benign moments, implicitly undermines the experiences of accusers like Wade Robson and James Safechuck.
In a 2019 documentary, "Leaving Neverland," Reed provided a platform for Robson and Safechuck to detail their allegations of child sexual abuse against Jackson. The documentary explored the survivors' long-term trauma, contrasting with the biopic's approach.
Reed pointed out that the biopic frames figures like security guard Bill Bray heroically, contradicting accounts from "Leaving Neverland" where security was allegedly complicit during instances of abuse.
He questioned the estate's efforts to shield Jackson's legacy, noting that undisputed facts about Jackson's behavior with young male companions are being downplayed or ignored in favor of nonsensical explanations. Reed insists that acknowledging the accusers' stories is crucial, even while not calling for Jackson's music to be canceled.
