Madonna is speaking out in defense of Michael Jackson amid the release of HBO’s controversial documentary series, “LeavingNeverland.”
Earlier this year, HBO released “Leaving Neverland,” a docu-series that details the sexual abuse allegations of two men: Wade Robson and James Safechuck, against Jackson. The project sparked a ton of backlash before and after it premiered on January 25, and has since ignited an ongoing legal battle between Jackson’s estate and HBO.
While the King of Pop isn’t alive to protect his name, the Queen of Pop is breaking her silence on the allegations. The 60-year-old said she hadn’t seen the film. “I don’t have a lynch-mob mentality, so in my mind, people are innocent until proven guilty,” said the singer to British Vogue. “I’ve had a thousand accusations hurled at me that are not true. So my attitude when people tell me things about people is, ‘Can you prove it?'”
When asked what would stand as proof of Jackson’s guilt, she replied: “I don’t know; I haven’t seen the film. But I guess it would be people recounting actual events – but then, of course, people sometimes lie.” “So I always say, ‘What’s the agenda? What do people want out of this? Are there people asking for money, is there some kind of extortion thing happening?’ I would take all of those things into consideration.” However, Madonna says she may watch the series at some point. “I guess I’ll get around to seeing it. I haven’t seen it yet.”
Mike and Madonna were reportedly very close during their music careers and even attended the 1991 Oscars ceremony together. Madonna called it the “best date ever.”
