The many narratives of Michael Jackson
4/23/202643 min
Michael Jackson remains one of the most influential and celebrated musicians in modern history, yet his legacy continues to inspire both intense criticism and fascination. The new film, Michael, is set for release this week, raising the question of whether an estate-approved biopic can truly redefine an artist's legacy. Aisha Harris explores the various music videos and biopics related to this generational talent, whose narrative was crafted throughout his lifetime and long after his death, especially in the wake of sexual abuse allegations.
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
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Aisha Harris· Host0:16
A warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual abuse. In early 2019, an audience sat in the Times Center auditorium in Manhattan for a preview screening of Leaving Neverland. That's Dan Reed's controversial HBO documentary about Michael Jackson. The film's approximately four hours of testimony from James Safechuck and Wade Robson, who allege in great detail that the pop star groomed and abused them when they were children.
Speaker 2· Soundbite0:42
Secrets will eat you up. You feel so alone. I want to be able to speak the truth as loud as I had to speak the lie for so long.
Aisha Harris· Host0:56
Many of the audience members at that screening were sexual abuse survivors, and once the final credits had rolled, the house lights came up, and Oprah Winfrey took the stage, joined by Safechuck, Robson, and a psychological trauma consultant for a Q&A. The filmed conversation was meant to help everyone in that room process what they just witnessed, and it aired later on HBO as the special After Neverland.
Oprah Winfrey· Soundbite1:17
For me, this moment transcends Michael Jackson. It is much bigger than any one person. This is a moment in time that allows us to