Radio stations across the world have pulled music by the King of Pop
Major stations have removed his songs affecting millions of listeners
HBO’s Leaving Neverland documentary features accusations from two men
James Safechuck and Wade Robson said they were abused as young boys
Radio stations in Australia, Canada and New Zealand have become the latest to ban Michael Jackson from the air after horrific abuse claims.
Sydney’s Nova Entertainment on Thursday became the latest radio group to announce they are taking the late ‘King of Pop’ off the air in response to public opinion.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck claim in HBO’s Leaving Neverland that Jackson abused them aged seven and ten respectively.
Michael Jackson with Wade Robson who claims in HBO’s Leaving Neverland that Jackson abused him at the age of seven
‘In light of what is happening at the moment, SmoothFM is not currently playing any Michael Jackson songs,’ local media quoted Nova’s programme director Paul Jackson as saying.
Michael Jackson with Wade Robson who claims in HBO’s Leaving Neverland that Jackson abused him at the age of seven.
The documentary has not yet been broadcast in Australia. A second major Australian radio network, ARN, said it was ‘closely monitoring audience sentiment in relation to individual artists’.
In New Zealand, the star’s songs are now almost totally absent from the airwaves, after being pulled by the country’s two biggest radio networks, MediaWorks and NZME.
The two companies between them dominate commercial radio.
‘We aren’t deciding whether Michael Jackson is guilty of paedophilia, we’re just making sure our radio stations are going to play the music people want to hear,’ MediaWorks director of content, Leon Wratt, told Magic FM.
He said the decision was ‘a reflection of our audiences and their preferences’.
NZME group director of entertainment, Dean Buchanan, confirmed Jackson’s material was off the air, though he shied away from talk of a ban.
Meanwhile, public broadcaster Radio NZ said Jackson’s songs did not feature on its playlists anyway.
A major radio station in Quebec and Ontario announced the decision to stop playing Jackson across its 23 stations, affecting around five million listeners.
A spokeswoman told CTV: ‘We are attentive to listeners’ comments, and last night’s documentary created reactions.’
This included the popular Montreal stations, Francophone CKOI and Rythme and English-language The Beat.
It had been claimed by The Times that Jackson was quietly pulled from BBC Radio 2, but this was later denied by the BBC who say they do not ban artists.
The HBO documentary, which aired in the United States on Sunday, has rekindled long-running questions about Jackson’s relationship with children.
There had been persistent rumours throughout Jackson’s life, but no allegations were ever substantiated.
The four-hour two-part documentary – which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year – has made sure those allegations continue a decade after he died of an overdose.
The abuse alleged in the film was so appalling there were counsellors on hand for traumatised viewers.
Jackson’s estate has denied wrongdoing and filed a $100 million (£76m) lawsuit against HBO.
The 53-page complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims HBO was violating a ‘non-disparagement’ agreement by airing the documentary.
‘Ten years after his passing, there are still those out to profit from his enormous worldwide success and take advantage of his eccentricities,’ the suit claimed.
The decisions not to play Jackson’s music will no doubt further tarnish his brand and could result in a loss of radio royalties.
But it is far from clear that listeners on digital platforms are abandoning the singer in the same way, and ‘The Essential Michael Jackson’ is still the 65th most downloaded album in Australia.
Who is Wade Robson?
Wade Robson is a 36-year-old choreographer from Brisbane, Australia.
He began performing as a dancer at the age of five.
When he was nine, Robson and his family relocated to America.
He appeared in three of Jackson’s music videos – Black and White, Jam and Heal The World.
He has directed music videos and world tours for numerous music artists such as NSYNC and Britney Spears.
He has been married to actress Amanda Rodriguez since August 13, 2005, and they have one child together
The 36-year-old claims he was molested at Neverland Ranch by Michael Jackson when he was just seven.
He says the abuse went on for seven years, and alleges two Jackson firms were used to lure kids.
His lawyer Vince Finaldi said guests were ferried to the ranch in limos, given plane tickets and had food and accommodation paid for.
He added: “Neverland was nothing but a well-orchestrated trap.”
Robson previously sued Jackson’s estate for £1.2billion over the abuse but the lawsuit was dismissed when the judge ruled the estate of Jackson couldn’t be held responsible for the allegations made by the dancer.
In court filings from 2013, Robson revealed how Jackson raped him from the age of seven before “losing interest” in him when he turned 14.
Robson denied he was abused in the King of Pop’s 2005 molestation trial but is now suing the firms in California.
The dancer claims that Michael Jackson ran the most sophisticated child abuse operation the world has ever known.
It is claimed Robson’s mum says her son denied being sexually abused by the pop star after she quizzed him repeatedly over abuse allegations.
After meeting Jackson at a Los Angeles hotel room, he allegedly attempted to have anal sex with Robson, but it was too painful so Jackson stopped.
The following day, it is claimed Robson was summoned to a LA dance studio, where Jackson asked him what he did with his underwear from the previous evening and if there was any blood on it.
Robson claims he later discovered his underwear was stained so put them in the rubbish.
What is Leaving Neverland?
Documentary Leaving Neverland gives a disturbing glimpse into the lives of former boy companions of Michael Jackson – who dressed like him, allegedly slept with him and have all accused the star of sex abuse.
Two of his victims, James Safechuck and Wade Robson, have taken part in the new documentary Leaving Neverland which screened at the Sundance film festival.
They both have cases similar to that of Terry George.
The documentary was branded a “horror film” after the four-hour film’s debut revealed gruesome accounts from two of Jacko’s alleged victims who are now in their 30s.
Leaving Neverland left audience members shocked with graphic abuse claims including how he allegedly gave a young boy jewellery in exchange for sex acts.
Amy Kaufman, LA Times Hollywood writer, said: “Incredibly emotional reaction from the audience after #LeavingNeverland.
“One audience member says he was molested as a child and that Robson and Safechuck ‘are going to do a lot more f*****g good in the world than Michael f*****g Jackson’.”