Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who both allege Michael Jackson sexually abused them as children, were the subjects of the third part of a CBS This Morning series on the upcoming HBO doc Leaving Neverland.
The latest interview aired Thursday and sees both men, who were reportedly not paid for their participation in the documentary, recalling how the alleged abuse began. Speaking on his 2005 testimony that is contradicted by his Leaving Neverland claims, Robson argued that he was being trained to testify from the moment he met Michael.
"The training—Michael's training of me to testify began the first night that he started abusing me," Robson said. "He started telling me that if anybody else ever finds out, we'll both go to jail, both of our lives would be over." Robson added that, looking back, he wishes he had been ready at the time to tell what he says is the truth.
"I wish that I could've helped [2005 criminal case accuser] Gavin Arvizo receive some justice and some validation for what happened to him that was just like what happened to me and just like what happened to James," Robson said. "And I wish that I could have played a role in, at that point, stopping Michael from abusing however many other kids he did after that."
Robson and Safechuck believe other alleged victims exist, though it's not likely they'll immediately come forward. "It's such a difficult thing to do, to come out," Safechuck said. "You have to do it when you're ready." They also both described Jackson's alleged abuse in graphic detail.
The Jackson family elaborated on their objections to Dan Reed's doc in a separate CBS interview Wednesday. The family—specifically Marlon, Jackie, Tito, and Taj Jackson—argued that the production is "all about money" and took issue with Reed's decision to not interview them.
"I hate to say it when it's my uncle, but it's almost like they see a blank check," Taj said Wednesday. "These people felt that they're owed something. You know, instead of working for something, they blame everything on my uncle."
The estate recently filed an injunction seeking "damages proximately caused by" the film's release.
This week also saw reports that Jackson's Neverland ranch was back on the market at a reduced rate of $31 million. When the property was first placed on the market in 2015, the asking price was $100 million.
