Michael Jackson's estate is accusing HBO of helping Wade Robson and James Safechuck make millions off of Paris, Prince, and Blanket Jackson, according to The Blast.
The outlet cites legal documentation containing information presented by the estate's lawyers, which allege that the accusations made by Robson and Safechuck are not credible. According to the legal team, the two accusers who detailed the sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of Jackson, demonstrated their lack of credibility during five-years of litigation, and the estate's lawyers claim to have proof.
"They are trained actors who made up their stories years after Jackson died, in order to sue the Estate, and try to take hundreds of millions of dollars from Jackson’s rightful heirs, his three children," the documentation states. They also implicated HBO by claiming the network is in "violation of just about every journalistic standard," and "neglected to even mention in [Leaving Neverland] that the two are still pursuing claims for hundreds of millions of dollars from Jackson’s children."
The estate is suing HBO for breach of contract, arguing that Jackson had a "longstanding contractual relationship" with HBO, and is accusing the network of breaching the non-disparagement clause.
The estate's legal team is claiming the network would not have been able to release the documentary if Jackson were still alive, as he would have been able to sue "and win" for defamation. Since that legal precedent does not allow his children or the estate to put forth such claims, they're accusing HBO of intentionally waiting until Jackson had passed to release the film.
The network and the late singer's estate are reportedly at odds when it comes to the court's jurisdiction, as HBO attempted to have the case transferred to the federal level, with the estate arguing to keep it in state courts. They further expressed that they wish to pursue a "real process to expose HBO’s lack of journalistic integrity."
