#Exclusive, HBO Executive Calls Reports On ‘Leaving Neverland’ Being Pulled “Untrue”


Regardless of what side you’re on regarding the Leaving Neverland documentary about Michael Jackson, it’s very clear that two sides are combatting one another to reveal their version of the truth.

Jackson Family Picture

Leaving Neverland was produced and directed by by Dan Reed, and the documentary is described as the following by the HBO website. “Leaving Neverland is a two-part documentary exploring the separate but parallel experiences of two young boys, James Safechuck, at age 10, and Wade Robson, at age 7, both of whom were befriended by Michael Jackson.”

The description continues with the following: “Through gut-wrenching interviews with Safechuck, now 40, and Robson, now 36, as well as their mothers, wives and siblings, the film crafts a portrait of sustained abuse, exploring the complicated feelings that led both men to confront their experiences after both had a young son of his own.

There have been reports circulating that Reed acknowledged that false statements were made in the documentary, and as a result, the rumors that the documentary would be taken down gained traction. However, that is not the case according to Quentin Schaffer, Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications at HBO.

I reached out to Schaffer on the news reports of the documentary being taken down, which he called “untrue.”

“Leaving Neverland is available on HBO through April 16th and then will continue to be available on HBO NOW and HBO GO.  It is now the second most watched documentary on HBO in ten years having reached 7.5 million people for Part 1.”