French groups suing Michael Jackson Leaving Neverland sexual abuse accusers

Three Michael Jackson fan clubs in France have launched legal proceedings against the men who accused the late star of abusing them in Leaving Neverland documentary, the Reuter is reporting.

The clubs, The Michel Jackson Community, the MJ Street and On the Line are suing James Safechuck and Wade Robson, who both say they were sexually abused by Jackson as children. Their claims form the basis of HBO’s Leaving Neverland.

According to Reuters, the case is allowed to go as French defamation laws extend libel protection beyond death. The groups are asking for seeking symbolic damages of 1 euro each.

In Leaving Neverland, directed by British filmmaker Dan Reed, both Safechuck and Robson say they were befriended by the late singer in the 1990s and were showered with gifts and affection before the sexual abuse began.

Following the documentary, which was broadcast on the M6 channel in France, some radio stations stopped playing his music and fashion brand Louis Vuitton removed Jackson-themed items from its 2019 summer menswear collection.

The fans’ lawyer, Emmanuel Ludot, said the allegations – broadcast in the UK on Channel 4 – amounted to a “genuine lynching” of Jackson, who died in 2009.

In 2014, Mr Ludot represented the Michael Jackson Community when they won nominal damages of one euro from the pop star’s private doctor, Conrad Murray, for his part in Jackson’s death.