Judge Says Companies Had No Legal Responsibility in Michael Jackson Abuse
The Claim
Late pop star Michael Jackson has been absolved of alleged sexual abuse crimes.
News posted on
Emerging story
On Monday, a judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by Wade Robson against Michael Jackson’s estate. The defendants in the lawsuit were the late singer’s companies, MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures, and the judge ruled that the companies had no legal responsibility over Jackson’s behavior. As the news spread, #mjinnocent began trending on Twitter, and fans celebrated, claiming that Jackson had been “absolved” of his alleged crimes.
Misbar’s Analysis
Claims that Michael Jackson has been absolved of his alleged crimes are false. A judge has ruled in favor of Michael Jackson’s estate, stating that his companies were not responsible for protecting Robson at the time of the alleged sexual abuse. "There is no evidence supporting plaintiff's contention that defendants exercised control over Jackson," the judge wrote. This is not a ruling on whether the allegations of abuse by the former pop star are true.
Robson, whose story was featured in the 2019 film, Leaving Neverland, had at first defended Jackson against allegations by another child in 2005. Then in 2013, he came forward stating that Jackson had severely abused him for many years starting when he was seven. Robson said that he’d been manipulated and brainwashed for years, and after the birth of his own child along with nervous breakdowns, was compelled to break his silence.
His first lawsuit in 2013 was dismissed due to a statute of limitations deadline. His lawyers filed a revised complaint after a California law changed to grant those who allege sexual abuse more time for legal action. The lawsuit stated that the secondary purpose of MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures “was to operate as a child sexual abuse operation, specifically designed to locate, attract, lure and seduce child sexual abuse victims."
While this latest lawsuit has been dismissed, Robson’s lawyers plan to appeal the decision. Judges at no point have ruled on the credibility of Robson’s allegations.
