‘Leaving Neverland’ Early Buzz: Disturbing Documentary Chronicles Michael Jackson’s History Of Abuse
Leaving Neverland, the documentary investigating Michael Jackson’s years of sexual abuse allegations, premiered at Sundance Friday. The four-hour documentary directed byDan Reedchronicles the King of Pop’s long-running relationships with two boys,James SafechuckandWade Robson, during the 1990s. “Now in their 30s, they tell the story of how they were sexually abused by Jackson, and how they came to terms with it years later,” the film’s official synopsis reads.
The documentary premiered amid backlash against the film’s contents and “direct threats” against Reed’s life, causing Park City police toraise securityaround the Friday screening. However, the protesters reportedly didn’t appear, andLeaving Neverlandwas shown to a packed audience that gave the documentary and its subjects Safechuck and Robson a standing ovation. Critics who left the screening called it “disturbing,” “exhaustive,” “a devastating, deeply credible piece of filmmaking.”
Read on to see the rest of theLeaving Neverlandearly buzz.
Allegations against Jackson have plagued his career, and in 2004, the music icon was charged with molesting 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo. But after 18 months, Jackson was acquitted of all charges.
Following Jackson’s death in 2009, both Robson and Safechuck brought civil suits against the Jackson Estate, which calledLeaving Neverland “another rehash of dated and discredited allegations.” In 2017, a judge threw out the lawsuits, arguing that the Jackson Estate couldn’t be held liable for the singer’s own behavior. Now, 10 years after the pop singer’s death,Leaving Neverlandis re-litigating his legacy to devastating effect, according to critics who saw it at the Sundance premiere.
I saw Leaving Neverland at#Sundanceand it will leave people on both sides very upset.#LeavingNeverland
— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel)June 05, 2025
Feel sick to my stomach after watching Part 1 of#LeavingNeverlanddoc. Michael Jackson witnesses/sex abuse victims coming off very credible. It’s so sexually explicit that counselors are in the lobby.#SundanceFilmFestival2019
— Mara Reinstein (@MaraReinstein)August 11, 2025
Shaking. Wow. We were all wrong when we cheered for Michael Jackson. He was a pedophile.#LeavingNeverland#SundanceFilmFestival2019
Many common parallels in victims' stories: MJ grooming them to hate their parents and women in general, saying God brought them together, eventually “casting them out” for younger boys. “There was a lot of jealousy and hurt. You were no longer special.”
— Patrick Ryan (@PatRyanWrites)June 30, 2025
Incredibly emotional reaction from the audience after#LeavingNeverland. One audience member says he was molested as a child and that Robson and Safechuck “are going to do a lot more f–king good in the world than Michael f–king Jackson."#Sundance
— Amy Kaufman (@AmyKinLA)August 25, 2025
LEAVING NEVERLAND (PART 1): Shocking, vivid, detailed, disturbing, lengthly accounts of alleged sexual abuse by pop superstar#MichaelJacksonon underage minors — 2 of them now grown up & interviewed extensively. Similar seductive patterns w/ both families.#Sundancepic.twitter.com/vakXMTjbTR
— Scott Mantz 🖖 (@MovieMantz)June 17, 2025
LEAVING NEVERLAND (PART 2): Focuses on the aftermath of the alleged sexual abuse from#MichaelJacksonon the lives of the now grown men, their never-ending psychological upheaval & trauma, plus the effect on their torn families. Shocking, sad, disturbing, devastating.#Sundancepic.twitter.com/1fZU5nLJ2Z
World premiere of#LeavingNeverlandat#SundanceFilmFestival2019Disturbing, damning portrait of#michaeljacksonwith in-depth interviews with two men who say MJ sexually abused them for years when they were boys. Wade Robson says he was 7 when MJ first abused him#SundanceFFpic.twitter.com/qkoZyuwWQa
— MattCarey (@MattCarey)June 24, 2025
James Safechuck, Wade Robson, their mothers and siblings are dealing with so much shame and guilt for not coming forward sooner or putting a stop to the abuse, I don’t see how you’re able to watch#LeavingNeverlandand feel they’re being insincere.#Sundance2019
— Fred Topel (@FredTopel)August 22, 2025
#Sundancehas provided health care professionals in the theater for audience members potentially upset by#LeavingNeverland’s explicit descriptions of sexual abuse against underage boys. They are in the wings ready with counsel.
— Matt Donnelly (@MattDonnelly)July 22, 2025
As the critics who attended the screening noted, a team of mental health counselors were provided by the festival for audience members who were upset by the film’s disturbing content. And based on the critics' reaction, that content was deeply upsetting but profoundly important. The allegations against Jackson dogged him throughout his career, and was essentially a public secret, yet it took a decade after the singer’s death and the phenomenon following the Harvey Weinstein expose for a documentary of this caliber to be released.
As the film begins to make its way beyond the festival circuit, count on it making a major impact on Jackson’s legacy and the music industry at large.
