The most shocking revelations from the first part of the documentary
Ten years after the death of Michael Jackson, the famous singer who left his indelible mark on pop music is again at the center of a huge scandal of child sexual abuse, but this time he does not say to stop.
The reason for the revival of these old complaints is a controversial HBO documentary entitled Leaving Neverland, which premiered yesterday on the American channel despite the strong reactions from the Jackson family, but also from the financially powerful institution that manages his property.
In recent weeks, American and British media have published a "taste" of the really shocking allegations made against the pop idol by two men, 36-year-old Wade Robson and 40-year-old James Shaifchak.
Both complainants claim to have been systematically and for years abused by Michael Jackson when they were children and hosted with their families (or without) on the singer's famous ranch.
The stories of the two men about how the pop star approached them, won the trust of themselves and their parents and we prepare them to accept the abuse without protest, have many similarities. If one believes what the two men say, Jackson had a unique way of convincing his victims that the sick acts that took place in his bedroom were a product of love and tenderness.
At the same time, however, he always took care to ensure their silence, teaching them to cover up traces of abuse or simply terrorizing them with fictional stories of what would happen if they ever revealed their secret.
Read below the most shocking revelations from the first part of the documentary that aired yesterday
The abuse started at an unimaginably young age
Shaifchak, now 40, met Michael Jackson while filming a Pepsi commercial in 1986, when he was just seven years old. As he reveals in the documentary, the pop star invited him and his family to accompany him on a tour. Their relationship became sexual at that very moment, when Jackson taught Seifchak how to masturbate.
"He presented it to me as something that everyone does and something that I would enjoy. It was a way to bond more. "The tour was the beginning of this sexual relationship, reminiscent of a couple's relationship," explains Seifchak.
Robson, on the other hand, met Jackson when he was 5 years old and won a dance competition in his home country, Australia. The prize's victory was a meeting with Michael Jackson, in the backstage of a concert in Brisbane. In 1990, when Robson was about 8 years old, his family reunited with Jackson during their vacation in Los Angeles. Robson claims that Jackson persuaded his mother to leave him alone, while the rest of the family would travel to the Grand Canyon.
It was then that Jackson gave him oral sex for the first time and kissed him. Robson claims that Jackson told him: "God brought us closer. We are made to be together. In this way we express our love ".
2. Jackson "married" Seifchak in his bedroom and gave him a wedding ring
At the end of the first part of the documentary, Seifchak revealed that he had a box full of expensive jewelry given to him by Jackson, including a wedding ring.
"We were like a married couple. And I say married because we did something like a wedding. "The ceremony took place in Jackson's bedroom, and we had even exchanged vows," the 40-year-old explained.
As Seifchak points out, Jackson often took him to jewelry stores and bought him presents, pretending to be for a woman.
"He asked me to try them, telling the jeweler that my little hand is closer to the woman's. "I really liked the jewelry and he rewarded me with it after every sexual act."
3. Jackson had Seifchak do "readiness exercises" to "not get caught"
When Jackson and Shaifchak were staying in hotels, rather than in Neverland Fort, the singer was training his young victim to cover his tracks.
"We did readiness exercises together. We suddenly pretended that someone was coming and we tried to get dressed as fast as possible and without any noise. It was very important that no one understood what we were doing. It was our big secret. He kept telling me that if they caught us, his own life and mine would be destroyed. "
Robson shares a similar experience. As he reveals, Jackson always told him that if anyone found out about their relationship, they would separate and never see each other again. In addition, he threatened to end up in prison for life because what they were doing was illegal.
4. Robson felt that Jackson "abandoned" him for Macaulay Calkin
When the Robson family was uprooted from Australia and moved to Los Angeles to be closer to Jackson, something happened that psychologically devastated the little boy. The then 9-year-old Robson realized that he had been replaced in the heart of the singer by Macaulay Calkin, who was then released to the public thanks to Home Alone.
Robson explains that he was initially offered a role in the video for the song "Black or White" which was released in 1991.
"It was a very difficult experience for me. It was the first time I had ever met Jackson's new friend, Calkin. Macaulay had taken my place. She was by Michael's side at all times. Suddenly I was on the sidelines since I was no longer his favorite. "It was a very confusing time. A new person was now sharing secrets with Michael, as I used to do. It was clear to me. "There were a lot of feelings of jealousy, pain and confusion."
5. Jackson reportedly asked Robson's mom to let him live with him for a year
Jackson reportedly asked Robson's mother, Joey, if she would allow her son to live alone with him in Los Angeles when the rest of the family returned to Australia.
"Michael said, 'Will you leave my little one for a year?' I can do wonders for his career. I will train him in dance, we will do many things together "reveals Joey, and adds that she categorically refused. But that did not deter Jackson.
The singer kept asking her and insisting. She herself replied that this was impossible, that he was a child who had to be close to his parents.
After repeated denials, the singer looked at her angrily and said "I always get what I want".