After his friendships with minors were the source of speculation for years, new audio has revealed how Michael Jackson felt about his special bond with children. Photo / Getty Images
After his friendships with minors were the source of speculation for years, new audio has revealed how Michael Jackson felt about his special bond with children. Photo / Getty Images
WARNING: This story details alleged sexual abuse and may be distressing for some readers.
In a chilling unreleased tape, Michael Jackson claimed he would rather die than never spend time with children again.
The recording, featured in upcoming United Kingdom Channel 4 docuseries The Trial, will reveal some of thelate musician’s innermost thoughts about children.
“If you told me right now ... Michael, you could never see another child ... I would kill myself”, Jackson can be heard saying in the trailer for the programme.
“Kids end up falling in love with my personality. Sometimes it gets me into trouble.”
The star had several high-profile friendships with minors at the height of his fame, including Home Alone child actor Macauley Culkin.
Reports of molestation first arose in 1993 when the Los Angeles Times reported local authorities were investigating allegations Jackson had sexually abused children.
He was known to share beds with underage guests at his Neverland Ranch, including 13-year-old accuser “Jamie”, whose family he settled out of court with to the tune of $20 million (NZ$33 million).
Michael Jackson famously maintained friendships with several children during the height of his pop stardom, including subsequent accuser James Safechuck.
Photo / Dave Hogan, Getty Images
According to the Guardian, he was criminally accused of sexually assaulting Gavin Arzivo in 2005, leading to a highly publicised trial that involved testimony from talk show host Jay Leno and actor George Lopez.
Jackson was acquitted of all 14 charges that year and had never been criminally convicted when he died of cardiac arrest in 2009.
Rumours about the nature of Jackson’s relationships with children have lingered in the years following.
Despite testifying in the pop star’s defence at the time of his trial, Wade Robson later accused Jackson of sexual abuse in the HBO documentary Leaving Neverland.
Jackson estate lawyer Howard Weitzman vehemently denied the claims, pointing to Robson’s repeated denials anything untoward had occurred during his friendship with the former Jackson Five member.
“This is a young man who has testified at least twice under oath over the past 20 years and said in numerous interviews that Michael Jackson never did anything inappropriate to him or with him.”
Robson defended his story but said he understood why fans might struggle to believe him, explaining “we can only accept and understand something when we’re ready”.
