Report of Michael Jackson's 'dark side' stirs up controversy
June 22, 2016
Michael Jackson allegedly maintained a massive collection of media showing pornography, animal torture, S&M and child torture, according to a report by entertainment magazine Radar Online. The website cited documents from the Santa Barbara Country Sherriff's Department which were acquired due to Jackson's 2005 child molestation trial and have not been made available to the public.
"The documents collected by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department paint a dark and frightening picture of Jackson," Radar Online quoted an unidentified investigator as saying. "The documents exposed Jackson as a manipulative, drug-and-sex-crazed predator who used blood, gore, sexually explicit images of animal sacrifice and perverse adult sex acts to bend children to his will."
The incriminating material reportedly came from notes, diaries, photos, audiotapes, and over 80 video recordings and hard drives seized during the 2005 investigation.
The King of Pop was charged with child molestation after 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo, a boy he had befriended, came forward with accusations. Jackson was acquitted after a 14-week trial.
Jackson's estate and family, as well as other celebrities, have responded to the incriminating report with sharp criticism.
"Those who continue to shamelessly exploit Michael via sleazy internet 'click bait' ignore that he was acquitted by a jury in 2005 on every one of the 14 salacious charges brought against him in a failed witch hunt," wrote Jackson's estate in a statement.
Filmmaker, actor and producer Judd Apatow responded similarly on Twitter:
Taj Jackson, the singer's nephew, also took to Twitter to denounce the report:
The report on Jackson's apparent "dark side" comes days before the seventh anniversary of his untimely death on June 25, 2009, at the age of 50.
Also announced this week, ahead of the anniversary, is an upcoming television series about the end of Michael Jackson's life, co-produced by J.J. Abrams from "Star Wars." The series is not yet attached to a network.
kbm/ct (with AFP)