Dan Reed slams ‘Michael’ for whitewashing Jackson
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- Michael opened with $219 million in its first weekend, making it a box‑office smash despite controversy.
- Dan Reed called the film a ‘waxwork’ that portrays Jackson as a harmless Peter Pan and erases the abuse allegations.
- Antoine Fuqua directed the biopic with the Jackson estate, shaping a narrative that ends in 1988, before the first public abuse claims.
- Leaving Neverland’s 2019 Sundance premiere was guarded by bomb‑sniffing dogs after threats from Jackson loyalists.
Why it matters: Jackson estate gains $219M box-office revenue, while victims' advocates lose credibility and public discourse is skewed; the film’s success fuels debate over accountability and will influence future biopic greenlighting.
