I watched both films yesterday and the Oprah show afterwards. I'm a fan of Jackson's music but the man himself, in my opinion, was always way too odd. That said, he must have been a very mixed up person following a tough childhood mixed with global success.
If I was viewing the documentary as someone who didn't know anything of Wade & Jimmy I would be absolutely convinced - it's 4 full hours of solid emotion, revelations, facts and film footage. It repeatedly tells a story then throws in abuse claims, then cuts to the other's story and does the same.
As someone who did research on Wade & Jimmy before watching the documentary (nothing major, just factual information available online) I can honestly say that as hard as they tried, they didn't convince me of anything - and that's where I have a problem with Leaving Neverland. For anyone watching without any idea who these 2 guys are they are surely going to be convinced they are telling the truth, because the documentary doesn't even question them.
Only 5 years ago Wade was still friendly with the Jackson estate and asked to Choreograph the latest Cirque de Soiel show (ONE), which was a tribute to Jackson. Before that he released a tribute book, showering Jackson with love & affection. It was only when someone else got the Cirque job that he took action to take the estate to court for sex abuse charges. His accounts of when the abuse started have also changed at least 4 times of the past few years.
The documentary also acknowledges lots of other kids that Jackson was hanging out with - "Their replacements", and yet never, throughout the 4 hour film, do they ever mention each other.
At the end of the documentary Wade is seen burning Jackson's thriller jacket, books etc....and the film is happy to let you think these were the genuine items - they were not - the Thriller Jacket was his own replica, not the original that he owned.
Jimmy showed the rings - rings that were given to him by Jackson - a man who allegedly sexually abused him multiple times over a number of years - yet he still held on to them. Now that the film has been screened the price of those rings will have skyrocketed to an unbelievable amount of money...I guarantee they will be sold very very soon. Before the film was shown they may have sold for a good amount - now...people will really want them and he will sell them happily.
I could go on and on and on. Leaving Neverland is a very powerful documentary, but it's also a very dangerous one. Courts cleared Jackson twice and both times Wade helped with that not guilty verdict (Jimmy once), so where does that leave it - it's trial by media and is simply not acceptable.
Add to that the 10 to 15 year investigation by the FBI to find dirt of Jackson (which is never mentioned in the film) and you get to a very different verdict on this documentary.
Wade & Jimmy are both very mixed up people, I really believe it is about the money, they've both done too much money digging things towards the estate for it not to be.
They may not have been paid for this film - but that's the point - they know money will come flooding their way, not least when they start selling off their memorabilia, and Wade started auctioning some of his a few years back and giving further interviews.
If I had been sexually abused over a long period of time I would never even consider holding on to anything that reminded me of my abuser - I wouldn't write a tribute book & I certainly wouldn't want any further connection with the estate and want to direct a huge Vegas Tribute show to the person that abused me - and that is my biggest problem with believing them - the facts just don't add up.