Netflix’s ‘Michael Jackson: The Verdict’ will dissect ‘the trial of Michael Jackson and his complex legacy.’
An upcoming Netflix docuseries about Michael Jackson has fans of the singer seeing red. The just-announced Michael Jackson: The Verdict drops June 3, and it’s already stirring up conversation about legacy, accountability, and how we remember complicated figures in pop culture.
The three-part docuseries explores Jackson’s 2005 trial on child molestation charges. Featuring interviews with key players in the case—including jurors and people who witnessed the trial firsthand—the series dissects the trial and Jackson’s complex legacy. For those diving into Michael Jackson discourse, this is essential viewing that demands critical reflection.
Michael Jackson fans vow to cancel Netflix because of upcoming docuseries
But not all of Jackson’s supporters are interested in taking a closer, more critical look at the still-beloved star’s past. Recent posts on Netflix’s Instagram have been flooded with comments from fans trashing the streamer for appearing to relitigate a trial that ended with a not guilty verdict.
“Michael Jackson was found not guilty by a jury, and it is disrespectful to continue revisiting accusations or the details of the trial against someone who is no longer here to defend himself,” one person wrote.
“Michael Jackson was acquitted of all 14 counts. Even now, long after his passing, you are trying to dim his light,” another said.
Other commenters simply urged Netflix to “leave Michael alone.” Many more vowed to cancel their subscription.
Michael Jackson’s complicated legacy
The timing of Netflix’s docuseries is no coincidence. It debuts weeks after the release of the biopic Michael, which sidesteps the most controversial aspects of Jackson’s life. Instead, it focuses on his childhood and years as a global pop icon in the 1980s—almost like a curated reading list of his “greatest hits.”
Jackson and his estate have always maintained his innocence. But allegations that the “Thriller” singer sexually abused boys have continued to follow him, years after his death. The 2019 documentary Finding Neverland drew fresh attention to his alleged crimes. The HBO film featured extensive interviews with two men who said Jackson had abused them as children. One of the men had testified in Jackson’s defense at his 2005 trial.
Jackson’s trial was heavily covered by the media at the time. (The atmosphere is compared to a “circus” in the trailer.) But the judge banned cameras from the courtroom. As a result, the public’s understanding of the case came through filtered news reports. The Verdict filmmakers say they want to give people a better understanding of what really happened during the explosive trial.
“No cameras were allowed in court, and so the public’s view of the facts at the time were filtered by commentators and presented piecemeal,” director Nick Green and executive producer Fiona Stourton told Tudum. “It was time to take a forensic look at the trial as a whole.”
“Anyone interested in the Michael Jackson story should feel this documentary gives them a window into what was largely a closed event and a chance to feel closer to what happened.”
Michael Jackson: The Verdict premieres June 3.
How to get help: If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 for free and confidential support.
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