The controversial Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland will be screened on Channel 4 in two parts this week, despite a plea from the late singer’s family for the film to not be shown.
Finding Neverland, which takes its name from Jackson’s sprawling California ranch home, focuses on two men’s separate, graphic accusations of sexual abuse, which they allege they were subjected to by him as children.
While it was previously revealed that the documentary would be airing here in the UK on Channel 4, the broadcaster has announced it will be shown across Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 March.
This comes after a letter was published from the Jackson estate urging Channel 4 not to go ahead with airing the documentary, claiming they broke broadcasting guidelines by not seeking a response from them.
In their letter to the Associated Press, they wrote: “I think we can all agree that the false allegations being made in your ‘documentary’ are ‘significant allegations’. It is hard to imagine more significant accusations that can possibly be made against anyone.”
Channel 4 said by way of response: “Channel 4 viewers will make their own judgement about the testimony of the two victims interviewed in the film.”
Leaving Neverland debuted at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, where it was met with a standing ovation, although several of Jackson’s fans did show up to protest.
During his lifetime, Michael Jackson always denied the allegations of sexual abuse that were made against him. He died in June 2009 at the age of 50, following a lethal dose of the anaesthetic propofol.