Corey Feldman's huge 180: 'I can no longer defend Michael Jackson'

BANG! Showbiz

9 Mar, 2019 07:50 PM3 mins to read

Corey Feldman. Photo / Getty Images

Corey Feldman says he can "no longer" defend Michael Jackson.

The 47-year-old actor insists he cannot argue in favour of the late King of Pop after he was accused of "horrendous crimes" on recent documentary 'Leaving Neverland' - on which Wade Robson, 36, and James Safechuck, 40, alleged Michael sexually abused them when they were children - but Corey insists he does not want to "judge" the 'Bad' hitmaker because he "did not do those things to me".

He said: "I don't want to be perceived as I'm here to defend Michael Jackson, because I can no longer do that. I cannot in good consciousness defend anyone who's being accused of such horrendous crimes.

"I'm also not here to judge him, because again, he did not do those things to me and that was not my experience."

The former child star says Michael was like a "friend" and "big brother" to him, but he now feels he has to "at least consider what the victims are saying".

Asking people to put themselves into his shoes, Corey - who was abused as a child - said: "You're a kid who has endured sexual abuse and during those times, I'm looking to somebody like Michael Jackson as a friend, as a big brother figure. And he was that person to me, however, as you're friends with this guy, all of a sudden you start to hear more and more accusations thrown around by various people.

"It comes to a point where as an advocate for victims, as an advocate for changing the statutes of limitations to make sure that victims' voices are heard, it becomes impossible for me to stay virtuous and not at least consider what's being said and not listen to what the victims are saying."

The 'Lost Boys' star was only able to watch half of 'Leaving Neverland', and admits it was "very painful" to sit through.

Speaking to CNN's 'Headline News', he added: "To be honest with you, it was very emotional, it was very painful, and I couldn't watch all of it."

Corey's comments come after Michael Jackson's nephew Taj Jackson recently claimed his late uncle would have been left in tears over the child sex abuse allegations made against him in the 'Leaving Neverland' doc.

Taj insists Wade and James - who both testified under oath that Michael never touched them in a sexual way during his 2005 child molestation trial, which ended with him being acquitted of all charges - will both be proven to be lying about his uncle in the future.

In an interview on BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat, he said: "I think it's temporary in terms of the stain. First of all I believe the truth will come out. It might take some time.