Michael Jackson fans to boycott 'Leaving Neverland'

Michael Jackson fans are planning to boycott the New Zealand premier of Leaving Neverland by watching the pop star's videos on Netflix and Youtube at the same time the film airs on TVNZ1.

The HBO documentary will air in a 2-part series tomorrow and Monday night at 8.30pm, with two men claiming in the show the late pop star repeatedly sexually abused them as children.

Facebook fan page 'Michael Jackson Fans in New Zealand - 2015' posted on Thursday evening urging fans to boycott the screening in an attempt to "put a glitch" in the documentary's ratings and shift them towards positive coverage of the late pop star.

The page has a following of 524 members and suggests watching This Is It and Moonwalker on Netflix, or there is Live in Bucharest and Live at Wembley on Youtube.

Jayson Topia, an Auckland Jackson fan, says there are a huge number of people who are very passionate about the boycott.

"I think especially this weekend, support for his music, videos and movies will be at an all time high as we have already started streaming his music and videos 24 hours a day since he has been pulled from radio stations to help support him."

This comes after Jackson's songs are currently not on the playlists of NZME, which owns the Herald on Sunday, and MediaWorks radio stations.

Jackson fan Sarah Keall plans on joining in the boycott and show her support by wearing her Michael Jackson shirt and listening to his music on Spotify at work.

Keall has seen the documentary and says she felt it was "very one-sided".

"I hope the true fans can all come together and have this legend's back. He shaped music and a lot of musicians and dancers of today."

Fans worldwide are encouraging the boycott of the documentary during its release.

#MJFam: Here’s our 2 step plan for the week of March 3rd ‒ March 10th.

1) Flood the #LeavingNeverland hashtag with rational tweets including the FACTS about the allegations!

2) WATCH the ‘This Is It’ movie on @Netflix and STREAM Michael’s catalog on any/all streaming platforms. pic.twitter.com/EFFK121eJ3

— MJJLegion ♕ (@MJJLegion) February 28, 2019

The New York Times reported dozens of fan accounts have encouraged counter-programming to the film under the Twitter hashtag #MJFam and instructed followers to stream Jackson's music instead of watching the documentary.

Fans flooded the #LeavingNeverland hashtag with thousands of tweets, dominating discussion of what they called a "mockumentary" and attacking the two men at its centre.

Hashtags #MJInnocent and #MJFam have been circulating the internet after a protest outside Channel 4's London headquarters took place earlier this week against the broadcast of the controversial documentary.

The New York Times reported advertising on London buses and digital billboards in the US have been used to spread #MJInnocent. Some of the ads proclaimed "Facts Don't Lie. People Do."

Topia said "people are curious by nature and are going to watch Leaving Neverland because they need to make up in their own minds what to believe in".

"Molestation is a huge issue and should not be taken lightly but in this case it is very one-sided from the public view."

The New York Times reported some fans had gone further and sent threats of violence to Dan Reed, the director of Leaving Neverland, and the two men in the film, Wade Robson and James Safechuck.

The documentary reveals in graphic detail the sexual abuse Safechuck and Robson claim they endured from Jackson.

Where to get help:

• If it's an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
• If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone call the confidential crisis helpline Safe to Talk on: 0800 044 334 or text 4334.
• Alternatively contact your local police station
• If you have been abused, remember it's not your fault.