Kalee Haakma has declared today Michael Jackson Monday at her Tauranga cafe.
"Welcome to Michael Jackson Monday."
Those words, along with the dead pop star's greatest hits on rotation, are how Kalee Haakma is greeting customers of her Tauranga cafe, Thy Neighbour Coffee Shop, today.It is her way of making a stand against the Leaving Neverland documentary about two men - James Safechuck, 40, and Wade Robson, 36 - who say Jackson sexually abused them as children.
Kalee Haakma has declared today Michael Jackson Monday at her Tauranga cafe, Thy Neighbour Coffee Shop. Photo / George Novak
The four-hour film by British director Dan Reed premiered at Sundance in January and has made waves around the world with some radio stations in Canada, Australia and New Zealand boycotting his music.
Jackson's estate and family have denied all the allegations.
Part one of the documentary, which included graphic descriptions of the abuse, screened on TVNZ 1 last night, with part two due to screen tonight.
Like many Jackson fans, Haakma did not watch because she is boycotting the documentary.
"It's a very one-sided story. There is evidence out there that supports his innocence."
She said the "ridiculous" claims in the documentary - and the media hype that followed - amounted to "a form of bullying", which motivated her to take a stand and support Jackson.
"From what I've seen on social media, a lot of people do support him and support his innocence and there doesn't seem to be very many people who think he is guilty."
Kalee Haakma has declared today Michael Jackson Monday at her Tauranga cafe, Thy Neighbour Coffee Shop. Photo / George Novak
In Facebook and Instagram posts advertising Michael Jackson Monday, she said it was "too easy for malicious people to make negative claims against brilliant minds, good souls and kind hearts".
The reaction from customers had been mostly positive, she said.
People stopping in for their coffees this morning supported her stand.
"Leave him alone," said one.
"I think they're just in it for the money," said another.
In the Tauranga CBD, people were also cautious about the documentary's claims.
The documentary proved a ratings hit for TVNZ, with part one attracting 716,000 television viewers plus 13,000 livestreams and another 24,000 streams after it aired.
It was a 38 per cent increase on the usual Sunday 8.30pm slot.
