The legacy of Jackson, who handed away 14 years in the past, has remained contentious, particularly in mild of the documentary Leaving Neverland launched in 2019. The documentary featured detailed and disturbing accounts from Robson and Safechuck, alleging sexual abuse by the pop star and the techniques he used to silence them.
Reacting to the announcement of the biopic, Dave Reed, director of Leaving Neverland, expressed concern over the dearth of criticism surrounding the venture.
He condemned the portrayal of Jackson within the biopic as glorifying a person accused of kid abuse, calling consideration to the potential impression on survivors of abuse.