All the allegations not featured in record-breaking Michael Jackson biopic

Once heralded as The King of Pop, Michael Jackson’s legacy has become increasingly conflicting in the 17 years since his death.

In the wake of the biopic hitting cinemas, allegations of sexual abuse of children by the late singer have resurfaced.

The new film has performed well at the box office so far – breaking the record for the biggest opening weekend for a biopic ever – despite being widely panned by critics, but crucially avoided all mention of accusations.

This was reportedly due to a legal clause preventing any depiction of Jordan Chandler on screen, whose father accused Jackson of sexually assaulting him in 1993.

However, Chandler is not the only one to claim the singer had inappropriate relationships with children, which he and his estate have always denied.

Earlier this year, the Jackson estate faced a fresh wave of ‘grooming’ allegations from four siblings, claiming there was also manipulation after the Bad singer’s death to stay silent.

What allegations did Michael Jackson face?

Jackson has always denied all claims and was acquitted in court of abuse charges relating to Gavin Arvizo by a jury in 2005.

He never returned to his home, Neverland Ranch, after leaving court on June 13, 2005, spending months in Bahrain and Ireland.

These are the major accusations that have been made about Jackson both during his life and after.

Jordy Chandler’s $20million settlement

Evan Chandler, a dentist and screenwriter, accused Jackson of sexually assaulting his then-13-year-old son, Jordy, in 1993.

Reportedly, the singer befriended the teen after renting a vehicle from his stepfather. Jordy’s mum had custody of him.

Despite initially encouraging the friendship, Chandler grew concerned that it had become inappropriate, with the child telling a psychiatrist he had been molested by Jackson.

The LA police began investigating but found no physical evidence, so dropped the case. Meanwhile, Jackson withdrew from his world tour, citing health problems from the very public scandal.

The Chandlers then filed a lawsuit, settling out of court for $23 million (over £17.5m) with no public admission of guilt from Jackson.

The 2005 abuse trial

While the Chandlers did not pursue a criminal trial, in 2005, another 13-year-old boy, Gavin Arvizo, and his family did.

Gavin had met Jackson five years prior, while undergoing chemotherapy as his dad tried to drum up celebrity support to help fundraise for treatment.

In 2002, he featured in the controversial BBC documentary Living with Michael Jackson, which aired footage of them holding hands.

During the documentary, Jackson told interviewer Martin Bashir he had shared his bed with many youngsters, calling it a ‘beautiful thing’ to do.

Jackson was arrested on November 20, 2003, after Neverland Ranch was searched and was charged with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent for the purpose of committing a felony.

Later, additional indictments, including conspiracy involving child abduction, false imprisonment, and extortion, were added.

Jackson pleaded not guilty and, on June 13, 2005, was acquitted on all charges after a 32-hour deliberation from the jury.

Celebrities like George Lopez, Jay Leno and a then 24-year-old Macaulay Culkin, who had been friends with Jackson as a child, all testified in support of the singer.

In the years since, Culkin has said: ‘He never did anything to me. I never saw him do anything.’

‘I had something to speak up about, I would totally do it. But no, I never saw anything; he never did anything,’ he insisted on a podcast.

Leaving Neverland documentary

Wade Robson and James Safechuck separately filed charges in 2015 against MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures, alleging Jackson had abused them.

Robson had originally spoken in support of the Smooth Criminal singer at the 2005 trial, testifying he had slept in Jackson’s bedroom on most occasions he stayed there but nothing untoward had happened.

The lawsuits against the Jackson companies were dismissed on technicalities of time limits and company liability, but the judge did not address the validity of the claims.

In 2019, Robson and Safechuck took part in the Leaving Neverland documentary, which also got a sequel in 2025.

Safechuck, who met the singer on the set of a Pepsi advert in 1986, claimed Jackson molested him when he was a child.

He alleged that when he was 11, they had a secret wedding-style ceremony in which Safechuck was the bride, and that Jackson offered to pay $1 million (£760,000) to his father.

Meanwhile, Robson claimed he gave oral sex to Jackson when he was just seven years old, after first meeting two years before at a dance competition.

Award-winning director of Leaving Neverland documentary, Dan Reed, said: ‘If there’s anything we’ve learned during this time in our history, it’s that sexual abuse is complicated, and survivors’ voices need to be listened to.

‘It took great courage for these two men to tell their stories, and I have no question about their validity. I believe anyone who watches this film will see and feel the emotional toll on the men and their families and will appreciate the strength it takes to confront long-held secrets.’

Recent allegations from the Cascio siblings

Earlier this year, a new lawsuit was filed against the Jackson estate, claiming he molested four siblings from the Cascio family.

The lawsuit, involving three brothers and a sister, was filed in Los Angeles in February and has been branded a ‘desperate money grab’ by Jackson’s estate.

The Cascios became friendly with Jackson after his repeated stays at the Manhattan hotel, where Dominic Sr worked.

He then began to spend time with them socially, staying at their home and taking the children on trips to Disney with his own children.

A year after Jackson’s death in 2009, the family had even gone on Oprah Winfrey’s show to defend him against sexual abuse allegations.

The siblings shook their heads and declared ‘never’ when asked if there had been ‘any improprieties’ with the global superstar.

However, 15 years on, Edward, Dominic, and Aldo Cascio, and Marie-Nicole Porte have now claimed this was a lie, with all five siblings ‘groomed to protect’ him.

Their complaint alleges child sex trafficking, negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of contract and fraud.

‘We were brainwashed, we were groomed,’ Eddie, 43, said, explaining that they had a moment of realisation after watching the Leaving Neverland documentary.

The Cascios’ lawyers brand Jackson ‘a serial child predator who, over the course of more than a decade, drugged, raped, and sexually assaulted each of the Plaintiffs, beginning when some of them were as young as seven or eight.’

The lawsuit also alleges: ‘Jackson’s years of brainwashing prevented Plaintiffs from seeking help when he was alive and for years afterwards, or even comprehending the despicable behaviour they endured.’

They are seeking monetary compensation as well as the voiding of an alleged agreement to never speak publicly about the ‘abuse’.

The estate’s representative said: ‘The Cascios are the epitome of unreliable sources. Their stories have repeatedly shifted and changed to suit whatever their current agenda happens to be.’

Why does the movie not cover them?

Originally, the film leaned into the events of 1993, including scenes of investigators arriving at Neverland Ranch and Jackson grappling with the fallout.

Plans changed when lawyers representing the Jackson Estate, which is also a producer on the film, discovered a clause in that settlement agreement with Chandler that legally prohibits dramatising or even referencing him in a film.

The revelation came late in production, forcing filmmakers to scrap the entire third act and rethink the narrative from the ground up.

In June 2025, the cast and crew reconvened for 22 days of reshoots in Los Angeles to make changes, adding between $10 million and $15 million to the budget.

The film eventually reached theatres on April 24, 2026, with critics largely panning it, landing a score of 38% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Metro’s own film reporter Tori Brazier gave it two stars, branding it ‘as deep as a puddle’ when it comes to reflecting on the man behind the music.

How did Michael Jackson die?

Jackson died on 25 June 2009, from an acute intoxication of propofol and lorazepam, resulting in cardiac arrest.

Jackson stopped breathing after his personal doctor, Conrad Murray, reportedly gave Michael a variety of medications to help him sleep after late rehearsals for his comeback tour.

His death was ruled a homicide by the Los Angeles County Coroner, with Murray serving almost two years in prison for involuntary manslaughter.

News of his death rocked the world, with music legends like Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey and Lionel Richie performing at his funeral.

Queen Latifah read a poem called ‘We Had Him’, which was written especially for the occasion by Maya Angelou.

What has been said about a potential sequel?

Michael abruptly ends in 1988, as he sets off for the Bad tour, leaving two decades until his death, which could still be explored.

Jaafar Jackson, Jackson’s nephew who stars as the singer in the film, told Entertainment Tonight that a sequel is ‘in the early development right now’.

While Puck News reported there was a second film in the works, Lionsgate have not confirmed anything.

A follow-up film would face similar issues surrounding the Chandler settlement, however, it would be possible to skip over the 1993 case but still include the 2005 court battle.

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