Appeals court sends 'Leaving Neverland' fight to arbitration
(AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)PASADENA, Calif. โ A federal appeals court ruled Monday that a lawsuit filed by the Michael Jackson estate over an HBO documentary about two of the late pop star's sex abuse accusers can go forward in private arbitration. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with two lower courts and ruled in favor of the Jackson estate in its decision on โLeaving Neverland." Unless there are further appeals, the case will go to a private arbitrator, which the Jackson estate argued was required by the 1992 contract at the center of the lawsuit. HBO has also more generally defended โLeaving Neverlandโ as a valid and important piece of documentary journalism. โLeaving Neverlandโ director Dan Reed has been filming the hearings in those cases for a follow-up documentary.
Michael Jackson's Estate Responds After 'Leaving Neverland' Wins Emmy for Outstanding
HBO's high-profile documentary Leaving Neverland, which addresses allegations of sexual abuse against Michael Jackson, took home the award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special at the Creative Arts Emmys on Saturday, and the late singer's estate is slamming the decision. "We thought it would make some noise, but we kind of thought people would go, 'Oh yeah, it's another film about the allegations against Michael Jackson.' "It's been a tsunami of love, of hatred, of attention and noise, of thoughtful critical reaction and unthinking reaction. For more on the controversial documentary and its aftermath, watch the video below. RELATED CONTENT:Kieran Culkin Talks 'Leaving Neverland' Claims Against Michael JacksonMichael Jackson Died 10 Years Ago: His Controversial LegacyParis Jackson Says It's 'Not My Role' to Defend Dad Michael Jackson From Sexual Assault Accusations