Crime

Michael Jackson’s family speaks out about ‘Leaving Neverland’ documentary

ROLLINGOUT.COM — The Jackson family is claiming Michael Jackson was “naive” about children but wasn’t an abuser.

Published

8 years ago

March 7, 2019

Oakland Post

By Rollingout.com

The Jackson family is claiming Michael Jackson was “naive” about children but wasn’t an abuser.

The late King of Pop’s siblings, Tito, Marlon, and Jackie Jackson, and his nephew Taj have addressed the controversial “Leaving Neverland” documentary, which features allegations from Wade Robson and James Safechuck that Jackson sexually abused them as children.

Tito’s son Taj, 45, has claimed that the family does not wish to “put more energy” into the claims against their late relative — who died in 2009 — because they don’t want to draw more attention to the documentary.

During their appearance on “CBS This Morning,” Taj said: “There’s a fear to put more energy [in]to it and more eyeballs to it.

“That’s why Janet [his aunt] hasn’t said anything, because she doesn’t want to make it any bigger.”

The siblings stated that they know the “Thriller” hitmaker was not a sexual predator and accused the documentary, which is due to air later this month, of spinning lies.

Jackie, 67, said: “I don’t have to see the documentary … I know my brother. I know what he stood for, what he was all about. … People that really know him, they know the truth.”

Marlon, 61, added: “This documentary is not telling the truth. “There has not been one piece of evidence that corroborates their story.”

Taj went on to explain that he believes the “Billie Jean” singer had a “naivete” about how “odd” it was for him to sleep in the same bed as the children who stayed at his Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara, California, but insisted that it was “very innocent.”

He said: “I grew up in it, so for me, it wasn’t odd. You know, I think, to the outside world, yes, I think it can be odd. I mean, I’m not oblivious to what it sounds like.

“But when you’re actually there in that atmosphere and you’re around it, and you’re watching movies with his kids, whether it’s Little Rascals or Three Stooges, and you’re watching these things, it’s like, it’s very innocent.”

Taj added that he believes the accusers have filmed “Leaving Neverland” for the money despite their insistence they will not profit from the film.

He said: “It’s always been about money. I hate to say it when it’s my uncle, it’s almost like they see a blank check.”

Robson alleged he was sexually abused by Michael from the age of 7 until 14, while Safechuck — who previously testified on Jackson‘s behalf when he was accused of sexual abuse in 1993 — claimed he was a victim from the age of 10 until he hit puberty.

Jackson’s fans have hit out at the allegations in the documentary and hours after it premiered, Jackson’s estate lashed out at Safechuck and Robson, calling them “perjurers” and “admitted liars.” Jackson’s estate is reportedly suing HBO, which produced the movie with Channel 4.

The movie’s director, Dan Reed, has defended his decision to air the movie and claimed that it shows the other side of what he called Jackson’s “Peter Pan-ish image.”

This article originally appeared in Rollingout.com.

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AG Bonta Announces Action on Cryptocurrency, Sextortion Fraud – Increasingly Targeting Gen-Z

California Attorney General Rob Bonta is warning residents about a surge in cryptocurrency fraud and online sextortion schemes that increasingly target Gen Z through social media platforms. With internet-based scams costing Americans nearly $21 billion in 2023, Bonta highlighted how artificial intelligence and deepfakes allow criminals to impersonate loved ones and promote fraudulent investment groups. The Attorney General’s Office has already shut down over 100 fraudulent websites and is now utilizing new legislative tools to recover assets for victims. Read more.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 3, 2026

Post News Group

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

California Attorney General Rob Bonta warned residents about rising cryptocurrency fraud and online sextortion scams, urging Californians to recognize warning signs and protect themselves as scammers increasingly target younger people through social media.

Speaking at a news conference on Oct. 19, Bonta said Americans lost $20.9 billion to internet-based scams in 2025, including $11.4 billion to cryptocurrency scams. He said artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and malicious smart contracts have made fraud easier to carry out and more difficult to detect and prevent.

While older Californians remain targets, Bonta said his office has seen a sharp rise in reports of Gen Z consumers being targeted on platforms such as Twitch, TikTok, and Instagram.

One growing scheme involves so-called rug-pull scams, in which fraudsters promote low-priced stocks or volatile cryptocurrencies through online investment groups and streaming communities. After generating interest and driving up prices, scammers sell their holdings, causing values to collapse and leaving investors with losses.

Bonta also warned about sextortion, in which scammers trick or coerce victims into sharing explicit images before threatening to distribute them to friends and family unless they pay. He advised victims not to give in to demands, saying scammers often do not release the images when victims refuse to pay. Instead, he recommended ignoring and blocking the perpetrators.

Another scheme, known as recovery fraud, targets people who have already lost money to cryptocurrency scams. Fraudsters impersonate blockchain recovery specialists or law enforcement officials and demand additional payments while promising to recover stolen assets.

Bonta urged Californians to be skeptical of promises of large returns on small investments, fake cryptocurrencies resembling established ones, and celebrity endorsements that may have been generated using artificial intelligence. He also warned that scammers can use AI to impersonate loved ones through manipulated video and audio.

“Never use a crypto ATM,” Bonta said, emphasizing that transactions can be difficult to trace and reverse and that the machines lack adequate consumer protections.

His office has shut down more than 100 fraudulent websites over the past two years that collectively scammed victims out of at least $8.3 million, he said.

Bonta also highlighted Senate Bill 1208, which he said was recently signed into law. The measure allows law enforcement to petition a court to return seized cryptocurrency to victims, including when alleged perpetrators are outside U.S. jurisdiction.

Residents who have fallen victim to scams can report them to the California Department of Justice at oag.ca.gov/report.

Bonta also urged victims not to feel embarrassed, stressing that scammers are responsible for the harm they cause.