Michael Jackson’s production company, MJJ Productions, is fighting against the request made by Wade Robson and James Safechuck to unseal some of the late singer’s police records. The accusers are specifically asking for access to documents containing photographs of Jackson’s genitalia and naked body, taken by the police in 1993. Jackson’s team argues that these documents are highly sensitive and private, and are already sealed by a court-entered protective order from the Santa Barbara Superior Court.
Jackson’s attorneys argued that the demand for these documents is an egregious violation of his privacy rights, especially as he has been deceased for almost a decade. They also noted that California law recognizes privacy rights to images of deceased persons, and there is no legitimate justification for the accusers’ request. The suit also alleges that Robson and Safechuck have attempted to obtain the police records multiple times in the past, all of which were quashed by the court.
The contents of the sealed documents, which include incident reports, photographs, recordings, and investigative files, are deemed not directly relevant to the case by Jackson’s attorneys. They claim that the photographs in question were taken as a result of a court-ordered search based on a false statement in a discredited criminal investigation. Allowing the plaintiffs to exploit these circumstances for their benefit would be a violation of Jackson’s rights.
Robson and Safechuck have accused Jackson of molesting them when they were young, with Robson claiming the abuse occurred from the ages of 7 to 14, and Safechuck alleging that Jackson groomed him for sex starting at age 10. Both men appeared in the HBO documentary “Leaving Neverland” in 2019, where they detailed their allegations. They are now suing Jackson’s companies, claiming they are liable for allowing the alleged abuse to occur. They also suggest that Jackson’s employees witnessed or were aware of the abuse.
Although Robson and Safechuck’s initial lawsuits were previously dismissed, a California judge ruled in August 2023 that they could move forward with their case. The justices in that ruling mentioned that the plaintiffs had the right to expect defendants to protect them from the risks associated with being alone with Jackson. A trial date for the case has not been set yet. If anyone is affected by the issues discussed in this story, they are encouraged to reach out to the Sexual Assault Hotline for assistance.
