Michael Jackson's family denounces the documentary as a "public lynching" | The music

Family members of Michael Jackson said Monday that they were "furious" that two men who accused him of badually abusing young boys received renewed attention thanks to a new documentary about them.

The singer, who died in 2009 at the age of 50, was the subject of a "public lynching".

The family statement denounced Leaving Neverland, a documentary featuring Jackson's accusers Wade Robson and James Safechuck, which was screened last week at the Sundance Film Festival. is airing in the spring on HBO and Channel 4 in the UK.

"Michael has always stretched the opposite cheek, and we have always done the same thing when people have been attacking members of our family – that's Jackson's way," said the release. But we can not sit idly by while this public lynching continues … Michael is not there to defend himself, otherwise these allegations would not have been formulated. "

The family reports Jackson was the subject of a thorough investigation that included a surprise raid at his home, the Neverland Ranch, but was still acquitted at his criminal trial in 2005, in a case involving another young man.

Robson testified at this trial, claiming that he had slept several times in Jackson's room, but that Jackson had never badaulted him.Safechuck made similar statements to the investigators as Jackson died in 2009.

The two men sued in 2013, claiming that stress and trauma had forced them to face the truth and admit that they had been badually badaulted. The lawsuits were dismissed for technical reasons but are on appeal.

Jackson's statement calls the men "perjury" because of the overthrow, claiming that the family is "furious" to find that media without evidence have chosen to "believe the word".

The director of the film, Dan Reed, said he had no doubt about the validity of these men.

The Associated Press generally does not identify people who claim to be victims of badual badault unless they publicly manifest themselves, which Robson and Safechuck have done repeatedly.

The family insists that the truth and the evidence are on their side.

proud of what Michael Jackson represents, "the statement said.