Michael Jackson's lawyer, John Branca, said that he was considering bringing an action against Dan Reed, director of the film "Leaving Neverland"



[ad_1]

"These people invented a damn story because they wanted money and we will not allow it to go unchecked," said Branca following a lecture at Harvard Law School. .

Michael Jackson, co-executor John Branca spoke publicly for the first time Leave Neverland April 16 and reported that other litigation – this time against the director of the documentary Dan Reed – may be coming. Branca and two of the other members of the Jackson estate team, Howard Weitzman and Bryan Freedman, were the main participants in the roundtable titled "Media Trials: Guilty to Proven Innocent" presented at the Harvard Institute of Politics in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The lawyers had hard words for the documentary and Reed. They told an audience of about 20 people that they were determined to defend and rebuild Jackson's reputation as a result of Leave Neverland, which contained disturbing and graphic first-person accounts of Jackson's alleged pedophilia, but did not leave the estate a chance to answer those accusations.

HBO litigation already started – in February, the estate sued the cable TV network for $ 100 million, alleging that it breached a non-disparagement clause in an agreement reached in 1992 with the creation of Jackson's film Living in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour – Branca stated that he and the estate's lawyers were now considering taking legal action directly against Reed, although he did not specify the reasons for his trial.

In response to Branca's comments, a spokesman for HBO said, "Dan Reed is an award-winning filmmaker who has a proven track record and we have full confidence in his film."

For Branca, 68, who knew Jackson personally and even once, the singer was his best man, the documentary hit under the belt.

"These people invented a damn story because they wanted money and we will not allow it to go unchecked," Branca said. Display panel after the event. "It's so simple."

He added that the film was placed under the sign of the succession, because it had been realized "in the biggest secrecy". He added that neither HBO nor Reed gave the estate an opportunity to dispel any misstatements or to present Jackson's case to events involving Wade Robson and James Safechuck. For Branca, Freedman and Weitzman, Jackson's treatment in the media was biased and made possible by the fact that there is no protection against defamation for the deceased.

Branca said he thought the defamation law should be reevaluated.

"Because defamation laws are what they are, there is nothing we can do or say," Branca said. "The man can be hurt, his children can be hurt and theoretically nothing can be done, I am going to suggest that the law be changed to protect the deceased for at least some time. it's equity, and it's about balance. "

"Dan Reed's documentary is filled with inaccuracies, lies and things that they knew were not true," said Branca Display panel. "They should be ashamed of themselves."

Branca said he understood that people would say that he is biased because he has a financial interest in Jackson's estate. In the 10 years since Jackson's death in 2009, the wealth of the property has grown exponentially under Branca's leadership. Display panel calculates that Jackson's music catalog alone is now worth more than $ 570 million and that his co-runner, Branca, is receiving a 10% commission on new entertainment revenue generated for the estate. "It is a fact that I will not deny," said Branca, but he added that his fight to wipe out Jackson 's name was more about fairness than about money.

"I knew the man, I had feelings for him and I do not like what happened, where you can not hear the other version of it." 39; story, "said Branca during the panel presentation. "There are implications in the real world and repercussions when someone says something like what was said[in[in[dans[inLeave Neverland]. "

Branca said the estate was on an upward trajectory before the documentary and took a hit. He added, however, that streaming sales were still up from last year.

I hope that the truth will be revealed, that other facts will be revealed and that people will bring their attention to both sides of history, "Branca said. From the perspective of society, I want people to feel comfortable to say, "I love Michael's music."

"Michael," says Branca to Display panel, "is too big to fail."


[ad_2]

Source link