“Hopefully, we can continue the legacy of inspiration he has given a lot of kids and a lot of people.”
Since the release of Leaving Neverland, an HBO documentary that explores the testimonies of two men who allege they were victims of sexual assault and misconduct by Michael Jackson, controversy has ensued.
The plight of sexual assault and the social conundrums that follow have been some of the main topics. Yet, for those who called Jackson a friend like Stevie Wonder, his legacy remains preserved. TMZ asked Wonder for his thoughts on the documentary and how he thinks people would feel listening to his music after watching it.
“He’s died, he’s dead. Hopefully, we can continue the legacy of inspiration he has given a lot of kids and a lot of people,” he responded.
After the documentary aired, Jackson’s estate threatened to sue HBO for $100 million. Oprah Winfrey hosted an after special on the documentary with the two men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who made these child abuse accusations against Jackson.
During the hour-long special, Winfrey said, per NBC, “For me, this moment transcends Michael Jackson. It is much bigger than any one person. This is a moment in time that allows us to see this societal corruption. I taped 217 episodes [of Oprah] on sexual abuse. I tried and tried and tried to get the message across to people that sexual abuse was not just abuse. It was also sexual seduction.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4Yzp_e0mJI&feature=youtu.be
— VIBE
