Earlier today (February 8), HBO revealed the dates the network will air Leaving Neverland: March 3 and 4. The two-part documentary, which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, follows two men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck (now in their thirties), who say they were sexually abused in the 1990s by Michael Jackson. Now, Michael Jackson’s Estate has penned a letter to HBO CEO Richard Plepler, denouncing the film and its director Dan Reed.

The 10-page document refers to Leaving Neverland as a “one-sided, sensationalist program.” The letter states that the Michael Jackson Estate was never contacted by Reed or anyone else associated with the film “to provide the Estate’s views on, and responses to, the absolutely false claims that are the subject matter of the program.” The Estate also claims that “no one else who might offer evidence to contradict the program’s premise was consulted either, as Dan Reed has publicly admitted.”

The letter claims that HBO and Dan Reed were selective in the selection of their interview subjects—choosing “not to interview anyone who would detract from their story” such as the Jackson family, people who worked with Jackson during the time period on which the film focuses, friends of Jackson, and several others.

The Estate goes on to refer to the documentary as “disgraceful,” and states that they would be “happy to meet with HBO to discuss a solution.” Read the full letter here via Deadline.

In a statement to Pitchfork, HBO said:

“Our plans remain unchanged. The two-part documentary, Leaving Neverland, will air as scheduled on Sunday, March 3rd and Monday, March 4th. Dan Reed is an award-winning filmmaker who has carefully documented these survivors’ accounts. People should reserve judgment until they see the film.”

Leaving Neverland has been criticized by the Jackson Estate in the past. Just days after it debuted at Sundance, the Estate issued a statement condemning the documentary and referring to the alleged victims as “perjurers.” Filmmaker Dan Reed later responded to the criticism, claiming that the statements from Jackson’s estate and family were “not consistent with having watched the movie.”

https://pitchfork.com/news/jackson-estate-calls-leaving-neverland-sensationalist-in-letter-to-hbo