Michael Jackson’s relationship with children has been re-examined in recent weeks due to his biopic Michael not including any of the allegations of child sex abuse made against him.
Jackson was accused by multiple children of sexually abusing them. This included James Safechuck and Wade Robson, who later became the focus of the documentary about his alleged sexual abuse Leaving Neverland.
The director of that doc, Dan Reed, stated that he thinks it’s ‘hilarious’ for the film to avoid Jackson’s allegations, comparing it to a Jeffrey Epstein movie not including the disgraced financier committing any crimes. The argument Jackson made throughout his life for his close relationship with children was that he never got a proper childhood due to the abuse of his father Joe Jackson and position within the Jackson Five.
Advert
This led to a ‘friendship’ between Jackson and Macaulay Culkin, with the pair becoming pals when Macaulay was just ten years old, a fact that led to eyebrows from many observing from the outside.
Macaulay has always defended Jackson and his friendship with the popstar
Macaulay Culkin spoke to Michael Rosenbaum on the Inside of You podcast about his friendship with the singer, stating that to him it was always ‘a normal friendship’.
There has long been particularly scrutiny, not just due to the 22-year age gap, but due to the claims from Jackson that he would regularly sleep in a bed with Macaulay on one side and Kieran Culkin on the other.
He told Rosenbaum of their friendship: “He reached out to me because a lot of things were happening big and fast with me, and I think he identified with that. It’s almost easy to say it was weird or whatever, but it wasn’t because it made sense.
"Here’s the thing at the end of the day: We were friends. It’s one of my friendships that people question only because of the fact that he was the most famous person in the world. I know it’s a big deal to everyone else, but to me it was a normal friendship."
The Home Alone actor stated that he never saw Jackson do anything inappropriate to himself or others
Macaulay has been very clear, despite speculation, that in his time visiting the Neverland ranch he never saw Jackson act untoward to himself or anyone else.
Speaking to Esquire, the actor said: “Look, I’m gonna begin with the line - it’s not a line, it’s the truth: He never did anything to me. I never saw him do anything.
"And especially at this flash point in time, I’d have no reason to hold anything back. The guy has passed on. If anything - I’m not gonna say it would be stylish or anything like that, but right now is a good time to speak up.
"If I had something to speak up about, I would totally do it. But no, I never saw anything; he never did anything."
Topics: Michael Jackson, Macaulay Culkin, TV and Film, Film, Celebrity
Michael Slavin