It's not often something like Leaving Neverland comes along and blows our expectations out of the water. Sure, we had all heard rumors and had suspicions about Michael Jackson for a long, long time.
It's not often something like Leaving Neverland comes along and blows our expectations out of the water. Sure, we had all heard rumors and had suspicions about Michael Jackson for a long, long time.
Despite lengthy investigations and a trial, Jackson never went to prison over the accusations against him.
But none of that has been as damning to his legacy as the allegations made by Wade Robson and James Safechuck in Leaving Neverland.
However, some of the folks in Jackson's sphere have felt compelled to offer their perspectives as well.
For 12 years, Grace Rwaramba served as nanny to Jackson's children, Prince Michael I, Paris, and Prince Michael II.
She also said that she didn't think he was capable of such behavior.
"I don't claim to know what happened between Michael and his accusers. I wasn't there," she continued. "However, because Michael is no longer here to defend himself, and because I have a unique view of him and the life he lived, I feel compelled to speak out against what I firmly believe to be false claims. "
"He was trusting to the point of extreme naivete; always assuming the best intentions in everyone. While he was far from perfect, in my over twelve years of living with Michael, knowing him and his lifestyle intimately, I never saw or experienced anything that led me to suspect that he was capable of child sexual abuse."
And she singled out the Robson family as being determined to use Jackson's celebrity for their own ends.
"The one thing that was consistent about the Robsons over the years was Joy's steely resolve to turn Wade into a star," she said. "The Robsons' ambition and self-interest knew no bounds."
"Ms. Rwaramba admits in her statement that she does not know what happened between Michael and his accusers," said attorney Vince Finaldi. "As a longtime employee of MJJ productions she has a vested interest in defending Jackson and his estate."
"This is a continuation of the campaign of false information, character assassination, victim blaming and shaming that the Jackson corporate lawyers heap on any child or adult who speaks the truth about Mr. Jackson’s sexual behavior with children. These attacks have kept many of Mr. Jackson’s victims silent. It will not stop Wade or James from speaking the truth."