The three-part documentary, which revisits Michael Jackson’s 2005 criminal trial in which the pop icon was acquitted of all charges, including allegations of child molestation, eventually premiered on June 3 as originally planned. However, sources familiar with the situation told Variety that senior executives at Netflix briefly considered pulling the project after growing concerned about potential consequences.
One source, who spoke anonymously, said the decision was driven largely by fears of a legal battle with Jackson’s estate, which has previously taken action against documentaries and media projects involving allegations against the singer.
“It would have been very embarrassing to pull the series after you drop the trailer — it would have been a huge story,” the source told Variety.
The source added that Netflix executives had developed “cold feet” after the documentary had already been publicly announced, with concerns about the estate’s financial resources and history of litigation.
“It was the fear of a lawsuit from the estate rather than the fans,” the source said. “[Netflix] was really scared of their financial muscle.”
Netflix, however, rejected the claims, saying the company never reconsidered releasing the documentary because of outside pressure.
A spokesperson for the streaming platform told Variety: “Characterizations that Netflix reconsidered the release or changed course because of outside pressure are inaccurate. The series launched as planned and reached the Netflix Top 10 for three weeks.”
The Michael Jackson estate’s history of legal action has contributed to industry concerns surrounding projects that examine allegations against the singer. The estate previously sued HBO over the 2019 documentary “Leaving Neverland,” a film that featured allegations of sexual abuse against Jackson. The dispute was eventually resolved, and the documentary was removed from HBO Max in 2024.
In 2018, the estate also filed a lawsuit against ABC over “The Last Days of Michael Jackson,” another documentary exploring the singer’s life and career. The matter was later settled outside court.
Despite Netflix’s reported concerns, the streamer has not received any legal complaint from the estate over “Michael Jackson: The Verdict” so far. A spokesperson for the estate did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Sources also revealed that Netflix received a large number of complaints from Jackson fans opposing the documentary. However, the company reportedly discovered that some of the messages appeared to have been generated by automated accounts, which helped reduce concerns.
The documentary presents a balanced examination of Jackson’s 2005 trial by featuring perspectives from both sides of the debate. It includes testimony from people who believed the accusations made by then-12-year-old Gavin Arvizo, as well as those who continue to defend Jackson’s innocence.
Among those featured are longtime Jackson family attorney Brian Oxman, former publicist Raymone Bain, and a fan who left her job to attend proceedings at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse.
Two jurors from the trial were also interviewed, offering insight into why they voted to acquit Jackson. However, Gavin Arvizo and his family, who supported his allegations, did not participate in the series.
In her review of the documentary, Variety television critic Aramide Tinubu described the project as more than a retelling of the legal proceedings, writing that it examines society’s fascination with celebrity, public loyalty and the question of who audiences choose to believe.
Jackson’s supporters, many of whom remain convinced of his innocence despite multiple allegations of child sexual abuse made over the years, have historically opposed projects they believe portray the singer negatively.
A Change.org petition calling for Netflix to remove “Michael Jackson: The Verdict” reportedly attracted more than 188,000 signatures. Some fans also claimed on social media platforms, including Reddit, that they had cancelled their Netflix subscriptions because of the documentary.
The backlash was reflected in audience reactions, with the documentary receiving a 7% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, while critics gave the series an 82% rating.
Ahead of the release, Netflix reportedly adopted several security measures and kept details about the project closely controlled. The streamer announced the documentary only two weeks before launch, provided security briefings to people involved in production, and limited communication about the project to a dedicated Netflix email address.
The company also declined advance reviews and avoided interviews with the filmmakers before the premiere.
“There was anxiety,” one source said. “And as a result of that anxiety they took the decision there’d be no marketing and no publicity.”
The source added: “[The filmmakers] weren’t allowed to talk. There was no publicity whatsoever, it was extraordinary.”
Despite the behind-the-scenes concerns, “Michael Jackson: The Verdict,” directed by Nick Green and produced by Candle True Stories, performed strongly after release. The documentary arrived several months after the estate-backed biopic “Michael,” which focuses on the singer’s career before the allegations against him emerged.
Within its first five days on Netflix, the documentary reportedly attracted 17.8 million views, becoming the platform’s No. 1 TV title in 61 countries and reaching the Top 10 in 89 countries.