Jermaine Jackson defends brother Michael from child sex abuse claims in Leaving Neverland documentary

Jermaine Jackson has criticised the upcoming documentary which alleges his brother Michael molested children

Leaving Neverland features extensive interviews with two of Jackson’s accusers, Wade Robson and James Safechuck. The four-hour long documentary, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah last week and left audience members shocked by the details of the allegations.

Speaking to Good Morning Britain, Jermaine said he was ”1,000% sure” that the late pop star was innocent.

“We lost Michael, we lost our father. We are still mourning,” he said.

“We lost a lot, just leave us alone, leave him alone, let him rest. Please, let him rest. He deserves to rest.”

The Jackson estate has previously condemnded the film, while director Dan Reed has said there’s no question over the accusers’ allegations.

Asked about Michael’s tendency to have young boys to stay overnight at his ranch, Jermaine said: “Those were slumber parties, there were little girls there, even with their parents, their uncles, and they were sitting down, watching movies, eating cookies, popcorn, having fun, watching films.

“And Michael said ‘Why do people relate the bed to sex?’ which shows you his innocence. Michael’s a big kid.”

He said he was “1,000% sure” of his brother’s innocence “because Michael was tried by a jury and acquitted on all of this because there was no real evidence, there was nothing there”.

He added: “He did a lot for the world... There is no truth to this documentary.”

In a previous statement, the Jackson family said the star, dubbed the King of Pop, was subjected to a thorough investigation which included a surprise raid on his Neverland Ranch, but was still acquitted at his criminal trial in 2005, in a case involving another young man.

Robson testified at that trial, saying he had slept in Jackson’s room many times, but that the singer had never molested him. Safechuck made similar statements to investigators as a boy.

Both men filed lawsuits in 2013 saying that stress and trauma had forced them to face the truth and admit they were sexually abused.

The suits have been thrown out on technical grounds, but are under appeal. The Thriller star died in 2009.

Leaving Neverland premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and is set to air on Channel 4 in the spring.

Additional reporting by agencies.