Michael Jackson 'innocent' adverts to be removed over fears they stop abuse survivors from coming forward

Adverts that profess the innocence of Michael Jackson in the wake of a controversial new documentary are to be removed.

Posters put up on the sides of London buses and on bus stops feature a picture of the singer with the slogan: “Facts don’t lie. People do.”

The campaign is the result of a “Michael Jackson Innocent” fundraising page that raised £20,000 to place the posters around London.

It came as the Leaving Neverland documentary featured claims from Wade Robson and James Safechuck that they were sexually abused by the singer over a number of years when they were children.

Transport for London (TfL) have said they are now removing the posters after a sexual assault victims’ charity expressed “concern” that the ads could discourage victims of sexual assault from coming forward.

The Survivors Trust said: “We have been particularly concerned by the recent news that TfL has chosen to run an advertising campaign… that endorses Jackson’s innocence.

READ MORE
Netflix documentary claims Madeleine McCann ‘is alive and was abducted by traffickers’

“The decision to prioritise advertising revenue over the option of remaining neutral on such an emotive topic is disappointing.”

The charity added: ”An advertising campaign such as this perpetuates this fear among survivors and is very misplaced.”

Confirming the plan to remove the adverts, TfL told the BBC: “We have reviewed our position and will be removing these advertisements.

“They have been rejected due to the public sensitivity and concern around their content.”

The crowdfunding page for the campaign says:”Like countless others within the MJ Community and society in general, we would not think twice in turning our backs on his legacy, if we for one second felt that there was any truth at all in these heinous events… There is a huge group in society that believe and know he is innocent.”