Netflix reportedly considered pulling its documentary series Michael Jackson: The Verdict just days before its release over concerns about potential legal action from the late pop star’s estate, according to Variety.
The three-part documentary, which revisits Michael Jackson’s 2005 child molestation trial, premiered on 3 June as scheduled. Jackson was acquitted of all charges during the trial.
According to anonymous sources cited by Variety, senior executives at the streaming platform briefly discussed cancelling the series after it had already been announced, primarily due to fears of possible legal repercussions from Jackson’s estate, which has a history of pursuing legal action over projects involving the singer.
“It would have been very embarrassing to pull the series after you drop the trailer,” one source said.
Another source claimed Netflix’s concerns were driven more by the estate’s legal resources than by backlash from Jackson’s fans.
“It was the fear of a lawsuit from the estate rather than the fans. [Netflix] was really scared of their financial muscle,” the source said.
Netflix, however, denied the claims.
In a statement to Variety, a spokesperson said: “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 has previously taken legal action against media companies over documentaries about the singer.
It sued HBO over the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, which was later removed from HBO Max in 2024, and also sued ABC in 2018 over The Last Days of Michael Jackson, with the dispute ending in an out-of-court settlement.
According to Variety, Netflix ultimately did not receive any legal notice from the estate before or after the documentary’s release.
However, the report said the platform received a large number of complaints from fans, though some were later believed to have originated from automated accounts.
Directed by Nick Green and produced by Candle True Stories, Michael Jackson: The Verdict presents perspectives from both supporters and critics of the singer, including former jurors, Jackson family attorney Brian Oxman and publicist Raymone Bain.
Gavin Arvizo and his family, whose allegations formed the basis of the 2005 case, did not participate in the documentary.
The report also claims Netflix adopted an unusually cautious release strategy, including limiting promotional activities, withholding advance reviews and restricting media interviews with the filmmakers.
Despite the reported concerns, the documentary became a major streaming success.
According to Variety, it attracted 17.8 million views in its first five days, reached No. 1 in 61 countries and entered Netflix’s Top 10 in 89 countries.
