Until watching Leaving Neverland, I knew, and crushed over Wade Robson as a choreographer. I remember seeing him on TV and in magazines for his work with Britney Spears and N'sync and Wade appeared a few times in birthday posts in the first few years of FH. I don't know why I never knew his connection to Neverland, nor his role in the Jackson case.
Leaving Neverland, especially Wade's story, powerfully moved me, particularly in the second part which aired Monday night. The sexual allegations were not new, nor surprising but the extent to which Jackson became such a lethal poison, not just to Robson, but his entire family, was devastating in it's scope. From the suicide of Wade's father, the impact on his brother, sister and grandparents, and the lengths Jackson went to to form a trusting relationship with Wade's mother were startling. Trust was a must, especially given his desire and request to have 'little one' to move in with him.
Regardless of what you choose to believe, there are facts about contact, hours upon hours on the phone with both son and mother, creating a power based dynamic in which all of the family's needs, and all of Wade's dreams, rested in their trust of the pop star. From a child in a dance contest in Australia, to center stage, then then US and finally Neverland. A dream turned nightmare by the pathological manipulations of someone so protected by money and fame.
Anyone who's experienced, or even knows anything about sexual abuse, understands vividly that Wade's actions and responses were completely understandable. The abuse occurred between the ages of 7 and 14. Abuse embeds, and can take years, decades to face and confront. The hate and cruelty directed towards Wade and fellow accuser James Safechuck is crazy. Even a brief google search for this piece brought up social media hate sights and posts of them being savaged by rabid fans.
On the plus side, Wade appears to be on the other side, not the end, sexual abuse doesn't permit a finishing line. As difficult as it was to watch and hear their stories, seeing clips of Wade dancing were a highlight. I can only imagine that occasionally, if even for a moment or two, the energy thrust into dance was a lifesaver.
1 comment:
I also watch the full 4 hours testimony of both of those courageous men.
Even saw the one hour with Oprah Winfrey which was very instructive too.
No question to me that Michael Jackson was a disturbed individual and he took advantage of his huge fortune and fame to serve his most intimate desires and fantasies.
What I also understood is that in those years when Wade, James and other youngsters were involved in sexual relations with Michael, it was based on a kind of admiration and even love story. But this was a web that was well knitted by M. Jackson who was a skillful manipulator.
What wasn't to be trusting Michael by the mothers because he was so famous and did manipulate those parents too.
All this is mess and fortunately Wade is getting better to put his past behind him.
The positive side is that Jackson helped him so he could have a great career in choreography field. But is it too much for paying it by such abuses?
For James, he is still struggling but seems to be getting better too.
I think that Wade's influence did help James and being a father too was the point where
he did begin to realise all the huge consequences of Michael Jackson had on his personal life and of his family.
Thanks to HBO and the producer to have made this documentary because too many kids are victims of those «great men» that take advantage of their fame or authority position to abuse them in more or less bad ways.
As a teacher I did see it at least twice in my 37 years career where some teachers were taking advantage of teenage kids and this was such a surprise because we would never suspected that from those individuals.
I'm in full phase with what was said on Oprah Winfrey's review of «After Neverland» who did just accurate conclusion on what is really «child abuse» and «child abusers».
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