Dan Reed, the director of the documentary *Leaving Neverland*, has gone on camera to make a striking comparison, stating that Michael Jackson was worse than Jeffrey Epstein. Reed’s comments come amid his continued criticism of the late singer’s legacy, but his claims face a significant wall of opposition from a man who has been consistent for over three decades: Macaulay Culkin. Culkin, the former child star of *Home Alone*, has never wavered in his statements about Jackson. In 1993, 2005, and through multiple interviews, he has maintained the same story.
He has testified under oath that Jackson never touched him and never behaved inappropriately, calling the allegations “absolutely ridiculous. ” He has pointed out that Jackson’s bedroom suite was two stories and had three bathrooms, arguing that the public misunderstood the sleeping arrangements. His stance is not new, but his persistence is a direct challenge to Reed’s narrative. The timeline of the allegations against Jackson is crucial.
In 1993, Jordan Chandler accused Jackson of abuse, but the case never went to trial. In 2005, Jackson stood trial on separate charges. Despite the intense media coverage, the original accuser from 1993, Jordan Chandler, refused to testify. Macaulay Culkin also took the stand, defending Jackson.
In that trial, the jury found Jackson not guilty on all counts, and notably, nine out of twelve jurors voted to acquit even before formal deliberations began. Years later, in 2020, Culkin reiterated his position, stating, “I never saw anything. He never did anything. ” He also emphasized that he and Jackson were the same age, framing their friendship as a genuine bond between two people who grew up in the public eye.
A detail often overlooked is that Culkin is the godfather to all three of Jackson’s children—a title not typically given to someone who holds any doubt about a friend’s character. Reed’s documentary, a four-hour film, relied on the testimonies of Wade Robson and James Safechuck. Robson’s history is particularly strained: he testified in Jackson’s defense in 1993 and again in 2005, but later filed a lawsuit in 2013, four years after Jackson’s death. Reed has admitted to selecting footage that supports his narrative, and he has not included evidence that challenges his subjects.
Culkin and other defenders call this a one-sided presentation rather than journalism. Reed’s recent push includes quoting a 2005 interview and continuing to argue that Jackson’s estate is avoiding the allegations. He has also referenced a photo of Jackson with Epstein, though the circumstances of that photo and the nature of their relationship remain unclear. However, the strongest counterpoint comes from a 1993 FBI investigation into Jackson.
After reviewing 16 computer drives, agents found no incriminating material. When contacted by the FBI in 2004, Jordan Chandler declined to testify against Jackson, under any circumstances. The 2026 biopic *Michael*, directed by Antoine Fuqua and produced by the Jackson estate, has also come under fire. Initially, the screenplay included the 1993 allegations, but after reshoots costing between $10 and 15 million, those scenes were reportedly pulled, leaving a clean narrative that focuses on Jackson’s life and legacy.
Reed has criticized the film, but it opened number one in 64 of 82 international markets, showing a clear public appetite for a story that does not center on the accusations. Reed’s motivations are questioned. While he presents himself as a truth-seeker, his decision to release interviews and documentaries in 2025 and 2026, just months before a criminal trial involving his subjects, suggests a strategic attempt to sway public opinion in Los Angeles ahead of potential court proceedings. Yet, the legal record remains one-sided: Jackson was acquitted, one accuser refused to testify, and the FBI’s extensive investigation found nothing.
The divide between Reed’s depiction and the testimony of people like Culkin is stark. Culkin has never changed his account, even when his own team advised him to stay quiet. He has remained a fixture in Hollywood, with his status intact, and continues to support Jackson publicly.
As Reed pushes his narrative, the question remains whether the public will accept the allegations as fact or consider the documented testimony of those who knew Jackson best.