Emmys 2019: Michael Jackson Film Leaving Neverland Wins Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
Dan Reed’s two-part Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland took home a Creative Arts Emmy today for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special. The documentary was also nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction Program (Single or Multi- Camera), and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program (Single or Multi-Camera).
Leaving Neverland originally premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25. It was subsequently aired by HBO in March over the course of two days. The controversial film follows James Safechuck and Wade Robson who allege they were sexually abused in the 1990s by Jackson, starting at the ages of 7 and 10, respectively.
“For a film that is a complete fiction to be honored in a nonfiction Emmy category is a complete farce. Not one shred of proof supports this completely one-sided, so-called documentary which was made in secrecy and for which not one person outside of the two subjects and their families were interviewed,” a spokesperson for Michael Jackson’s estate said in a statement reacting to the win.
Read “HBO’s Michael Jackson Documentary Leaving Neverland Is Damning—But Flawed” on the Pitch.
Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
