The release of the major biopic Michael has brought a heated debate back into the spotlight. The film, which celebrates the life of the King of Pop, opened in theaters on April 24, 2026. But not everyone is happy to see it. Dan Reed, the director behind the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, is speaking out in a major way. He is accusing the new movie of hiding the truth and has made some very strong statements about the late singer.
Reed sat down with The Hollywood Reporter for a detailed interview published on April 22, 2026. In that talk, he did not hold back. He criticized the film for ignoring the child abuse accusations that have followed Michael Jackson for decades. He also made a shocking comparison to convicted [sex] offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying Jackson was even worse.
Dan Reed Calls Jackson ‘A Very Nasty Man’ and Worse Than Epstein
The quotes from Dan Reed are grabbing global attention. He is very direct about his personal beliefs regarding the pop star, who died in 2009. Even though Jackson was never convicted of a crime, Reed says the evidence he studied during his documentary work convinced him otherwise.
“I think Jackson was genuinely a very nasty man and hurt a lot of children. And he may have been a great entertainer, but those two things don’t cancel each other out.”
Reed went further by comparing the singer to Epstein. He believes the public is ignoring a serious reality just because they enjoy the music. He stated that people are willing to overlook Jackson’s past simply to enjoy a “jukebox movie.”
“So a lot of people, I think, will kind of swallow any misgivings they may have and just sort of say, ‘Oh well, it’s a great jukebox movie’ and just completely ignore the fact that this guy was worse than Jeffrey Epstein.”
These comments have reignited the split between fans who defend Jackson’s legacy and those who believe the stories told in Leaving Neverland.
Why the Biopic ‘Michael’ Is Being Slammed by the Documentary Director
The main reason for Reed’s anger is the content of the new film Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua. The movie covers Jackson’s rise from the Jackson 5 to his solo success. However, critics and Reed have pointed out that the film stops its story in the late 1980s. Because of this timeline choice, it completely skips the 1993 allegations and the 2005 trial.
Reed questions how the story can be considered authentic without these major events.
“How can you tell an authentic story about Michael Jackson without ever mentioning the fact that he was seriously accused of being a child molester? I just don’t really see it.”
He also responded to comments made by Antoine Fuqua. The director of Michael had previously suggested that accusers might be lying for money. Reed fired back, pointing out that the people making the movie are the ones getting rich, not the alleged victims.
“For Antoine Fuqua to accuse people of gold digging is kind of ironic. It seems to me all the people involved in this movie are just making bank.”
The Fight Over ‘Leaving Neverland’ and Why It Left HBO
Many viewers have noticed that Leaving Neverland is no longer available on HBO. Reed explained exactly why the documentary disappeared. He revealed that the Michael Jackson estate used a very old contract to force the film off the air.
The estate pointed to a “non-disparagement clause” signed by Jackson for a 1992 concert film. They argued that this clause meant HBO could never say anything negative about Jackson, ever. Reed called this interpretation “patently ridiculous,” but HBO settled the case, and the documentary was removed in 2024.
Reed did offer some hope for those who want to see the full story. He will get the rights back to the film in 2029. He plans to resell it and make it available again. A follow-up film, Leaving Neverland 2: Surviving Michael Jackson, was released on YouTube last year.
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Fans and Critics React to the Box Office Success Despite Controversy
Even with the harsh words from Reed and negative reviews from major outlets like the BBC (calling the biopic “bland”), Michael is projected to be a huge hit. It opened on nearly 4,000 screens in the US. Reed says this success proves a sad point about the public.
“It says that people don’t care that he was a child molester. Literally, people just don’t care.”
The director believes that unless a video of the abuse existed, fans would never change their minds. He clarified that he is not trying to “cancel” Jackson or stop people from listening to “Thriller.” However, he wants viewers to be honest about the full picture of the man they are celebrating.
“I just think if you’re going to enjoy his music, let’s also consider the fact that he liked to have sex with children and see how that affects your enjoyment, in all honesty.”
The film Michael stars Jaafar Jackson (the singer’s real-life nephew) in the lead role, with Colman Domingo and Nia Long playing his parents. While the film is currently in theaters, the debate over Jackson’s legacy has never been louder.
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