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The new Michael Jackson biopic, \u201cMichael,\u201d was released today, and the director of \u201cLeaving Neverland\u201d is not pleased.<\/span><\/p>\n Dan Reed is known for the 2019 HBO documentary which explored the child sexual abuse allegations against the King of Pop, who died from an overdose in 2009. Reed said he can\u2019t understand how anyone still believes Jackson should be celebrated.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt says that people don\u2019t care that he was a child molester. Literally, people just don\u2019t care,\u201d Reed told The Hollywood Reporter in an <\/span>interview<\/span><\/a> published earlier this week. \u201cI think a lot of people just love his music and turn a deaf ear. And short of having actual video evidence of Michael Jackson engaged in sexual intercourse with a 7-year-old child, I don\u2019t know what would be sufficient to change these people\u2019s minds.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMichael\u201d director Antoine Fuqua addressed the accusations against Jackson in an <\/span>interview<\/span><\/a> with The New Yorker published Monday. \u201cSometimes people do some nasty things for some money,\u201d he said of the multiple claims from victims who claimed Jackson abused them.<\/span><\/p>\n Reed responded to that, saying, \u201cFor Antoine Fuqua to accuse people of gold digging is kind of ironic\u2026 It seems to me all the people involved in this movie are just making bank.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHow can you tell an authentic story about Michael Jackson without ever mentioning the fact that he was seriously accused of being a child molester?\u201d Reed added. \u201cI just don\u2019t really see it. If anyone\u2019s making money, it\u2019s Michael Jackson\u2019s estate and the people who worked on this biographical picture.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWade and James, the protagonists of \u2018Leaving Neverland,\u2019 have never made a cent from their accusations,\u201d Reed went on. \u201cPeople don\u2019t seem to understand: If you bring a lawsuit, you don\u2019t get any money until you win in court. And when you win in court, that means you\u2019ve proved your case, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The \u201cLeaving Neverland\u201d director also accused the media of \u201csucking up\u201d to the Jackson estate for fear of retribution from the fans.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSo a lot of people, I think, will kind of swallow any misgivings they may have and just sort of say, \u2018Oh well, it\u2019s a great jukebox movie\u2019 and just completely ignore the fact that this guy was worse than Jeffrey Epstein.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jackson was first accused of sexual abuse by a 13-year-old boy in 1993. That case was settled for $20 million, and the pop singer never faced criminal charges. He was arrested on child molestation charges in 2003 and was acquitted in 2005. After Jackson\u2019s death, more alleged victims came forward and sued Jackson\u2019s estate in 2013.<\/span><\/p>\n There are rumors floating around that the original version of \u201cMichael\u201d did address the allegations, but those parts were cut due to a clause in the original settlement that provided the story could never be the subject of a movie. Actor Colman Domingo mentioned the omission while teasing the possibility of a sequel.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe film takes place from the \u201960s to 1988, so it does not go into the first allegations,\u201d the actor, who plays Joe Jackson in the movie, <\/span>said<\/span><\/a> during a \u201cToday\u201d show appearance. \u201cSo basically, we centered it on the makings of Michael. So, it\u2019s an intimate portrait of who Michael is \u2026 through his eyes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Domingo hinted at the \u201cpossibility\u201d of a sequel, which he hinted would include the sexual abuse trial storyline.<\/span><\/p>\n