Child sexual abuse accusations against Michael Jackson
First abuse allegations against singer / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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American pop musician Michael Jackson faced allegations of child sexual abuse in 1993 and 2003. Additional claims emerged posthumously. Jackson was not found guilty of any accusations.
In 1993, Evan Chandler, a dentist and screenwriter based in Los Angeles, accused Jackson of sexually abusing Chandler's 13-year-old son, Jordan. Jackson had befriended Jordan after renting a vehicle from Jordan's stepfather. Though Evan Chandler initially encouraged the friendship, he later confronted his ex-wife, who had custody of Jordan, with suspicions that the relationship was inappropriate. There was no forensic evidence, physical evidence or medical evidence found in the initial investigation that spanned from 1993 to 1994.[1] During the period he was also strip searched and investigated based on a drawing provided by his accuser, Jordan Chandler, with mixed results; some involved in the case felt the description was accurate, but the jury was not convinced.[2][3]
In August 1993, as the second leg of Jackson's Dangerous World Tour began, news of the allegations broke and received worldwide media attention. Jackson canceled the remainder of the tour, citing health problems arising from the scandal. That September, the Chandlers filed a lawsuit against Jackson. They and Jackson reached a financial settlement in January 1994; Jackson and his legal team stressed that this was not an admission of guilt. The investigation found no physical evidence against Jackson. In September 1994, the investigation was closed after the Chandlers declined to cooperate, leaving the case without its main witness.
Jackson was accused again by Gavin Arvizo in 2003 following the backlash of Living with Michael Jackson, a documentary in which he described his practice of having sleepovers with underage boys. A leaked investigation into the claims by the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services found no evidence.[4] The family later claimed they were bribed by Jackson's associates which lead to a subsequent trial in 2005, in which Jackson was found not guilty on all charges.
A declassified file from the FBI shows that their investigation into Jackson's computers did not provide substantive evidence.[5][6]
The allegations severely damaged Jackson's public image, health, and commercial standing. Several of his endorsement deals were canceled, including his decade-long Pepsi endorsement. Further allegations of abuse by Jackson led to the People v. Jackson trial in 2005, in which Jackson was found not guilty on all charges.