Netflix’s three-part docuseries Michael Jackson: The Verdict revisits the pop star’s 2005 child molestation trial, the media frenzy around the case, and the lingering questions that followed Jackson for years after his acquittal. Released on Wednesday, the series includes interviews with figures connected to the trial, among them members of the prosecution and defense, journalists who covered the proceedings, and some jurors.
The documentary centers on Jackson’s trial over allegations that he molested 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo at Neverland Ranch in California. Although Jackson was acquitted on all charges, the case remained a subject of public debate after his death in 2009, and the new series explores that lasting attention through firsthand accounts and archival material.
Among the most notable claims in the series, former crisis publicist and associate Vincent Amen says Jackson gave crude nicknames to young boys around him and describes holding onto Polaroids from Neverland Ranch for two decades. Amen also alleges that Jackson’s friend and assistant, Frank Tyson, admitted to ordering and watching child pornography with the singer, a claim Tyson did not publicly respond to in the documentary.
The docuseries also features defense attorney Mark Geragos, who says Jackson’s substance use became extreme after his 2003 arrest and that the defense team worried the singer might not be able to physically or mentally withstand a trial. Geragos describes the period as deeply alarming and says he once found Jackson in the fetal position on the floor.
Other testimony in the series focuses on the atmosphere in court. Several participants, including journalist Martin Bashir, biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli, investigative journalist Diane Dimon, and juror Melissa Herard, say jurors appeared to react positively to Jackson’s music when footage from the 2003 documentary Living with Michael Jackson was played as evidence. They describe courtroom attendees bobbing their heads or swaying in their seats while the music played.
Security director Kerry Anderson says Jackson faced death threats during the trial and that his team had concerns about his safety as he repeatedly greeted fans outside the courthouse. Anderson says Jackson seemed more focused on acknowledging supporters than protecting himself.
In the third episode, Jackson family attorney Brian Oxman alleges that Jackson asked him to uncover damaging information about the Arvizo family, who testified against him. Jackson’s defense had argued that the family was trying to extort money from him, while denying the molestation accusations.
The series arrives amid renewed interest in Jackson following the success of the new biopic Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua, which did not address the abuse allegations or trial. Michael Jackson: The Verdict is now streaming on Netflix.
