California (GNP): A new Netflix documentary series has brought renewed attention to one of pop music’s most debated chapters, examining the aftermath of a 2003 television interview that marked a turning point in public perception of Michael Jackson.
The three-part series, Michael Jackson: The Verdict, centres on journalist Martin Bashir’s extended access to Jackson in 2002, which culminated in the broadcast Living With Michael Jackson in February 2003. The documentary revisits testimonies, media reactions, and legal consequences that followed the original programme’s airing.
Among the moments highlighted in the series is Bashir’s recollection of Jackson’s on-camera remarks about sharing sleeping arrangements with children, a disclosure that, according to Bashir, caught the entire production team off guard.
The series also revisits Jackson’s interactions at his Neverland Ranch with Gavin Arvizo, the child who later became central to allegations of sexual abuse filed against the singer in 2003. Jackson was acquitted of all charges following a high-profile trial in 2005.
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Music biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli features in the docuseries, offering context on why Jackson agreed to the interview in the first place. Jackson had reportedly been drawn to Bashir owing to his prior work with Princess Diana, anticipating a favourable portrayal, an expectation that ultimately went unmet.
Taraborrelli suggests Jackson misjudged Bashir’s editorial approach, noting that closer scrutiny of the journalist’s previous work may have led the singer to reconsider his participation.
Michael Jackson: The Verdict is currently streaming on Netflix.
