The new doccie, Leaving Neverland, is making life pretty tough for those who maintain that the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, is innocent of a number of sexual crimes.

We’ve covered the ins and outs of that doccie here, but the renewed interest in Jackson’s past has unearthed a video that doesn’t reflect too well on the man himself.

The footage was obtained by the Dail Mail, and was filmed at The Four Seasons Hotel in New York on March 1, 1996 whilst Jackson was being questioned directly on child molestation allegations.

A quick rundown from the NZ Herald:

Jackson is questioned by lawyers about the allegations of sexual abuse in what’s understood to be the only time he was ever filmed speaking about the subject.

The footage shows Jackson being questioned on allegations involving Macaulay Culkin, Jordan Chandler and Brett Barnes and giggling while shuffling in his seat.

He also talks about how he’s been mirepresented and at one point, compares himself to Jesus.

He said: “Jesus said to love the children and be like children; be youthful; be innocent, be pure and honorable. He was talking to his apostles and they were fighting over who was the greatest among themselves and he said, ‘Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest among me.’

“He always surrounded himself with children, and that’s how I was raised, to be like that and imitate that.”

Note to famous people – comparing yourself to Jesus has a history of ending badly. Just ask John Lennon.

The three-hour interview has been edited down below, which you can see from the time stamp on the screen.

How about this laugh as the tape starts rolling?

Jackson’s legal team ultimately convinced the lawsuit judge to discount claims about child abuse when the six-month trial started that same year.

As it stands, Macaulay Culkin and Brett Barnes have both publicly denied that they were sexually assaulted by Jackson.

It’s quite the opposite for Wade Robson and James Safechuck, whose stories form the basis of Leaving Neverland.

[source:nzherald]