Wade Robson, one of two accusers in Leaving Neverland documentary, says he was abused by star as a child

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The Australian dance choreographer Wade Robson has alleged in a US TV interview how a “magical” first visit to Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch as a seven-year-old boy led to the pop star sexually abusing him.

Robson, now 36, and another alleged Jackson victim, American James Safechuck, 40, feature in the two-part documentary, Leaving Neverland, that premiered at the Sundance film festival.

Jackson was touring Australia when he first met five-year-old dance prodigy Robson. A friendship grew and Robson and his family were invited to stay at the Neverland Ranch in California.

Michael Jackson estate suing HBO for $100m over tell-all documentary Read more

“This was just the most magical thing I’d ever seen,” Robson, describing visiting Neverland for the first time, told CBS This Morning on Thursday.

On a tour of the property, Robson alleged, Jackson gave him and his sister the option of staying the night in a guest room or with him.

“And my reaction was, ‘of course, I want stay with you’,” Robson said.

Play Video 0:41 Watch the trailer for Leaving Neverland: Michael Jackson and Me – video

When it was time for Robson’s family to leave the ranch and visit the Grand Canyon, Robson said he and Jackson were so upset they cried.

Robson said he was allowed to stay the week with Jackson alone, but the first or second night Jackson allegedly started “to touch my legs and touch my crotch over my pants”.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Wade Robson in 2005 after testifying at Michael Jackson’s trial. Photograph: Hector Mata/AFP/Getty Images

“It progressed to him performing oral sex on me, him showing me how to perform oral sex on him,” Robson alleged.

Robson said Jackson told him: “God brought us together. We love each other … and this is how we show each other our love.”

Timeline Michael Jackson child sexual abuse claims Show Hide LAPD investigation After Jordan Chandler makes allegations during a police interview that Jackson has abused him, an investigation begins. Jackson had met the 12-year-old boy the previous year. Barnes and Robson press conference Teenagers Brett Barnes and Wade Robson hold a press conference stating that they had shared a bed with Jackson on multiple occasions, but that nothing sexual had happened. Chandlers sue Jackson A lawsuit from the Chandler family alleges sexual abuse by Jackson and seeks $30m. Jackson video statement Jackson describes being strip-searched and photographed by the LAPD two days earlier as “the most humiliating ordeal of my life”. He states: "I am not guilty of these allegations, but if I am guilty of anything it is of giving all that I have to give to help children all over the world.” Jackson settles lawsuit Jackson settles out of court with the Chandlers for $22m – $15m goes to Jordan Chandler to be held in a trust fund until he turns 18. LAPD investigation fails After two grand juries fail to indict, and Jordan Chandler tells authorities he will not testify in court, the Los Angeles and Santa Barbara district attorneys end their investigation. Scream released The lead single from Jackson’s album HIStory is released. A duet with his sister Janet, the song angrily addresses media coverage of the child sexual abuse allegations against him.

Bashir documentary Jackson discusses regularly having sleepovers with children, including a young cancer patient named Gavin Arvizo, in Living with Michael Jackson – a documentary fronted by the British journalist Martin Bashir. "It's not sexual," said Jackson on-screen. "We’re going to sleep. I tuck them in. It's very charming." The film rekindles police investigations. Police raid and arrest Jackson's Neverland estate is again searched by police, and a week later Jackson is arrested. Jackson charged Michael Jackson is formally charged with committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14. Trial begins During Jackson's trial, Arvizo and his younger brother testify that the singer showed them pornography and made them drink "Jesus juice" – wine. Both say Jackson masturbated in front of them and molested Arvizo on multiple occasions. Blanca Francia, one of Jackson's former housekeepers, testifies she saw Jackson showering with Wade Robson. Witnesses for the defence, including Macaulay Culkin and Robson, say that Jackson never molested them. Not guilty verdict The jury finds Jackson not guilty on all 14 charges brought against him. Jackson dies In the run-up to This Is It, a planned residency at London's O2 Arena, Jackson dies age 50 of a cardiac arrest. Wade Robson sues Wade Robson takes legal action against the Jackson estate, alleging that Michael Jackson molested him over a seven-year period between the ages of seven and 14. James Safechuck sues Safechuck alleges Jackson abused him on more than 100 occasions after the pair met when Safechuck appeared in a Pepsi commercial alongside the singer. Leaving Neverland Dan Reed's four-hour documentary Leaving Neverland opens at the Sundance film festival. In it Wade Robson and James Safechuck discuss at length the abuse they claim they suffered at Jackson's hands. It is described as "a public lynching" by Jackson's surviving family. Television screenings Leaving Neverland is shown on the HBO network in the US, with a UK screening on Channel 4 on 6 and 7 March. The Jackson estate sue HBO for $100m, claiming the network is in breach of a non-disparagement clause in a 1992 contract. Radio ban Radio stations around the world, including in New Zealand and Canada, begin to pull Jackson's music from the airwaves.

Safechuck, who was nine when he first met Jackson when he was cast in a Pepsi commercial, said the pop star groomed him in a similar way.

Jackson’s brothers Jackie, Marlon and Tito and nephew Taj have rejected the allegations, and accused Robson and Safechuck of being motivated by money.

Robson and Safechuck said they were not compensated for participating in the documentary and have no stake in it.

Robson, who went on to work with Britney Spears and boy band NSYNC, previously was a staunch supporter of Jackson, with the Australian testifying at Jackson’s 2005 criminal trial in California involving another alleged child victim.

Jackson was acquitted after Robson testified Jackson never sexually abused him.

Jackson died in 2009 and in a surprise move, Robson went public with his abuse claims and filed a civil lawsuit against the Jackson estate alleging he had been molested by the pop star from the age of seven to 14.

‘We won’t shy away from controversies’: BBC announce rival Michael Jackson film Read more

A Los Angeles judge tossed out the case in 2015, ruling Robson waited too long to file and missed the 12-month statutory deadline after Jackson’s death.

The judge did not rule on the credibility of Robson’s allegations.

Robson and Safechuck said it was not until they had their own children that they came to terms with what they claim Jackson did to them.