Michael Jackson's former staffers speak out

Warning: Disturbing content

The world is still reeling from the horrifying allegations levelled at late pop icon Michael Jackson, but questions remain for the adults who were operating in the background.

Leaving Neverland, the four-hour documentary from director Dan Reed, features allegations from two men that Michael Jackson sexually abused them as children. Their accounts have prompted an overwhelming response from fans, with comments ranging from staunch defences of the late artist, to derision and contempt.

The latter has been directed not only at the former icon, but also at the other adults around at the time; including the staff at Neverland Ranch who are not featured in the two-part documentary.

Melanie Bagnall was a security guard on Jackson’s estate for three years, and prior to the Leaving Neverland‘s Australian release, she claimed to Sunday Night that staff were ‘actively’ complicit in covering up the ‘abuse’.

The former security guard said she saw abuse first-hand on at least one occasion when Jackson was on a golf cart with one of the children he kept around him.

“There was a child sitting on his lap and he had his hands close to his (the child’s) genitalia. Like, cupping his genitalia,” she said.

“It was disturbing, it was alarming, a confirmation in a ways.”

Bagnall, who feels a lot of guilt over her prior silence, also claimed that staff on the estate were ‘actively’ involved in covering up Jackson’s crimes, and that she believes the world ‘absolutely’ needs to believe the victims coming forward.

“I should have done something, or could have done something,” she said holding back tears.

The admission came after former maid Adrian McManus, spoke to 60 Minutes, sharing horrifying details of what she claims to have witnessed, from children’s underwear floating in a jacuzzi, to a disturbing proliferation of Vaseline found lying around the ranch.

Meanwhile other former staffers have jumped to Jackson’s defence, with a former nanny telling ABC News in the US that she “never saw or experienced anything” like the allegations in over 12 years working on the estate.

Criticism has been levelled at Leaving Neverland director Reed who chose to exclude any commentary from staff or Jackson’s family in the explosive documentary.

“What we have in the story is from the horse’s mouth,” he explained to the Huffington Post, saying ‘circumstantial corroboration’ from staff had no place in telling the boys’ stories.

“People with no direct knowledge of that story or of those events don’t have a place in the film.”

In Leaving Neverland, Wade alleges he was sexually abused by the late King of Pop from the age of seven until 14, while James- who previously testified on Jackson’s behalf when he was accused of sexual abuse in 1993 – claims he was a victim from the age of 10 until he hit puberty.

Both men insisted they have not profited money from the film but just want to protect others from going through similar experiences.

For support on child abuse you can call The Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380.