In March, we reported that the BBC was preparing to unveil a new documentary on Michael Jackson — A Deeper Look at the King of Pop. Now, further details have emerged, and they paint a familiar picture: yet another high-profile media outlet jumping on the Michael Jackson bandwagon, seemingly unable to resist revisiting the most painful chapters of his life.
The broadcaster has officially announced Legacy: Michael Jackson (working title), a three-part documentary series produced by Fremantle’s 72 Films. The project promises to “explore the rise, controversy, and enduring legacy” of one of the most successful and polarizing artists in history. The production team describes it as “the most fully rounded and authoritative portrait of Michael Jackson yet produced,” complete with “rare intimate archive” footage and “revelatory interviews with those closest to him.”
On paper, the series sounds ambitious: tracing Michael Jackson’s extraordinary career from his early days in 1960s America to the heights of global superstardom, while also addressing the “controversies surrounding his personal affairs.” As expected, the documentary will once again delve into the long-disputed allegations of child sexual abuse, despite Michael’s consistent denials and acquittal in court.
Director Sophie Fuller claims she was drawn to “look beyond the headlines” and “explore the complexity” of the man and the “machine that built, and ultimately consumed him.” Executive producer Mark Raphael echoed that sentiment, insisting that the BBC had given the team “the opportunity to tell this story in full.” Fremantle, meanwhile, is promoting the series as a “powerful documentary told with great depth and integrity,” promising international distribution and positioning it as part of their global factual slate.
But not everyone is convinced, least of all Michael Jackson’s family. According to reports, relatives of the late pop icon are “beyond fury,” calling the BBC’s new production “a shameless attempt to profit from lies.” One family insider reportedly told RadarOnline.com: “They see this as another attempt to smear Michael’s name all over again. They are beyond rage – they feel like he’s being put on trial even after death.”
For Michael’s children and siblings, who have spent years defending his name and legacy, the BBC’s decision feels like reopening old wounds. The family insider described the move as “devastating,” adding, “To them, Michael was acquitted in court, and yet the media keeps digging up the same accusations. It’s retraumatizing.”
The outrage echoes past controversies, including the lawsuit filed by the Michael Jackson Estate against HBO following Leaving Neverland, which they condemned as “a posthumous character assassination.” Now, with the BBC’s project surfacing just as anticipation builds for the official Michael biopic, many are viewing the timing as anything but coincidental.
“The timing feels deliberate,” one source claimed. “They’re trying to tarnish the excitement around the biopic. It’s cruel and unnecessary.”
The BBC insists that Legacy: Michael Jackson will be “a balanced and comprehensive study of a complex cultural figure.” But to many fans and the Jackson family alike, that justification rings hollow. To them, this is less about balance and more about exploiting controversy, another reminder that, even in death, Michael Jackson remains an easy target for media profit.
After all, when the world should be celebrating his musical genius and the long-awaited biopic, it seems the BBC has chosen, once again, controversy over compassion.