

Judge George Wu denied HBO's motion to dismiss the case, allowing the Jackson estate to compel arbitration, but granted HBO's motion to stay the arbitration proceedings with the Jackson estate pending HBO's appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. HBO denied claims of a breach of contract and filed an anti- SLAPP motion against the estate. The suit sought to compel HBO to participate in a non-confidential arbitration that could result in US$100 million or more in damages being awarded to the estate. In February 2019, the Jackson estate sued HBO for breaching a non-disparagement clause from a 1992 contract. Reed is developing a follow-up documentary, with Robson and Safechuck returning. Another rebuttal, Neverland Firsthand: Investigating the Michael Jackson Documentary, presented interviews with individuals described as having been omitted from the HBO film.

Michael Jackson: Chase the Truth, a documentary challenging the allegations, was released in August on Amazon Prime Video. Some dismissed the film as one-sided and questioned its veracity the Jackson estate condemned it as a "tabloid character assassination", while Jackson's fans organized protests. Leaving Neverland triggered a media backlash against Jackson and a reassessment of his legacy. It received acclaim from critics, winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, but mixed reviews from viewers. Following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2019, it was broadcast in two parts on HBO and as a shortened version on Channel 4 in March 2019. The film is a co-production between the UK broadcaster Channel 4 and the US broadcaster HBO. It focuses on two men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who allege they were sexually abused as children by the American singer Michael Jackson. Leaving Neverland is a 2019 documentary film directed and produced by the British filmmaker Dan Reed.
