Michael Jackson Estate Sues HBO for $100 Million Over 'Leaving Neverland'

The four-hour, two-part documentary directed and produced by Dan Reed screened for audiences at the Sundance Film Festival in January.

Pop star Michael Jackson's estate is suing HBO for Dollars 100 million over the network's plans to air Leaving Neverland documentary, which alleges the singer sexually abused two young boys.

The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court alleges that by co-producing and airing Leaving Neverland, as HBO intends to do next month, the cable channel is breaching a deal to not disparage the singer. TMZ reports that Jackson's estate is seeking over $100 million in damages, claiming that the movie constitutes a breach of a non-disparagement provision signed by the network over two decades ago.

Michael Jackson's estate has sued HBO for U.S. $100 million over the network's plan to air the documentary next month.

"HBO could have and should have ensured that "Leaving Neverland" was properly sourced, fact checked and a fair and balanced representation", the statement from the Jackson estate attorneys read.

"HBO had violated an agreement not to denigrate Michael Jackson by producing or one-sided presentation to the public within the meaning of the sample is blatant propaganda", says the lawsuit.

Recall that the documentary follows the story of two men who claimed that Jackson sexually abused them when they were children.

Robson's lawsuit against Jackson's estate was dismissed in 2017.

"Despite the desperate lengths taken to undermine the film, our plans remain unchanged", the network said in a statement to CNN.

The film deals with longtime accusations of sexual abuse raised by Wade Robson, now 36, and James Safechuck, now 40.

Jackson, who died on June 25, 2009 after being given an overdose of the anesthetic propofol, faced multiple allegations of child sex abuse during his lifetime.

"This so-called "documentary" is just another rehash of dated and discredited allegations", the statement continued.