The Michael Jackson documentary has left movie critics "sick to their stomachs".

Content Warning: This post discusses child abuse and will be disturbing for many readers. 

Critics have left the screening of Sundance documentary Leaving Neverland, which details allegations of abuse against Michael Jackson, feeling “sick”.

In the film, Wade Robson, who was acquainted with Jackson during a dance competition aged five, and James Safechuck, who featured with the deceased singer in a Pepsi commercial, are interviewed about the abuse they claim happened to them as pre-teens in the 1990s.

In one section of the film, Safechuck describes the “safety drills” the singer made him perform in case they were caught together, and shared that the singer made him participate in a mock wedding.

During his life, Jackson completely denied the allegations.

In 1994, Jackson was first accused of child sexual abuse when 13-year-old Jordan Chandler accused him of molestation, and while a criminal investigation was inconclusive, Jackson settled the civil suit with the family for $22 million.

Twitter users have spoken about the confronting nature of the documentary, which left some of them “shaking”.

Shaking. Wow. We were all wrong when we cheered for Michael Jackson. He was a pedophile. #LeavingNeverland #SundanceFilmFestival2019

— Mara Reinstein (@MaraReinstein) January 25, 2019

On a 10-min break halfway through Sundance’s 4-hour Michael Jackson child sex abuse documentary. Whatever you thought you knew or were aware of, the content of this is more disturbing than you could imagine. And again, we’re only halfway through.

— Kevin Fallon (@kpfallon) January 25, 2019

Feel sick to my stomach after watching Part 1 of #LeavingNeverland doc. Michael Jackson witnesses/sex abuse victims coming off very credible. It’s so sexually explicit that counselors are in the lobby. #SundanceFilmFestival2019

— Mara Reinstein (@MaraReinstein) January 25, 2019

It’s crazy that Michael Jackson’s legacy remains relatively intact even though he was an absolute monster https://t.co/zU6Rfr29aJ

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) January 25, 2019

Let’s cut the bull Michael Jackson did touch kids back in the day. You dont pay someone 22 million dollars cause your innocence. #LeavingNeverland #SupportSurvivors

— BDuds II (@Infamous43) January 24, 2019

it’s halftime at the four-hour Michael Jackson doc and I’m already gonna need 400 showers to ever feel clean again. #Sundance

— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) January 25, 2019

Following the film, Safechuck and Robson held a Q&A session on stage.

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