Marlon Brando’s son says father’s words were ‘twisted’ to imply Michael Jackson sexually abused children

‘My father would never have been friends with Michael if he thought he was capable of doing harm to kids,’ he said

Ellie Harrison
Sunday 01 September 2019 13:02 BST
Trailer for new HBO documentary about Michael Jackson abuse victims Leaving Neverland

Marlon Brando’s son Miko has slammed reports that his father reduced Michael Jackson to tears when he confronted the performer about his relationships with young children, saying his words were “twisted” to imply sexual abuse occurred.

A transcript describing a conversation between The Godfather star and Jackson, unearthed in a new podcast, reportedly included Brando saying: “I said, ‘Well, who are your friends?’ He said, ‘I don’t know anybody my own age. I don’t like anybody my own age.’ I said, ‘Why not?’ He said, ‘I don’t know, I don’t know.’ He was crying hard enough that... I tried to assuage him. I tried to help him all I could.”

Later in the transcript, Brando reportedly said: “With this mode of behaviour that’s been going on, I think it’s pretty reasonably to conclude that he may have had something to do with kids. My impression was that he didn’t want to answer because he was frightened to answer me.”

In response to the transcript being unearthed, Brando’s son wrote a letter to the Los Angeles Times, saying: “I was friends with Michael Jackson for over 27 years and my father adored him. I don't appreciate my father's words being twisted to imply that Michael hurt anyone.”

He added: “This is just someone’s cheap publicity stunt to promote their paid podcast. My father would never have been friends with Michael if he thought he was capable of doing harm to kids, and he would never imply anything negative about Michael.”

Jackson was investigated twice over allegations of child molestation. He was not charged in 1994, but he went to trial in 2005 and was acquitted on all counts.

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