Michael Jackson's Brother Jermaine Reiterates Singer's Innocence In Child Sexual Abuse Allegations

Jermaine Jackson defended his brother Michael Jackson in the child sexual abuse allegations that sparked following a HBO documentary. "Leaving Neverland" - detailed claims by James Safechuck and Wade Robson that Jackson sexually abused them over a period of several years when they were children.

During his appearance in Good Morning Britain, which aired early Wednesday, Jermaine said that Wade, who had testified under oath in Michael's defense during a 2005 trial, changed his story after the "King of Pop" died. In 2003, Michael was charged with seven counts of child molestation after a cancer-stricken boy invited to the singer's home opened up about the incident. The singer, who denied the allegations, was acquitted of those charges.

Jermaine claims that Robson "tried to go out and shop a book deal, no publisher would touch it. He even sued the estate for $1.5 billion, it was tossed out of court... "They had to sling him through the mud and he was clear of all of this, so it's nonsense."

The new HBO documentary, which was screened at the Sundance Film Festival last week, revived conversation about whether Michael was a predatory pedophile. Michael's family released a statement Monday condemning the film.

"Michael always turned the other cheek, and we have always turned the other cheek when people have gone after members of our family - that is the Jackson way," the statement said. "But we can't just stand by while this public lynching goes on, and the vulture tweeters and others who never met Michael go after him."

Michael died in 2009 at the age of 50 from an overdose of Propofol.

In 2013, Robson filed a lawsuit alleging Jackson had molested him over a seven-year period, starting when he was seven years old. He claimed the last sexual assault occurred when he was 14.

"I never forgot one moment of what Michael did to me, but I was psychologically and emotionally completely unable and unwilling to understand that it was sexual abuse," Robson said during an appearance on the "Today" show after he filed the suit, which was later dismissed by the court.

In a new interview with the Hollywood Reporter’s Tatiana Siegel on Monday, "Leaving Neverland" director and producer Dan Reed responded to the estate and family’s criticisms.

“A four-hour piece, is that a tabloid,” Reed said. “I didn’t characterize Jackson at all in the film—I think if you watch it you'll have noticed that it’s a story about these two families and Jackson is an element of that story.” He claimed the film isn’t about Jackson, saying it’s “an account of sexual abuse, how sexual abuse happens and then how the consequences play out later in life.”

“They have a very precious asset to protect,” Reed said in response to the family and estate’s statements. “Every time a song plays, a cash register goes ‘ka-ching.’ It doesn’t surprise me that they've come out fighting in defense of their asset.”