This article contains discussions of sexual abuseand suicide.
New unheard audio footage from before Michael Jackson‘s trial in 2005 has emerged during production of The Trial, an upcoming documentary about the pop star and his criminal accusations.
The singer was put on trial in California in 2005 for allegedly molesting Gavin Arvizo, who was thirteen years old at the time the accusations allegedly took place. Arvizo and his brother testified that Jackson had provided them with alcohol at his Neverland home, before showing them pornography and making sexual advances on them. Jackson was found not guilty by the court on all counts.
‘The Trial’ Sparks Further Discussion About Jackson’s Accusations
The Trial has unearthed new audio footage of Jackson speaking with Rabbi ShmuleyBoteach, whom he approached seeking spiritual guidance a few years before the trial took place. Deadline reports that Jackson can be heard saying: ““If you told me right now . . . Michael, you could never see another child…I would kill myself.”
These remarks will reportedly appear in the second episode of the documentary, which airs on Channel 4 at 9 p.m. GMT on Wednesday, February 4.
The trailer for The Trial also features new footage of Jackson claiming: “Children just wanna touch me and hug me” and “Kids end up just falling in love with my personality.” Deadline reports that “far more” unearthed footage will appear in the documentary.
Multiple documentaries have discussed Jackson’s allegations since the pop star died in 2009, including HBO’s Leaving Neverland, which focused on two men who were allegedly molested by Jackson at his home. No concrete evidence has emerged to challenge his acquittal beyond these claims
The series is structured around interviews with key figures in Jackson’s life—particularly those who were savvy to his private relationships with children. The documentary is reportedly a “balanced” look at the matter, neither picking a side nor omitting any key information. Despite the unearthed footage, one voice belonging to a former defense attorney can be heard in the trailer expressing that “the entire accusations against Michael were a sham.”
The documentary comes just months before Antoine Fuqua‘s hugely anticipated Michael biopic, which stars the singer’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson in the lead role. The film is scheduled for release on April 24, 2026.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available 24 hours a day through RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit their website.
