Music plays a big role in our lives and some artists manage to make such an impact that almost everyone knows them. That was even more the case in the pre-internet era. Prince, Madonna and Michael Jackson were the superstars who you didn’t hear about for a long time and when they released a new album, it was a real event. It is an era that we have largely left behind us. Access to the life of an artist is just a few clicks away. Videos, photos and interview can be found in abundance. That was not the case at the end of the 1980s and when Michael Jackson released Bad the whole world listened. On its first day, half a million copies were sold and his video was shown non-stop on MTV.

It impressed 5-year-old Wade Robson, who lived in Australia. He studied his movements and perfected the way he imitated it. When his mother heard that there was a dance competition where you could win a meeting with Jackson, she decided that he could participate. He won and stood on stage with The King of Pop, his idol. Then he stayed in touch. Around the same time, James Safechuck was chosen as Jackson’s opponent in a Pepsi commercial. The two connected and a friendship developed. Michael Jackson regularly visited their small house and James’ parents almost saw him as an extra child. James was even allowed to go on tour (together with his mother) and was dancing on stage every night. What started as a close friendship for both these children, where they received a lot of attention and access to extravagant places, turned into a nightmare that had an impact not only on the boys themselves, but also on their families. Continue reading →