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Netflix Releases ‘Michael Jackson: The Verdict’ After Near Cancellation

7/26/2026

38 8 Full Breakdown

Summary

Netflix Launches Hit

Netflix almost cancelled “Michael Jackson: The Verdict” a week before its June 3 release over lawsuit fears.
The series launched on June 3 and topped charts in 61 countries.
It earned 17.8 million views in five days and received a 7% audience and 82% critic score.
A Change.org petition to pull the doc gathered over 188,000 signatures, while the film features testimony from attorney Brian Oxman, publicist Raymone Bain and two jurors.

Summary

Jackson Estate Sues

The Jackson estate sued HBO Max in 2019 over “Leaving Neverland,” which was removed in 2024.
HBO removed “Leaving Neverland” in 2024 because the estate held a 30-year non-disparagement agreement with the network.
The estate sued ABC in 2018 over “The Last Days Of Michael Jackson.”
Netflix limited marketing and avoided advance press screenings because of anxiety about possible legal retaliation from the Jackson estate, according to Variety sources.

History

Historical Context

In 1964 the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, written by Justice William J. Brennan, created the “actual-malice” standard for public-figure defamation, overturning a $500,000 judgment against the Times. Streaming platforms such as Netflix and HBO Max now embed non-disparagement clauses in Jackson estate lawsuits, using the Sullivan rule to limit exposure to costly defamation claims.

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Netflix Launches Hit

Netflix almost cancelled “Michael Jackson: The Verdict” a week before its June 3 release over lawsuit fears.
The series launched on June 3 and topped charts in 61 countries.
It earned 17.8 million views in five days and received a 7% audience and 82% critic score.
A Change.org petition to pull the doc gathered over 188,000 signatures, while the film features testimony from attorney Brian Oxman, publicist Raymone Bain and two jurors.

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