Martin Bashir Speaks Out About Michael Jackson Years After Infamous Documentary

If you were a Michael Jackson fan and around in 2003 when the infamous “Living With Michael Jackson” documentary took over pop culture, then we’re sure you remember journalist Martin Bashir and the role he played in the absolute media circus that ensued because of his project. Well, in a twist you may not have expected, he’s back and speaking out about that moment once again.

Bashir’s latest comments come as part of the newly released Netflix documentary, “Michael Jackson: The Verdict.” The three-part film revisits the “Beat It” singer’s controversial 2005 sexual abuse trial, only this time, the narrative is told by key players who were inside the courtroom, among others. Part one, in particular, takes a look at Bashir’s documentary and the subsequent fallout that transpired, largely due to Jackson revealing that he shares his bed with kids who come to visit him at the Neverland Ranch.

Speaking in the new documentary about that moment, Bashir explained that he was initially having a good time with the pop star, and that made him nervous to address the more troublesome topics.

“I was anxious about what was going to happen when I put these difficult questions to him,” Bashir said, per Entertainment Weekly. “But, as we moved towards the end of the filming, he said, ‘I want you to meet somebody.’ I said, ‘Right, who do you want me to meet?’ He said, ‘He’s a little boy, and we’ve healed him of cancer.’ And then, Michael volunteers during the conversation that they sleep in the bed together.”

Bashir went on to say that he and his production team were “completely gobsmacked” when the conversation went that way, and that was when he knew that they had something impactful. However, he just didn’t anticipate the level of impact that it would have until the masses started responding to the finished documentary.

“I realized that we had something that was hugely significant, but I didn’t realize the extent of the bombshell until the broadcast,” Bashir said.

Since 2003, Bashir has come under fire for the documentary, with many Jackson fans feeling as if he used manipulative tactics and selective editing in an effort to paint the singer in a negative light. He invited further scrutiny after he essentially admitted to not witnessing any wrongdoing on Jackson’s part when it came to children and admitted that he didn’t believe he was doing anything criminal—despite the narrative he put forth in the documentary.