Leaving Neverland director Dan Reed condemns Barbra Streisand over Michael Jackson comments
Singer and actor has caused uproar after appearing to sympathise with the late pop star
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Your support makes all the difference.Barbra Streisand has sparked controversy after she appeared to sympathise with Michael Jackson, despite also saying she "absolutely" believes that the late pop star sexually abused Wade Robson and James Safechuck.
"His [Jackson's] sexual needs were his sexual needs," she told The Times, "coming from whatever childhood he has or whatever DNA he has. You can say 'molested' but those children, as you heard say, they were thrilled to be there. They both married and they both have children, so it didn't kill them."
Streisand, who is scheduled to headline British Summer Time Festival in London this summer, went on to say that she has "a combination of feelings" about the allegations and that she blames the parents of Jackson's alleged victims for what happened.
"I feel bad for the children," she said. "I feel bad for him. I blame, I guess, the parents, who would allow their children to sleep with him."
Streisand's comments caused uproar on social media, with Leaving Neverland director Dan Reed writing on Twitter: "'It didn't kill them', @BarbraStreisand, did you really just say that?'"
Others on Twitter called the comments "outrageous and perplexing".
"You can't simultaneously say you believe accuses *and* say it wasn't the accused's fault," wrote NPR's Alexander McCall.
The Leaving Neverland documentary has been met with polarising views over the allegations of sexual abuse against Jackson. His estate and family members have condemned those involved and branded Safechuck and Robson as "opportunists" and "liars".
Many radio stations have chosen to remove Jackson from their playlists. However, Robson has said the question as to whether fans can still listen to his music is "not really my concern... if I have any hope it would be that we question, in general, who we are worshipping and why, so it's beyond Michael".
The Independent has reached out to Streisand's representatives for comment.