A number of radio stations across the world have dropped Michael Jackson songs from their playlists.
The news comes following the US broadcast of Leaving Neverland, in which revived sexual abuse allegations are made against the late singer.
According to CNN, multiple major radio stations in New Zealand have stopped airing Jackson’s music including commercial broadcaster MediaWorks. Meanwhile, CBC reports that in Canada three major Montreal-based radio stations have pulled Jackson off air.
In a statement, MediaWorks’ Leon Wratt said: “Michael Jackson isn’t currently on any MediaWorks Radio stations’ playlists. This is a reflection of our audiences and their preferences – it is our job to ensure our radio stations are playing the music people want to hear.”
NZME, a rival broadcaster to MediaWorks, told the New Zealand Herald: “NZME station playlists change from week to week and right now Michael Jackson does not feature on them.”
Director Dan Reed’s film, Leaving Neverland, focuses on testimony by Wade Robson, 36, and James Safechuck, 41, who both claim that Jackson sexually abused them when they were children.
The pair brought civil suits against Jackson’s estate following his death but these were thrown out by a judge in 2017 after ruling that the estate could not be held liable for the singer’s behaviour.
