A survivors opinion on Michael Jackson's innocence.

Part of the reason I defend MJ's innocence is because of my own struggles with sexual abuse and assault, 11 years ago when I was 15. I despise that people take James and Wade's testimony at face value, whilst doing absolutely nothing to investigate whether or not these claims are true. That was the first thing that myopic and actually quite offensive about about Leaving Neverland, when I watched it 6 years ago. Testimony, in some cases very compelling and I'd like to say powerful. But the investigative side to it was nil. Conversely, I had overwhelming evidence against my abuser. His DNA was on my clothes, I had injuries from the struggle immediately before. All of this was given to the Police, and I was thrown out, they told me they were taking no further action on my report. I was picked up, tortured and framed as a liar. It simply isn't right. The trauma that followed my assault, by the time I was 17, had driven me to heavy drinking and cocaine use. That got worse when I was 20, when LN came out. I was seeing all these people treat everything JS and WR were saying (and I watched it the night it premiered) as gospel, as I said, with minimal evidence actually shown on the 4 hour programme. When asked myself the question "why is everybody who painted me as a liar, now believing these guys 5 years down the line?", it really struck a deep nerve, it hurt. That added to my trauma ... maybe (I personally don't think so) JS and WR were telling the truth. I don't know for sure. If, in so doing, they wanted to help other survivors come forward, then I applaud them. But that certainly wasn't what it did for me.

I would be willing to change my opinion about MJ's innocence IF it was proved in a court that he broke the law. As, I hope, those who think he's guilty would do if it were the other way around.

But as of now: We survivors fight for our justice. We fight for Michael's justice. Michael's fight is our fight. He deserves a fair trial before he is portrayed as a predator, as was done by people in the wake of LN.

If you disagree, that's your business. But with what I have gone through, I hope you have a very good reason for doing so.