Nine will screen the two-part documentary “The People vs Michael Jackson,’ revisiting one of the most watched and polarising celebrity court cases in modern history: the 2005 criminal trial of pop icon Michael Jackson.
The series will air over two Sundays – April 13 and April 20 – at 8:30pm on Nine.
It has now been 20 years since the high-profile case went to court. Originally released in 2022 to coincide with the 15th anniversary of Jackson’s acquittal on child molestation charges, “The People vs Michael Jackson” examines how fame, wealth and power intersected with the pursuit of justice. Jackson was cleared of all 14 counts following a high-profile trial that gripped the world’s attention and exposed the intense media circus surrounding celebrity legal proceedings.
The documentary features more than 30 interviews with jurors, attorneys, reporters, observers, and celebrity witnesses—alongside court transcripts and never-before-seen home video footage. It attempts to untangle the public perception of the case from the facts presented in court, raising questions about how the trial was covered, consumed and remembered.
The broadcast arrives at a time when Jackson’s legacy remains a lightning rod for debate. In recent years, public discourse has been reignited by “Leaving Neverland,” the 2019 HBO documentary featuring new allegations of abuse by Wade Robson and James Safechuck, and the sequel, “Leaving Neverland 2: Surviving Michael Jackson.”
In 2023 a California appeals court ruled that Robson and Safechuck’s combined case must go to trial, which is currently set for next year.
“Leaving Neverland” director Dan Reed told Variety earlier this year he planned to be at the hearing with his camera and crew, hopefully documenting the trial for part three.
“It’s taken an awful long time just to get to a trial date that looks as though it could actually happen,” Reed said.“But who knows, maybe justice will prevail and there’ll be a trial. And if there is a trial, I want to be there.”
Legal action involving Jackson’s estate and other accusers also remains ongoing in the US, reflecting the continuing cultural and legal fallout from the original case.
With “The People vs Michael Jackson,” Nine revisits a complex moment in entertainment and legal history—one that still raises uncomfortable questions about celebrity, accountability, and the limits of the justice system.
“The People vs Michael Jackson” will air on Sunday, April 13 and Sunday, April 20 at 8.30pm on Nine and 9now.