Watch Michael Jackson’s Emotional Interview: Did It Reveal His Struggle Against Abuse Allegations?

AS Michael Jackson talked about his love of children to journalist Martin Bashir in his infamous 2003 TV documentary, jaws dropped around the world.

And it was that same film – when 12-year-old Gavin Arvizo revealed the troubling extent of his relationship with the King of Pop – that triggered one of the most monumental falls from grace the celebrity world has ever seen.

In the unseen footage Gavin lays his head on his mums shoulder, like he did to JackoCredit: Channel 4 Michael Jackson died in 2009 at just 50 years oldCredit: AFP Jackson with journalist Martin Bashir in a 2003 TV documentaryCredit: Rex

But now a new Channel Four documentary has unearthed unseen footage that Jacko’s personal videographer took back in 2004 – which he claims casts doubts on the Arviso family’s later sexual abuse allegations.

And he reckons that it shows Gavin’s mum Janet ‘was the kind of person who might take money to say Jackson molested her son.’

The young boy had been cared for by the Peter Pan obsessed pop star at his Neverland Ranch from the age of 10, after he had cancer, and his family were grateful for the attention he had paid him.

But things were about to become very tense as Gavin began talking on camera, in Bashir’s ‘Living with ‘, about their bond.

“There was one night where I asked him if I could stay in his bedroom and he let me. I said, ‘Michael, you can sleep on the bed.’

“And he said, ‘No, you sleep in the bed.’ Then he said, ‘Okay, if you love me, you’ll sleep on the bed.’

“I was like, ‘Oh man,’ and so, I finally slept on the bed. It was fun that night.”

Gavin is smiling as he tells this story, while Jacko shifts uncomfortably and awkwardly says, “I slept on the floor.”

Then comes the unsettling moment where Gavin lovingly lays his head on Jackson’s shoulder.

Jackson later confirms that he sleeps with children when he asks, “Why can’t you share your bed? The most loving thing to do is share your bed with someone.

Jackson’s videographer Christian Robinson claims Janet Arvizo was driven by moneyCredit: Channel 4 The Arvizo family speak in a never-seen-before ‘damage control’ interviewCredit: Channel 4

“We have guest rooms but whenever kids are here, they always want to stay with me.”

The four-part series, Michael Jackson: The Trial, features a never-seen-before interview with the Arvizo family, which Jackson’s team hastily arranged as part of their damage control.

Jackson’s personal videographer, Christian Robinson, who filmed the interview, claims Janet was driven by money.

“The idea was to capture an interview with the Arvizo family to show that there hadn’t been improper contact or conduct between Michael Jackson and Gavin,” he says.

“I talked them through what we were going to be talking about, basically giving them the run down that this was a total fluff interview, but that we wanted them to be honest.

“The family is supposedly totally on board but the mum won’t start the interview because I needed signed model releases before we could start but she didn’t want to sign them. Now, why don’t you want to sign the model release? Money.

“Is she worried that she is not going to get a piece of this if we sell this footage? Suddenly she’s on the phone with lawyers. At some point, someone tells Janet that it’s okay to sign the model releases and to film the interview.”

It felt really uncomfortable because it’s an adult man, seemingly having a picnic with a 10-year-old.”

Christian Robinson

In the footage we see them just about to start when Janet smiles, points her finger and says, “Wait! Wait! You know how Bashir zoomed in on him holding hands?”

Janet then holds Gavin’s hand as he rests his head on her shoulder in the same way as he did with Jackson, and Janet says, “Do that same thing. Because that’s what a mother or father does with their son.”

Once the interview starts, Gavin talks about how Jackson is a “loving, kind, humble man and all he wanted to do was good,” and that, “He treats me like he’s my father.”

“As I’m doing the interview, I really do feel like Gavin is very sincere,” says Christian. “But Janet is just over the top. I dislike her immediately.”

I had a strong feeling I didn’t trust Janet

Christian Robinson

As Janet talks about Jackson’s interactions with her children being all innocent, “as a father interacts with his children,” Christian’s doubts about her increase.

“Where she really loses my credibility is how she suddenly adopted this idea that Michael is their real father,” he says. “Either this mum is completely in love with Michael Jackson or she’s driven by the world of Michael Jackson possibilities.”

The footage was shot for the carefully orchestrated two-hour documentary, Michael Jackson’s Private Home Movies, which premiered on Fox TV on 24 April 2003 as a rebuttal to Living With Michael Jackson.

But this particular scene never saw the light of day – until now.

Romantic picnic

“We completed the interview but then the director of photography would not give me the footage,” says Christian.

“This interview was obviously very important and he wanted Michael to pay him so, unfortunately, it never went into the Fox special.

Many of the abuse claims leveled at Michael were based at his Neverland RanchCredit: Alamy Neverland was Jackson’s home and private amusement parkCredit: Getty

“It wasn’t a good situation not to include the interview. We didn’t know the Arvizo family very well, what their motivations were. I thought we wanted to keep them as far away from tabloids and people with cheques as possible.

“I had a strong feeling that I didn’t trust Janet so I was absolutely worried that this is the type of person who might take money to say Michael Jackson molested my kid. Because there’s a lot of money in that.”

The documentary also show previously unseen footage of a small film Christian was asked to make for Jackson and the Arvizo family to keep, which makes for disturbing viewing.

He says: “I don’t think it was meant for the public to see. The first time you see it, you will be a little taken aback. It felt really uncomfortable because it’s an adult man, seemingly having a picnic with a 10-year-old.”

The pair are sitting on a blanket by a tree, overlooking the lake in a romantic looking scene and then walking around hand-in-hand and with their arms around each other.

“The soundtrack Michael wanted to use was I’ll Be There, which is a really sweet song but it begins to sound like a romantic song to the adult ear.”

Jackson arrives with his entourage at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse for his abuse trialCredit: Channel 4 Bob Cooley uncovered books containing images of naked children in Jackson’s libraryCredit: Channel 4 Detectives Rosibel Smith and Fred Sicard led the child sexual abuse investigation into Jordan ChandlerCredit: Channel 4

Further accusations

Ten years prior to this, Jackson had been accused of sexually abusing in 1994 – when he was 13. The popstar settled out of court, paying an estimated 20 million dollars.

After Gavin sensationally changed his story to police, Jackson was again to face such allegations and this time he would go on trial.

In his police interview on 6 July 2003, Gavin revealed he had been plied with drink and molested.

“He (Jackson) said that, ‘I know you’re stressed out about all the stuff that’s going on so I have something that can relax you,’” said Gavin. “He said, ‘Drink it.’

“I said, ‘What’s that?’ He said, ‘It’s drink.’ So, I drank it and I didn’t like the taste. And I asked again, ‘What is it?’ and he said, ‘It’s wine. It’ll help you. Just keep drinking.’

“I kept on drinking it and my head started hurting.

Jordan Chandler accused Jackson of molestation, leading to a civil settlement and no criminal chargesCredit: Barry Breckon

Law enforcement officers raided Neverland and found pornographic magazines in a briefcase in his bedroom that Gavin had told them about.

Jackson, 45, was wanted for arrest and surrendered to the authorities on 20 November 2003.

His trial began on February 28, 2005 in Santa Barbara, where he was charged with several counts of child molestation, administering an intoxicating agent for the purpose of committing a felony and conspiracy involving child abduction and extortion. He was found not guilty.

The show also explored how Janet’s testimony at the trial was ripped apart.

She claimed to have been kidnapped with her three kids and held against their will at the Neverland Ranch – but the defence accused her of fabricating coaching her children to fabricate abuse claims in a scheme to obtain millions of dollars from Jackson.

She also admitted to lying under oath in a civil case against department store J.C. Penney, in which she said store guards had assaulted her and her children after stopping them on suspicion of shoplifting.

It was revealed she obtained a $152,000 payout but then lied about the settlement to receive welfare benefits.

Jackson never returned to his Neverland Ranch, and spent the first several months after the trial living in Bahrain and . He died in 2009.

Christian Robertson maintains his belief that Michael Jackson never abused anyone.

“I think the only times I saw Michael really happy was when he was playing. When he was surrounded by kids,” he says.

“Michael Jackson, in my opinion, was just a kid. I never saw a sexual side to him. He was an asexual man who wanted to be 12 years old and wanted to have water balloon fights. I saw a ton of sick kids visit Neverland who left with big smiles on their faces.”

Michael Jackson: The Trial, airs on Channel 4 tonight