Another man is coming forward to say that the late pop star Michael Jackson sexually molested him as a boy, bringing the total number of cases against MJ to 5.
James Safechuck, who appeared in a Pepsi commercial with Jackson in 1987, filed a sexual assault complaint last Friday, according to multiple sources.
James and Michael continued to have a close relationship following the soft drink ad. The photo above shows Jackson taking James to a performance of Phantom of the Opera with Liza Minnelli in 1988. Safechuck was only 10 at the time.
Employees at Neverland Ranch mentioned James as a potential abuse victim in various 2005 court documents. But James always denied that Jackson did anything inappropriate to him. Until now…
Now, insiders say James is breaking his silence and claiming Michael molested him soon after the two met.
Safechuck added his name to a suit originally filed by choreographer Wade Robson a year ago. Like James, Wade dismissed claims that MJ ever abused him and even testified in his defense during the 2005 trial.
But he eventually changed his mind, alleging that Michael forced him to perform sex acts on him as a child.
James Safechuck is now married with two young children of his own. A close friend explained why James is just now coming forward, saying:
“Once you start having children and you see what it├óΓé¼Γäós all about ├óΓé¼┬ª your perspective on life changes.├óΓé¼┬¥
You can watch the original Pepsi commercial that James and Michael starred in together below.
We will continue to follow this case as more details become available.
[Image via AP Images.]
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