'Michael Jackson: The Verdict' chronicles trial chaos: 6 takeaways from the documentary
Key takeaways
- At the center of the case was Gavin Arvizo, a then-15-year-old cancer survivor from Los Angeles.
- Netflix has announced a new three-part docuseries that will revisit the 2005 trial in which Michael Jackson was acquitted on charges of child molestation.
- Jackson’s historically questionable relationships with children, the media circus surrounding the trial and the effect it had on fans, the family at its center and Jackson himself are explored, too.
Michael Jackson in 2005 leaving the courtroom following proceedings in his child molestation trial at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Santa Maria. (Lucas Jackson / AP pool) By Eloise Rollins-Fife Connect June 4, 2026 5:20 PM PT 10 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X Linked In Threads Reddit Whats App Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.
More than 20 years after Michael Jackson was acquitted on charges of child molestation — and two months since the global superstar’s record-breaking biopic skirted any mention of abuse allegations — a new Netflix docuseries brings his trial and the aftermath to the foreground.
“Michael Jackson: The Verdict,” a three-part documentary directed by Nick Green and released Wednesday, chronicles his 2005 trial in Santa Maria that began with a search raid of the pop star’s sprawling Neverland Ranch and ended with a jury finding him not guilty on 10 counts, including four counts of child molestation. At the center of the case was Gavin Arvizo, a then-15-year-old cancer survivor from Los Angeles.