How Michael Jackson Groomed and Abused Wade Robson Within Days

Aug 13, 2023

Michael Jackson stans often repeat the claim that grooming can take months, sometimes even years. Therefore, they argue, Wade Robson must be lying when he says he was sexually abused during his first ever visit to Neverland Ranch.

Some even point out that all of Michael Jackson’s other accusers described being gradually groomed and seduced before any sexual acts took place—casting further doubt on Wade Robson’s credibility.

For example, Twitter user @RaspberryR3d appears to find it so implausible that a seven-year-old Wade could have been groomed and seduced within days, that she’s even demanding another user explain how it was possible.

Maybe you could explain what "grooming" Wade Robson underwent, so he was ready for abuse on the 1st night of his first ever stay at Neverland when there was zero contact for approx 2yrs!

View original tweet here.

However, does the cult of celebrity truly understand the concepts of grooming and seduction, or do they deliberately choose not to—simply because it conflicts with their agenda of glorifying Michael Jackson?

According to the NSPCC:

"Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them."

Note how it states that grooming involves building a relationship, trust, and emotional connection.

For the typical acquaintance who molests children, it would likely take months or even years to build a trusting relationship—not only with the child, but also with their parents. However, Michael Jackson was not a typical individual, and neither were many of the boys who found themselves in his private bedroom.

Despite what MJ supporters claim, Leaving Neverland is not simply four hours of “false” allegations. In reality, the documentary delves far deeper, regardless of whether one finds the allegations credible. It offers a nuanced exploration of how James, Wade, and their families became entwined in Jackson’s life, highlighting both its light and its shadow.

Even for someone like myself, who had studied Jackson for many years prior to the release of Leaving Neverland, I was struck by the level of detail in Wade’s timeline as presented in the documentary—from his early infatuation at age five, to becoming one of Michael Jackson’s close companions with whom he shared a bed, and, of course, the abuse he alleges he suffered.

It’s precisely this painstaking detail in the documentary that, in my view, merits attention—and why Wade’s account of being abused during his first unsupervised stay at age seven is compelling rather than implausible.

Wade Robson’s Story

Wade was a superfan—someone who emulated Michael Jackson’s appearance and dance moves. At the age of five, he entered a dance competition in Brisbane, Australia, where the prize was a meeting with Michael Jackson. Despite the minimum age requirement being seven, the organisers allowed Wade to participate (and ultimately win) due to his enthusiastic devotion.

Following this, Wade had the opportunity to dance on stage with his idol, and was even personally invited to spend several hours with Jackson in his hotel suite—accompanied by his mother—the following day.

Watch the clip here.

Straightaway, it’s clear that a foundation of trust and emotional connection had already been established—even before Wade and his family met Michael Jackson in person. Furthermore, being offered one-on-one interaction with Jackson the following day only deepened their trust in him.

Following Wade’s on-stage performance with Jackson, he acquired a mini-celebrity status despite his young age. He joined a dance school as a Michael Jackson performer and frequently appeared in shopping centre shows. He was later invited to perform at Disneyland in the United States to mark Australia Day in January 1990.

Watch the clip here.

The Robson family travelled to the US, and upon Joy’s recollection of Jackson’s invitation to “look him up” while in the country, she contacted multiple television stations before eventually being put in touch with Michael Jackson’s assistant. The assistant extended an invitation for the family to meet Jackson at a nearby recording studio.

I believe this moment is central to understanding why Michael Jackson sexually molested Wade during his first unsupervised stay at Neverland Ranch. This wasn’t just a passing meet and greet. Wade, dressed in his Smooth Criminal outfit, was not only treated to photographs with his idol, but was also able to show him video footage of himself performing as the King of Pop over the previous two years.

Jackson must have felt staggeringly fortunate. Here was a family so eager to reconnect that they actively sought him out, and presented what he likely saw as compelling evidence of a seven-year-old boy—whom he’d met two years earlier—demonstrating a striking emotional attachment. It’s this connection, I believe, that prompted Jackson to invite the entire family to stay at his ranch.

Watch the clip here.

En route to Neverland, Wade received special treatment in Michael Jackson’s limousine, where he was given the opportunity to listen to unreleased tracks of Jackson’s music. Meanwhile, Wade’s parents and grandparents travelled in a separate vehicle.

Upon arrival at the ranch, the Robson family was captivated by its breathtaking beauty. Wade’s grandmother even remarked that she felt as though she had died and gone to heaven, while Wade himself likened the experience to travelling to another planet.

I believe some people underestimate the role Neverland played in granting Michael Jackson exclusive access to children. The environment was meticulously designed to dazzle visitors and create an illusion of complete safety. In effect, it functioned as a fully staffed five-star resort, where guests were treated as the ultimate VIPs.

Watch the clip here.

Once again, a single weekend spent in this enchanting location likely cemented the Robson family's trust in Jackson to such an extent that they felt entirely comfortable leaving Wade alone for five days while they embarked on a sightseeing trip to the Grand Canyon.

Of course, there’s some grasping-at-straws controversy surrounding this trip, as Joy Robson previously claimed in 1993 that she had taken her “entire family” before returning the following weekend.

Rather than boring you to death with the details, everything is explained in Post 31.

The First Day And Night

Okay, we can affirm that the entire Robson family shared an emotional bond with Jackson. Furthermore, Jackson developed a deep understanding of Wade’s life and admiration for him. He was also aware that the family’s stay in the United States was limited to just a few weeks, with plans to travel across various states and cities before returning home to Australia. As such, a prolonged grooming process was never a realistic possibility.

Nonetheless, Jackson still needed to separate Wade from his parents, which he achieved in a subtle and seemingly innocent manner. After spending some time alone with Jackson, Wade and his slightly older, 10-year-old sister, Chantelle, were brought back to the guest quarters where their parents were staying. Naturally, they remained drawn to Jackson, and when discussing sleeping arrangements, he offered them the choice between the guest quarters or his private bedroom.

Wade himself acknowledged that, in hindsight, it felt as though instinct and judgement had been thrown out the window. Yet on reflection, it’s possible to understand how the situation unfolded.

The Robsons travelled to the United States with only a faint hope of making contact with Jackson—let alone receiving an invitation to his private residence. When that fairy-tale moment arrived, accompanied by the luxurious treatment in one of the most enchanting places on earth, it’s understandable how instincts and judgement faltered. Considering the experiences of boys beyond the Robson family, one is left to ponder where they came from and why their parents behaved in such unthinkable ways. The answer, it seems, may now be apparent.

As for the first night: nothing noteworthy transpired between Wade, Chantelle and Jackson. They watched movies, had pillow fights, and eventually drifted off to sleep. On the surface, it all appeared innocent and harmless. However, that initial night not only allowed Jackson to deepen his emotional connection with Wade, it also served as an audition—demonstrating to the parents that their children were safe in his presence, even behind the closed doors of his bedroom.

Watch the clip here.

The Second Day and Night

This day was pivotal. Jackson was aware that the entire family would be departing the following day to visit the Grand Canyon and continue their journey to other locations within the US. Consequently, he sought to further impress Wade. They spent the whole day exploring Neverland in electric golf carts, indulging in its many wonders.

Jackson even remarked to Wade’s mother that, when he looked at Wade, it felt like seeing a younger version of himself. This flattering comment was clearly calculated to resonate with her and deepen the Robsons’ trust in him.

The sleeping arrangements remained unchanged on the second night. At some point after Wade had fallen asleep, he awoke to the sight of a sobbing, shadowy figure in the corner. Jackson explained that he was saddened by their imminent departure and fearful of being left alone. Wade expressed similar sentiments, burdened by a strong sense of guilt towards Jackson.

It is unsettling that a seven-year-old Wade harboured such emotions towards an unrelated man—but this was a direct result of Jackson’s manipulation.

The following morning, when Wade’s mother brought up their departure, Jackson suggested that Wade could remain at Neverland, travel to LA, or do anything he wished.

Naturally, Wade wanted to stay—initially, without objection from his mother.

Watch the clip here.

The First Day without His Parents

Wade was overjoyed—and so was Jackson. They had five days ahead of them to do as they pleased. Jackson initiated physical contact with Wade, placing his hand on the boy’s leg and giving him frequent hugs.

Wade said:

"This felt great. Out of all the kids in the world, he chose me to be his friend — and he’s holding my hand."

Again, this was classic grooming behaviour: beginning slowly with light touching to gauge the child’s reaction before progressing to the next stage.

The remainder of the day was spent watching movies, playing tag, and learning to do the moonwalk—Jackson’s iconic dance move. It’s fair to say that, by this point, Wade was on cloud nine. The man he had idolised for the previous two years wasn’t just standing in front of him; he was teaching him his trademark dance steps at the magical Neverland.

As day gave way to night and bedtime arrived, Jackson molested Wade for the first time. It began with Jackson moving his hand across Wade’s legs towards his crotch area, while the boy was still wearing his pyjamas. Jackson then placed his hands underneath the pyjamas and fondled Wade’s genitals.

Wade said:

“There was nothing aggressive about it, nothing abrasive. I never felt scared or anything like that — it just didn’t seem that strange.”

And then Jackson guided Wade to do the same to him, including directing the boy’s hands over his erect penis. Jackson would then tell Wade that:

“You and I were brought together by God. We were meant to be together. This is us showing each other that we love each other — this is how we show our love.”

In addition, one must consider that, had things not gone according to plan and Wade responded negatively, Jackson still had four full days alone with him at the ranch—ample time to potentially shift a negative experience into a positive one before the parents returned. Jackson himself would have known that the Robson family were not in a strong position to make allegations against him. This was a family who had travelled over 8,000 miles from a different continent and spent days contacting television stations in an effort to locate him. In such circumstances, who would the public be more inclined to believe: an iconic pop star or a middle-class Australian family?

Following that first night, the abuse escalated significantly. It included showering together, fondling, kissing, nipple stimulation, oral sex, and other sexual acts.

Watch the clip here.

There’s no denying that the sexual acts described by Wade Robson are both graphic and horrific. It is perhaps the speed and severity with which these acts were committed that some may find difficult to accept.

However, when Wade’s story is viewed in its entirety—from dancing on stage with his idol at the age of five, to becoming a Michael Jackson dance impersonator, and eventually reconnecting with Jackson and spending time at his multimillion-dollar ranch—it becomes less implausible that he was molested in such an explicit way within just a few days. In fact, it appears compelling.

Wade’s tender age of just seven years old also played a significant role. Most of the boys who ended up in Michael Jackson’s private bedroom were typically between 10 and 12—an age at which the grooming and abuse process would have required a more cautious and gradual approach.

After the Robson Family Returned and Left

Some people may still doubt Wade’s story, questioning how a seven-year-old could keep such a dark secret for so long—especially without physical contact with Jackson for a couple of years.

The answer is simple: the grooming never stopped.

Wade said that after his family had returned from the Grand Canyon, he felt his relationship with Jackson had progressed to the next level. It became a case of ‘us and them’. He said Jackson frequently spoke to him about “not trusting people”—particularly women. Jackson then began calling him “son”, and Wade was smitten with the idea that his idol could be a father figure.

The original plan was for the entire family to leave Neverland Ranch and spend another week touring the United States before returning home to Australia. However, Wade, Chantelle and Joy chose to stay with Jackson at his LA apartment for a week, while the rest of the family continued on to San Francisco.

During their stay, both Wade and Chantelle were taken on shopping trips in LA, where they were given free rein to fill their trolleys with anything they desired. Was this a gesture of generosity toward a family Jackson barely knew? Or was it the calculated behaviour of a predatory child molester leveraging his celebrity and financial power to groom and seduce the entire family?

Watch the clip here.

While in LA, despite his mother and sister being present, it was very much the same as it had been at Neverland—Wade continued to share both the room and bed with Jackson. During the day, the two would spend long stretches together, playing games and watching cartoons, while his mother and sister ventured out to explore the Westwood area.

Once again, it seems Jackson maintained full control over Wade, and Wade’s mother remained unaware. So much so, in fact, that Jackson continued the abuse—albeit at a reduced level.

Wade states:

“When the abuse started — within that first week — every night that I was with him, there was abuse, while my mother was, you know, next door.”

Wade then states:

“He started talking about how much he loves me. What this is […] this is how we show our love for each other. Other people are ignorant — they are stupid — they will never understand. If they ever found out what we were doing […] he and I would be pulled apart, and we would never be able to see each other again, and that he and I would go to jail for the rest of our lives.”

Watch the clip here.

If Wade is telling the truth—and I wholeheartedly believe he is—it’s clear how intensely Jackson was preparing him to keep this deep, dark and disturbing secret, warning of grave consequences should it ever be revealed.

The Robson’s Return to Australia

You might assume that was the end of it. The Robsons boarded a plane for their 24-hour-plus journey back to Australia and had no further contact with Michael Jackson—at least until they returned to the United States a couple of years later.

Did little Wade manage to keep this terrible secret without further influence from his idol until the age of nine or ten?

Not quite. According to Joy, “Jackson would call every day for two years.” These lengthy phone calls between Wade and Jackson—sometimes lasting over six hours—became routine. Joy also received regular calls, but Wade’s father, Dennis, was deliberately kept out of the loop.

During these conversations, Jackson began telling Wade that he would become a “massive film director, bigger than Spielberg,” encouraging him to keep working on his dancing as part of their plan to “change the world” together.

Jackson also started calling Wade “little one” (sometimes “Applehead” or “Doodoohead”) and even composed a song for him. After the Robson family acquired a fax machine, a flurry of exchanges began between Wade and Jackson. These faxes expressed Jackson’s love for Wade and assured him that they would be best friends forever.

Watch the clip here.

By maintaining continuous contact with the victim—and his family members—while consistently reinforcing the child’s supposed future greatness, Jackson employed a textbook grooming tactic.

However, Jackson didn’t rely solely on regular phone calls or faxes to keep Wade on side. He also ensured that Wade left the United States with valuable items from his personal collection. These included the white fedora worn in the Smooth Criminal video—still bearing visible make-up stains—and the gloves featured in the Bad music video.

It’s quite extraordinary, isn’t it? You’re a complete stranger who spends just two weeks with Michael Jackson, and he gifts you items worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Wade states:

“My whole life was focused on him, and leading towards him. This kind of fantasy began for me […] that pretty soon I would end up living with him; that I would be with him like a father and son for the rest of my life.”

Subsequently, despite not seeing Jackson in person for a period, Wade was invited to take part in the LA Gear campaign—once again granting him exclusive time alone with his idol. This invitation underscores Jackson’s intense fixation on Wade and his efforts to maintain continuous contact, deliberately preventing any sense of detachment.

Watch the clip here.

Jackson was a constant presence in the lives of Wade and his mother, maintaining contact for two full years. This included frequent phone calls, faxes, birthday videos and messages, along with unwavering encouragement and praise directed at Wade.

One of the most compelling aspects of Leaving Neverland occurs at the end of Part One, when the Robson's discuss being torn apart by the aspiration to relocate to the West Coast of the USA and pursue the dreams instilled in Wade by his idol. Hearing Shane, Wade’s older brother, describe being left behind—and how Chantelle was forced to choose between staying with her father or her mother—is heart-wrenching. Moreover, learning about Wade’s father, Dennis, who suffered from bipolar disorder, adds another layer of sadness to an already distressing story.

While Jackson cannot bear sole responsibility for the breakdown of this family, he undeniably played a substantial role—both emotionally and financially.

As to whether Wade’s account of being sexually abused after just a couple of days is unconvincing or compelling, I’ll leave that judgment to you.