Myth: Amanda Robson Lied About Not Knowing Anything About Child Sexual Abuse

March 24, 2020

Some fans of Michael Jackson have suggested that Wade Robson deliberately changed the wording on his Hawaii Community Foundation webpage following a comment made by his wife, Amanda Robson, in the documentary Leaving Neverland. In the film, Amanda stated that she had limited understanding of child sexual abuse. This remark was seen by some as inconsistent with the original description on the foundation’s website, which had referred to both Wade and Amanda as survivors of abuse. However, this seems to be a case of misunderstanding rather than any attempt to mislead the public.

The original version of the webpage read:

"The Robson Family Fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation was established in 2019 by Wade and Amanda Robson. Wade Robson, a survivor of child sexual abuse, along with Amanda Robson, his wife, mother of their child and also a survivor of child abuse, wanted to create a powerful way to contribute towards the healing from and prevention of child abuse."

This wording clearly identified Wade as a survivor of child sexual abuse and Amanda as a survivor of child abuse more generally. However, some readers may have interpreted this as implying that Amanda had also experienced sexual abuse, which may not have been the case.

The revised version of the webpage reads:

"The Robson Child Abuse Healing And Prevention Fund is a Donor Advised Fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation dedicated to supporting the healing and prevention of child abuse, nationwide. It was established in 2019 by Wade and Amanda Robson with a personal donation."

Source: waderobson.com

This updated version removes the personal references to Wade and Amanda’s experiences and instead focuses on the broader purpose of the fund. By shifting the emphasis away from their individual histories and towards the fund’s mission, the new wording avoids any potential confusion about the nature of their experiences.

It’s useful here to clarify the difference between “child abuse” and “child sexual abuse”. “Child abuse” is an umbrella term that includes various forms of harm inflicted on children, such as physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. “Child sexual abuse” is a specific category within that broader definition, referring to any sexual activity imposed on a child by an adult or older individual.

Wade Robson has publicly identified as a survivor of child sexual abuse, particularly in connection with his allegations against Michael Jackson. Amanda Robson, on the other hand, has been described as a survivor of child abuse, but there is no public indication that her experience involved sexual abuse. The original wording may have unintentionally led some readers to assume that both Wade and Amanda had endured the same type of trauma, which could explain why the language was later revised to be more neutral and general.

Although the Robsons have not publicly explained the reason for the change, it seems reasonable to conclude that the update was made to improve clarity and prevent misinterpretation. Rather than attempting to hide or alter the truth, the revised wording appears to reflect a thoughtful effort to ensure that the fund’s purpose is communicated accurately and without ambiguity.