Myth: Dan Reed Lied about James and Wade Meeting for the First Time at Sundance
May 1, 2020
Many fans of Michael Jackson assert that Dan Reed, the director of Leaving Neverland, misrepresented the timeline of James Safechuck and Wade Robson’s relationship by claiming they met for the first time at the Sundance Film Festival. This assertion is also echoed in the Jackson estate's documentary, "The Lies of Leaving Neverland."
For example, in a Rolling Stone article, Dan Reed stated the following:
Q. For legal reasons, Wade and James were kept apart, long before you even approached them about making the movie. That’s fascinating.
A. Yeah. So they couldn’t exchange stories. Sundance was the first time that they’d met. It’s the first time they’ve had any significant time together."
Fans argue that because James Safechuck and Wade Robson were filmed together as kids on the set of "Jam" in the 1990s, and because Wade mentioned speaking to James in 2014 during his 2016 deposition, it clearly indicates that their meeting at the Sundance Film Festival was not their first encounter.
However, it's important to highlight that Dan Reed's statement has been taken out of context. Both James and Wade have never denied knowing each other prior to their meeting at Sundance.
Below are several video statements.
Question: You hadn't really met, except before this week, right?
James: Yes, they kept us apart for legal reasons, of course. We had met once or twice when we were kids but once the court cases started, we couldn't talk to each other.
Watch the clip below.
Oprah: Did you know about Wade?
James: I knew about Wade, I found myself with Wade twice when we were kids. We met on the set of the music video for "Jam" and then Michael did a Weekend at Neverland, with us and a few other guys. So I knew Wade and you know, he was nice, we got along when we were children. But that was it.
Watch the clip below.
In Wade Robson's 2016 deposition, which is only partially available online, he provides the following answers:
Q. When was the last time you spoke to James Safechuck?
A. I believe the last time we spoke would have been sometime in early 2014.
Q. What did you talk about?
Mr. Finaldi (Wade's lawyer): Hang on. Objection to the extent it calls for attorney/client communications. So if this was a conversation with attorneys there, I'm going to instruct you not to answer.
Q. By Ms. Kleindienst: Did you have a conversation without an attorney present with Mr Safechuck in 2014?
A. No.
Q. Prior to 2014, when was the next last time you spoke to James Safechuck?
A. I believe I would have been 14 or 15 years old and there was a, a weekend at the ranch that was organized by Evvy Tavasci, and it was Michael, myself, James Safechuck, there was another young man who was, I don't remember his name but he was a burn victim that Michael, you know, befriended at some point, and Robert Weiss who was a film director.
And the purpose of the trip, of the weekend trip, was to spend time -- both James and I and I guess this other guy were interested in filmmaking, as was Michael, and so spent the weekend having talks with Robert Weiss.
In the conspiracy filled "The Lies of Leaving Neverland", it is claimed that this meeting took place over dinner, however, the YouTube "documentary" makes no attempt to verify this claim.
The truth is, it remains unclear whether James and Wade met in person or if their interaction took place over a video call in 2014. However, in either scenario, their interaction was not a casual conversation; it was an official meeting organized by their legal representatives.
Referring back to Dan Reed's comment in Rolling Stone, he clearly states: "Sundance was the first time that they’d met. It’s the first time they’ve had any significant time together." In other words, he emphasized that this marked their first opportunity as adults to spend time together as friends, free from the presence of their legal representatives. Prior to that, James and Wade were never free to talk to each other, or discuss their ongoing cases.
With permission, the following article was translated and enhanced from The Truth about Michael Jackson. Further details were added by myself.