Jackson fans hit back at documentary in Hollywood protests
A group of fans from all over the world joined together to march down Hollywood Boulevard
(REUTERS) - Michael Jackson fans descended on Hollywood on Tuesday (June 25) not only to celebrate the tenth anniversary of his death but also to proclaim his innocence after the HBO documentary Leaving Neverland earlier this year accused the global superstar of child abuse.
A group of fans from all over the world joined together to march down Hollywood Boulevard protesting his innocence and ended their march a few metres past Jackson s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Wearing T-shirts and carrying flyers that read Innocent , the fans congregated not at Jackson s star but in the courtyard outside Madame Tussauds after Hollywood Boulevard became partially restricted because of Wednesday night s Spider-Man: Far From Home premiere.
Keen Zhang, who is president of the Michael Jackson Chinese fan club and brought 50 fans over from China, told Reuters, "From the beginning of this year, everything was not well and Michael s image has been damaged but it s important for us to come here and show our love and support."
Another fan, Marty Theis, who hails from England via Germany, said, "I think with the documentary, at first we were all shocked and saddened and angered but it was like a launching pad, you know. You set fire on it and you re burned to incineration but you launch forward in love and there s been such an explosion of love as a result of all of this."
The fans put on dance performances of numerous hits like Thriller and Beat It , undeterred by the accusations.
"Michael, for me, came to renovate the god s message of love," said Katia Bellomo, who had flown in especially from Brazil. She added, "There s no other human being so gentle, so kind and has the love inside, truly. He loved people, he loved children, he loved animals, he loved nature. He is love himself."
Jackson died at his Los Angeles home after an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol, which he was using as a sleep aid. His doctor, Conrad Murray, was convicted at a 2011 trial of involuntary manslaughter.
