Michael Jackson Child Molestation Claims by Wade Robson Supported by Shane Sparks, 'Best Dance Crew' Judge
Former America's Best Dance Crew judge, Shane Sparks said he believes choreographer Wade Robson's claims that Michael Jackson molested him.
Shane said he saw clues of molestation when he first met Wade, who was not much older than 7 at the time. He said Wade's small apartment was full of expensive toys and electronics, all gifts from Jackson. Wade was so close to Jackson that he was also allowed to host birthday parties at Neverland Ranch without the pop singer being present, according to Shane. The only room that was off limits was Jackson's bedroom.
"I've been knowing Wade forever. Because of the man he is, I do believe him. I don't think he would lie about this because this could hurt him," Shane told TMZ. "He don't need the publicity or the money. I think this is something that has been on his mind and he had to get it off."
Robson filed a claim with Jackson's estate alleging that the King of Pop molested him for seven years, from the time he was 7 until he turned 14.
When he was a child, Robson appeared in three of Jackson's music videos and often slept over his house. During Jackson's 2005 trial for molesting children, a then-22-year-old RobsoN took the stand to defend the singer and said Jackson never sexually abused him. Now, four year's after Jackson's death, Robson recanted his testimony and claimed that Jackson did molest him during the years they worked together.
Jackson's family rejected the claim and called Wade an opportunist.
"This is a young man who has testified at least twice under oath over the past 20 years and said in numerous interviews that Michael Jackson never did anything inappropriate to him or with him," a lawyer for the Jackson estate said. "Now, nearly four years after Michael has passed, this sad and less than credible claim has been made. We are confident that the court will see this for what it is."
Robson's lawyer said his client had repressed the memories for years and only remembered the incidents recently, after suffering a nervous breakdown.
Robson is a professional choreographer and has worked with artists including Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake and appeared on So You Think You Can Dance. In 2011, Shane was convicted of statutory rape for having unlawful sex with a minor under 16.
