Wade Robson’s 2013 Interview Detailing Abuse Allegations Explained

**Transcript (Cleaned and Readable)**

This morning we begin with a new claim from Wade Robson, Michael Jackson’s former protégé and long‑time defender — a claim that the pop star molested him for years. We’ll talk to Wade exclusively in a moment, but first, the story.

For years, dancer and famed choreographer Wade Robson spoke of his one‑time friend and mentor Michael Jackson with admiration.

“He was a wonderful relationship. I learned so much from him as an artist and as a kind human being.”

In 2005, when Jackson was acquitted of the only molestation charges he ever faced in court, Robson was a star defence witness.

“He was an adult, he was intelligent, he was articulate, and he was adamant that nothing inappropriate had ever happened when he was with Michael Jackson.”

But now Robson is making a belated claim against Jackson’s estate. His lawyers say Jackson was a sexual predator, and that Robson collapsed last year under the stress and trauma of what he says happened to him for seven years as a child.

Critics say this is about greed and money. But child‑abuse experts say delayed accusations are common — that sexually abused children often take decades to acknowledge the abuse.

“Tragically, this is a very common story. Study after study shows that it often takes adulthood for victims to come forward, and that even people in their twenties may not understand that a crime was committed against them.”

Jackson’s estate says Robson’s claims are outrageous and lack credibility.

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**Interview**

**Interviewer:** Good morning. You know the things you’re going to say here — and perhaps in a court of law — will get a lot of attention. Before I ask specifics, what is your mindset right now?

**Wade Robson:** I feel strong. I feel like this is the right thing to do, because this is my truth, despite what some people may say.

Let’s go back to 2005. You were the first witness called by the defence. Jackson’s attorney said he called you first because you were so convincing in asserting Michael Jackson’s innocence. And now, years later, you’re saying the opposite.

**Robson:** First, I want to be clear: this is not a case of repressed memory. I never forgot one moment of what Michael did to me. But I was psychologically and emotionally unable — and unwilling — to understand that it was sexual abuse.

**Interviewer:** What are you alleging he did?

**Robson:** He sexually abused me from age seven until fourteen.

**Interviewer:** Can you be more specific? You’re accusing someone who is deceased of criminal activity.

**Robson:** He performed sexual acts on me and forced me to perform sexual acts on him.

**Interviewer:** When you testified in 2005, you swore under oath that nothing sexual ever happened. Why did you lie?

**Robson:** I said what I understood and what I was able to say. From day one, Michael told me that we loved each other, that this was an expression of our love. And he said if I ever told anyone, our lives and careers would be over.

When I was eleven, during the 1993 investigation, he would call me every day, role‑playing, telling me the same things — and telling me that if anyone thought we did these things, both of us would go to jail for the rest of our lives.

**Interviewer:** Did Michael Jackson or anyone working for him offer you money or tell you to lie?

**Robson:** No. There was no money. No one said, “You must lie.” But he manipulated me. He brainwashed me. He trained me for these scenarios.

**Interviewer:** You say that when you became a father, something changed.

**Robson:** Yes. When my son was born two and a half years ago, I had two nervous breakdowns. During the second one, I looked at him and imagined him being a victim of the sexual abuse I suffered. For the first time, I realised that my numb, unexplored feelings about what Michael did might be a problem — and that I needed to speak to someone.

Jackson estate lawyer Howard Weitzman said: “Mr. Robson has adamantly denied under oath and in numerous interviews for twenty years that Michael Jackson ever did anything inappropriate. Now he wants us to believe he committed perjury at least twice so he can file a claim for money. His claim is outrageous.”

Jermaine Jackson said Wade Robson is “full of [expletive].”

**Robson:** I understand how hard this is to understand. But the idea that I would make all this up and put myself, my wife, my son, my entire family through this painful experience for money is absurd. I lived in silence and denial for twenty‑two years. I can’t spend another moment in that. To heal, I have to speak my truth — the whole truth. I will never go away quietly. I will never be silenced.

**Interviewer:** After everything — the work you did with Michael Jackson, and what you now allege — when I say his name, what do you think?

**Robson:** Anger. And compassion. There is no excuse for what he did to me, and I believe to many others. But he was a troubled man. The image he presented to the world was not the whole person. He was an incredibly talented artist — and he was also a paedophile who sexually abused children.

**Interviewer:** His fans are calling you a traitor.

**Robson:** I understand their emotions. I understand how confusing and difficult this is. But with a little education about child sexual abuse, you realise how typical my scenario is. The trauma lasts for so long. I had no understanding of this until just over a year ago. I’m only at the beginning of my healing process. I’ll be dealing with this for the rest of my life. But I’m thankful this is happening, because now I can get my life back. My son is going to save my life.

**Interviewer:** Wade Robson, thank you for your time.

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