MTV slammed for ‘disgusting’ Michael Jackson tribute

The MTV VMAs take place later this month — but the decision to stick with a planned Michael Jackson tribute has been widely criticised.

Michael Jackson accuser Wade Robson is speaking out against MTV’s “unfortunate choice” to keep the pop star’s name on its Video Vanguard Award.

On Monday, shortly after MTV announced that Missy Elliott will receive the award at the 2019 VMAs, Robson slammed the decision, telling TheWrap that keeping Jackson’s name on the award will be detrimental to “child abuse survivors all over the world”.

Robson was one of two men to accuse Jackson of sexual assault in HBO documentary Leaving Neverland (his estate has denied the allegations), which brought renewed attention to child molestation allegations levied against the pop star in the 1990s.

A young Wade Robson meets Michael Jackson.

On Monday, MTV announced that Missy Elliott will be the 2019 recipient of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, to be presented at the ceremony on August 27, which will stream on Foxtel.

The award was first created for the inaugural VMAs in 1984 and was renamed in honour of Jackson in 1991 — two years before 13-year-old Jordan Neil Chandler claimed that the pop star sexually assaulted him.

The case was ultimately settled out of court, but in 2005, 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo came forward with similar allegations. Jackson denied the allegations, and after a trial, he was found not guilty.

In March 2019, Robson and James Safechuck reignited the conversation when they detailed allegations of abuse in Dan Reed’s HBO documentary Leaving Neverland. Jackson’s family and estate has denied Robson and Safechuck’s claims, and they are currently suing HBO for $US100 million.

Foxtel is your home of live entertainment shows and award ceremonies, express from the US. Get Foxtel

Missy Elliott will receive the award. Picture: Brad Barket/Invision/AP

Accuser Wade Robson. Picture: Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP

When asked about MTV’s decision to keep Jackson’s name on the Vanguard Award, Robson was clear.

“I don’t personally need MTV to do one thing or the other, but as child abuse survivors all over the world watch to see whether society will support them or not if they have the courage to come forward, in that regard, it’s an unfortunate choice,” he told TheWrap.

Robson isn’t the only public figure who has denounced MTV’s decision.

On Tuesday, Judd Apatow called out the network and its parent company, tweeting, “It is disgusting that MTV and Viacom still calls this award the Michael Jackson award. Are they that out of touch? Do they not care? Are they just serving the interests of their friends who benefit from the estate?”

It is disgusting that @mtv and @Viacom still calls this award the Michael Jackson award. Are they that out of touch? Do they not care? Are they just serving the interests of their friends who benefit from the estate? https://t.co/RVQ3Zm5nGK

— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) August 13, 2019

The 2019 VMAs air live on Tuesday, August 27 from 10am on Foxtel’s MTV Channel

This story originally appeared on Decider and is republished here with permission.