The Michael Jackson Interview: The Footage You Were Never Meant to See is a documentary that aired in February 2003. It was hosted by American television personality Maury Povich and focused on behind-the-scenes footage of Martin Bashir's earlier documentary, "Living with Michael Jackson," which had aired a few days before.
The documentary aimed to provide a different perspective on the controversial Bashir documentary by presenting additional footage and interviews that were not included in the original broadcast of "Living with Michael Jackson." The footage was meant to shed more light on the context of Jackson's interactions with children and his statements regarding sharing his bed with them.
Some of the key points and content in "The Michael Jackson Interview: The Footage You Were Never Meant to See" include:
- Unedited Footage: The documentary featured previously unseen and unedited portions of interviews conducted by Martin Bashir during the making of "Living with Michael Jackson." This footage was presented to provide a more complete view of Jackson's statements and interactions with children.
- Jackson's Clarifications: Michael Jackson used this opportunity to clarify some of the statements he had made in the original documentary. He reiterated that he believed sharing his bed with children was innocent and non-sexual and that it was a demonstration of his love and compassion for them.
- Response to Criticism: The documentary also allowed Jackson to respond to some of the criticisms and controversies that had arisen following the broadcast of "Living with Michael Jackson." He defended himself against allegations and accusations, maintaining his innocence.
- Legal and Public Relations Strategy: "The Michael Jackson Interview" was seen as part of Jackson's legal and public relations strategy to counter the negative impact of the Bashir documentary. Jackson's legal team and supporters believed that the additional footage would help present a more favorable view of his interactions with children.
It's important to note that while "The Michael Jackson Interview: The Footage You Were Never Meant to See" attempted to provide a different perspective on the Bashir documentary, it remained a part of the ongoing public discourse surrounding Michael Jackson's life and controversies. The issues raised in both documentaries continued to be debated by the public, the media, and legal authorities.