Gayle King’s Final Interview: The Jackson Family Speaks Out Amid “Leaving Neverland” Controversy

🎤 Gayle King’s Final Conversation as CBS Mornings Host

In what would become her final interview as host of CBS Mornings, veteran journalist Gayle King took on one of the most polarizing topics in modern pop culture — the enduring legacy and controversies surrounding Michael Jackson.

Sitting down with members of the Jackson family, including Jackie Jackson, Marlon Jackson, and Taj Jackson, King facilitated a candid, emotional, and often tense discussion about the Leaving Neverland documentary and the renewed scrutiny it brought to the late King of Pop.

The conversation offered a rare, intimate look into the family’s unwavering defense of Michael, revealing both their pain and their frustration at what they described as misrepresentation and media bias.

🏠 “He Was Always a Kid at Heart”

Throughout the interview, the Jackson family painted a portrait of Michael as an artist whose eccentricities were rooted in a lost childhood. Jackie Jackson, the eldest brother, recalled how Michael and their younger brother Marlon were thrust into fame before ever having a chance to grow up normally.

“When we were traveling on the road, the older ones — we could handle it. But Marlon and Michael were just kids,” Jackie reflected. “They never had a regular childhood. Michael always had been a kid at heart. He loved Disneyland, he loved to make children happy — that was his world.”

Taj Jackson, Michael’s nephew and the son of Tito Jackson, echoed this sentiment, describing his uncle’s fascination with ordinary childhood experiences.

“He’d always ask me what it was like to go to a birthday party, or to play in the park,” Taj said. “He didn’t have that. So when he built Neverland, it was his way of creating the world he missed out on.”

🛏️ The Controversy Over “Slumber Parties”

Much of King’s interview focused on the controversial claims made in Leaving Neverland, in which Wade Robson and James Safechuck alleged abuse at Neverland Ranch. The family addressed those accusations directly, emphasizing their view that the gatherings described were innocent sleepovers that included Michael’s nieces, nephews, and his own children.

Marlon Jackson explained:

“When people say ‘sharing his bed,’ they make it sound strange. But kids have sleepovers — they fall asleep watching movies, just piled in the same room. His kids were there. Taj was little then. It was innocent.”

Taj added a personal perspective, noting he had often been present at these gatherings.

“I understand how it sounds to the outside world, but being there, it wasn’t strange,” he said. “My uncle just didn’t think the way others did — his naiveté was his downfall. He trusted people too much.”

💰 Motives, Memory, and the Question of Timing

The Jacksons were unified in their belief that the allegations against Michael were financially motivated, particularly given that both Robson and Safechuck had defended him under oath years earlier.

“We know our brother,” Marlon said. “Michael would never do anything like that. And to come forward ten years after his death, when he can’t defend himself, it just doesn’t sit right.”

Taj, who has publicly spoken about being a survivor of abuse himself, expressed deep anger over what he sees as exploitation of his uncle’s legacy.

“It’s always been about money,” Taj said. “People saw Michael as a blank check. Instead of working hard, they blamed him for their struggles. It hurts because I know his heart — and I know his innocence.”

He also dismissed claims that “love letters” mentioned in the documentary were inappropriate, clarifying that his uncle often wrote affectionate notes to fans and family members alike, signing them “Love, Uncle Michael.”

🎬 The Family’s Response to “Leaving Neverland”

None of the Jacksons had watched the HBO documentary — nor did they intend to. Jackie Jackson was resolute:

“I don’t need to see it. I know my brother. I know what he stood for — bringing people together, spreading joy, making kids happy. That was who he was.”

The family also criticized the film’s director, Dan Reed, for not reaching out to them for comment.

“He took what they said at face value,” Marlon argued. “There’s nothing wrong with trusting people, but you have to verify. You can’t make serious allegations without checking the facts. And to this day, there’s not one piece of evidence to support their claims.”

💔 A Legacy in Question, A Family United

For Gayle King, this final interview was emblematic of her signature style — probing but fair, emotional yet grounded in empathy. As the Jackson family revisited one of the most painful chapters of their public life, King’s approach allowed them space to share their truth without sensationalism.

In closing, she acknowledged the complexity of Michael Jackson’s legacy — a story of artistic genius, deep generosity, and enduring controversy.

“The world may never fully agree on who Michael Jackson was,” King concluded, “but for his family, the story remains deeply personal — one of love, loss, and the fight to protect his name.”

As King steps away from CBS Mornings, her conversation with the Jacksons stands as a powerful testament to her career-long commitment: to seek understanding in the face of complexity, and humanity in the heart of controversy.