Macaulay Culkin has long maintained the innocence of Michael Jackson after the Thriller singer was accused of misconduct against minors. There were several accusations against Jackson, most notably from Wade Robson and James Safechuck. Robson even went on to claim that Jackson replaced him with Culkin at the time. However, the Home Alone actor denied these claims.
Culkin shared that he had no reason to hold anything back about the pop icon. He reiterated during a 2020 interview that Jackson never did anything to him, while also adding that he never saw any wrongdoing at the Neverland Ranch. Culkin went on to narrate a story about how he shut down a conversation about Jackson with actor James Franco.
Macaulay Culkin Once Shut Down James Franco’s Questions About Allegations Against Michael Jackson
Macaulay Culkin was asked about his association with pop singer Michael Jackson and the assumptions around it when he appeared for a cover story for Esquire in 2020. Culkin shared, “I’m gonna begin with the line—it’s not a line, it’s the truth: He never did anything to me. I never saw him do anything.” Culkin shared that if he had something to speak up about, he would’ve already done that.
Culkin, who’s a godfather to Paris Jackson, still holds the Beat It singer in the highest regard. He shared one encounter with James Franco, where the actor tried to ask him about the allegations against Jackson. Culkin met Franco on a plane right after the documentary Leaving Neverland was released on HBO.
The documentary comprised graphic details about Jackson’s alleged abuse, with stories from Wade Robson and James Safechuck. It caused widespread protests from Jackson’s fans while the singer also received media backlash (via The LA Times). Franco particularly wanted to talk about the documentary with Culkin, wanting to know his thoughts on it. Culkin shared with Esquire:
I ran into James Franco on a plane. I’d bumped into him two or three times over the years. I give him a little nod as we’re putting our bags overhead. Hey, how you doing? Good, how ya doing? And it was right after the Leaving Neverland documentary came out, and he goes, ‘So, that documentary!’ And that was all he said.
Culkin tried to avoid Franco’s questions but he asked him, “So what do you think?”. The Uncle Buck star turned to the Spider-Man actor and asked him whether he would like to talk about a dead friend with him. Culkin shared:
And I turned to him and I go, ‘Do you wanna talk about your dead friend?’ And he sheepishly went, ‘No, I don’t.’ So I said, ‘Cool, man, it was nice to see you.’
Culkin’s relationship with Jackson began when he was 10 years old after he got a call from the king of pop (via PEOPLE). Jackson was impressed with the child actor and the two met over a performance of The Nutcracker in New York City.
Macaulay Culkin Has Time And Again Stepped Up To Clear Allegations Against Michael Jackson
Macaulay Culkin spent his weekends at the Neverland Ranch, which reportedly had a private amusement park. Many questioned the bond between an adult and a child, however, Culkin shared that Jackson helped him grow up as a child star in Hollywood.
During an old interview with Larry King, he cleared up the allegations that he slept in Jackson’s bedroom. Culkin shared (via @therealMJJackson/YouTube):
The thing is…they go ‘oh they slept in the same bedroom as him,’ and I don’t think they understand that Michael Jackson’s bedroom is two stories, and it has three bathrooms. So yeah, I slept in his bedroom, but you have to understand the whole scenario of that.
Culkin also shared that the entire Culkin family was friends with the pop singer. Culkin’s account of his time with Jackson is very different from the countless others who sued the Dangerous singer.
