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Michael Jackson's Family 'Lawyers Up' Amid Scathing 'Leaving Neverland' Documentary

Michael Jackson Documentary Family Attack
Source: Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images; Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Jan. 22 2019, Updated 8:57 p.m. ET

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The Jackson family is "prepared to defend" late Michael's legacy ahead of the scathing sex abuse documentary Leaving Neverland set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this weekend, RadarOnline.com learned exclusively.

Katherine Jackson, 88, as well as several of her children will stand behind the King of Pop "however they can," a source revealed.

"They are already lawyered up and have spoken to their PR team about how best to handle this crisis," the informant said.

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But it isn't only Katherine's kids that are waging war against the filmmakers of Leaving Neverland. On January 21, Michael's nephew, Taj Jackson, launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to produce their own documentary in hopes of clearing the "Smooth Criminal" singer's name once and for all!

"MJ family, here we are in 2019, the 10-year anniversary of my Uncle's passing. We all knew this would be a difficult year for so many of us worldwide. Instead of being able to mourn and properly celebrate and honor Michael Jackson, we are, again, being forced to educate the public with the evidence-based truth about him," Taj wrote on the site.

"This is on us – fans, friends and family. I know that the unanimous acquittals and the FBI's 10-year investigation (resulting in my Uncle’s complete exoneration) should have been enough. The worst thing we can do is let this continued slander go unchallenged."

In less than 24 hours, the campaign has already received over $17k of it's $777k goal.

As previously reported, the two-hour, four-part documentary describes the alleged child sex abuse by the Late King of Pop against two children who spent a great deal of time with the singer — Wade Robson, 36, and James Safechuck, also 36.

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In 2005, Robson testified under oath that Jackson never touched in him inappropriately or abused him in any way. Almost a decade later, in 2016, Robson changed his tune and filed a lawsuit against Jackson's estate stating that he was raped for seven years by the singer, from age 7 to age 14.

The suit was dismissed by the judge who ruled that the estate could not be held liable for the allegations made by Robson.

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"The Jackson's regard Wade as a extortionist and an opportunist," the source told RadarOnline.com exclusively. "They feel there is no validity whatsoever to his claims. They have fiercely defended Michael throughout all of these accusations and are prepared to defend him again."

On January 9, a spokesperson for Sundance Film Festival announced that Leaving Neverland would be included in the 2019 lineup.

Later that day, the Jackson estate released a statement that said the documentary is just another rehash of dated and discredited allegations. Wade Robson and James Safechuck have both testified under oath that Michael never did anything inappropriate toward them."

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Do you think Leaving Neverland should be included in the Sundance Film Festival Lineup? Sound off in the comments.

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