1. Forged Document: Martin Bashir used Jackson’s admiration for Lady Diana to convince him that Bashir was the right man to interview him. Bashir was later proven to use forged documents to deceive Diana, which got significant media coverage. What the media did not report is that Bashir also forged Jackson’s signature to ensure that he would not have the right to see the final cut, which Jackson wanted as a condition for giving the interview.
  2. Suggestive Selection: While filming his special, Bashir asked Jackson to invite kids he helped in the past. Jackson contacted Dave Dave who was burned at age 7 and Jackson supported him ever since, and the Arvizos, where he helped Gavin who was battling cancer but with whom he had not been in contact for years. Bashir decided to exclude Dave from the special and instead featured a scene with Gavin. This later allowed the Arvizos to make allegations against Jackson.
  3. The Sleepover: In the scene where Jackson is sitting with Gavin while discussing a sleepover with Bashir, it was manipulatively edited to suggest that Jackson molested Gavin. Bashir edited out information that Jackson made sure another adult, Frank Cascio, was also present in the room while he was with the Arvizo boys in Jackson’s private suite. He also omitted the fact that there was no contact between the Arvizos and Jackson for over a year prior to the interview.
  4. Pushing a Narrative: Martin Bashir built a sinister narrative through manipulative editing and overdubbing false impressions, while behind the scenes he shared multiple praises regarding Michael Jackson’s interaction with children, even saying it was “incredible” and “nothing short of a spiritually kind thing.”
  5. Jackson’s Explanation: Jackson provided more detailed explanations about sensitive topics, such as his relationships with children. He emphasized the innocence and non-sexual nature of these relationships, countering the negative insinuations made by Bashir. Outtakes showed Jackson expressing his genuine love for children in a non-sexual, paternal way.
  6. Rebuttal Video: In response to Martin Bashir’s special “Living with Michael Jackson,” Michael Jackson and his team produced a rebuttal video titled “The Michael Jackson Interview: The Footage You Were Never Meant to See.” This rebuttal video aimed to provide context and included longer unedited footage of interviews and conversations that were selectively edited or omitted in Bashir’s documentary. This provided a fuller picture of Jackson’s statements and actions.
  7. Positive Footage: It showed positive moments and Jackson’s charitable activities, which Bashir did not include. This helped to present a more balanced view of Jackson’s character and intentions.
  8. Behind-the-Scenes Footage: It featured behind-the-scenes interactions between Jackson and Bashir, revealing moments where Bashir appeared to be more understanding and supportive off-camera, contrasting with his on-camera portrayal.
  9. Shield Law: When Martin Bashir was asked about the various filming tactics to push a sinister narrative in the 2005 criminal trial against Michael Jackson, he hid behind the journalistic shield law to prevent himself from being forced to answer questions.
  10. Aiming to Deceit: Outtakes of Martin Bashir’s interview show Bashir reassuring Michael that he would not twist narratives as so many others in the press have in the past and spoke about how horrible the press has been towards Michael Jackson.
  11. Misleading Narration: Bashir’s voice-over commentary often framed Jackson’s actions and words in a suspicious or critical light, influencing viewers’ perceptions negatively. His commentary sometimes suggested inappropriate behavior without presenting balanced evidence or context.
  12. The Special Upset the Arvizos: When Bashir’s special aired not only Jackson but the Arvizos themselves were angry and wanted to refute Bashir’s false insinuation that Jackson molested Gavin. Gavin testified in court that he “didn’t like Martin Bashir after I found out what he was saying about Michael” and “I was angry at — kind of angry at Martin Bashir.”
  13. Editing Leads to Investigation: Bashir’s deceptive narrative about Gavin Arvizo was the reason why Tom Sneddon saw an opportunity to go after Jackson. This is something he wanted to do since 1994. Sneddon contacted the Arvizos, hoping they would accuse Jackson, which they did, but only after they realized they would not financially benefit from the rebuttal to the Bashir special and Jackson distancing himself from them.
  14. Absurd Timing: The Bashir Special created the most absurd set of allegations where the Arvizos claimed Jackson decided to molest Gavin only after the Bashir special aired and while he was being investigated by both Sneddon’s office, the media and the DCFS.
  15. Ethical Concerns: Bashir’s approach raised questions about journalistic ethics, including concerns about obtaining consent under potentially false pretenses and the overall fairness of his interview techniques. These actions led to widespread criticism of Bashir and his special, with many believing it unfairly damaged Jackson’s reputation.
  16. Accusations of Betrayal: Jackson and his team accused Bashir of betraying Jackson’s trust by presenting a misleading and sensationalized narrative, contrary to the assurances given during the filming process.
  17. Bashir’s True Thoughts: After Michael’s passing, Bashir released a statement expressing how he was deeply saddened by the news and stated, “The truth is that he was never convicted of any crime, I never saw any wrongdoing myself; and whilst his lifestyle may have been a bit unorthodox, I don’t believe it was criminal.”