File:Michael Jackson and James Safechuck, 1988 (3662754864).jpg

This photograph was used in the documentary LEAVING NEVERLAND. ______________________________________________

Michael Jackson talking with fans around the pool of the Kahala Hilton Hotel, early February 1988. The small boy dressed like Michael is Jimmy Safechuck, who had appeared in a Pepsi commercial with Michael and was traveling with him. He was sexually abused by Michael Jackson between 1988 and 1992 according to the documentary LEAVING NEVERLAND. The sexual abuse began in early June of 1988 in a Paris hotel room, about 4 months after this photograph was taken.

The woman in white next to them is Jimmy's mother.

When I saw Michael and Jimmy they were inseparable around the hotel together, chasing each other, playing tag, making soap bubbles on a balcony of the hotel, walking closely on the beach together and looking at the hotel's dolphins, turtles and penguins together. Michael, though 29 1/2 years old at the time, acted more like someone Jimmy's age. Jimmy is about 10 years old at this time.

I was staying at the Kalaha Hilton Hotel, and so was Michael (and Jimmy). I saw them 7 different times around the hotel over 3 days

When this photo was taken Michael and Jimmy were out in the daytime around the pool when fans spotted them. I took this photo and others from a nearby perch.

Michael was in Hawaii to make an appearance at a Pepsi bottlers convention that was taking place at another hotel 15 minutes away, the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel, a 30-story hotel located in the heart of crowded and touristy Waikiki Beach.

This was four years after Michael's scalp was burned during the filming of a Pepsi commercial, two years after he was diagnosd with vitiligo, a skin condition, one month before he finalized the purchase of the land that would become Neverland, and four months before he began sexually molesting Safechuck according to the documentary Leaving Neverland.

By the way, I have seen the HBO documentary Leaving Neverland and I believe Wade Robson and Jimmy Safechuck. Others feel differently.

Scanned from the original 35MM film negative.