Aaron Carter has spoken out in the wake of HBO’s highly controversial Leaving Neverland documentary, defending Michael Jackson and taking one of the popstar’s accusers to task.
As a result of the HBO exposé — which suggests the King of Pop sexually abused two children in the 1990s — fans and former followers are now divided over how they feel about the late singer.
Carter, 31, became friends with Jackson in his early teens and has claimed on numerous occasions that the Thriller singer never acted inappropriately around him.
In an interview conducted with TMZ on Monday, Carter continued to defend Jackson and even offered some choice words to one of his accusers, Wade Robson.
The Aaron’s Party singer and Robson, 36, spent a lot of time together during their teenage years at Neverland Ranch, Jackson’s Santa Barbara County home.
READ MORE: Michael Jackson sexual abuse allegations: A timeline
When asked about his thoughts on Leaving Neverland, Carter recounted his friendship with Jackson.
“I remember having the time of my life with Michael,” he said.
Carter revealed that the two went to the same vocal coach, Seth Riggs, for a number of years together.
“I was about 15 years old, and I remember him just sitting down with me being like, ‘This is kind of what you’ve got to do, Aaron, with your future. Stay focused, be driven, always be a perfectionist,'” Carter said.
“I really idolized Michael, the way you see Wade Robson and that other kid did [in Leaving Neverland].”
WATCH: Michael Jackson accusers open up about their alleged experiences on CBS
After years of defending the singer to the public and even on trial, Robson came forward with allegations in 2013, followed by Safechuck in early 2014.
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Through the same lawyer, both men sued the Jackson estate, claiming that the singer had molested them when they were children. Both cases were dismissed in 2017.
These events inspired director Dan Reed to create Leaving Neverland.
“When Michael Jackson is alive, you’re backing him, you’re up his a**, you’re kissing his a** and you’re there to testify for him under oath,” said Carter of the popstar’s accusers. “Then, when he dies, you decide that that’s a good time to come out?”
“No,” he continued. “What you’re doing is you’re actually stomping on an icon and a legend’s grave. Why not do it when he was alive, man?”
READ MORE: Paris Jackson vaguely defends father, reacts to HBO’s ‘Leaving Neverland’
Prior to Carter’s TMZ interview, a tweet surfaced from a Twitter account under the name Wade Robson Creations.
The since-deleted account wrote: “I’m not alone, you ask @aaroncarter.”
Although the authenticity of the account is unconfirmed, the tweet fuelled Carter to conduct an in-depth interview with TMZ. Robson’s attorney later told TMZ the account was fake and that the tweet did not come from Robson.
“Wade I’m very disappointed in because he’s trying to tie my name into this s**t,” Carter said.
“I might be a pop singer, but I’m also from the f**king south,” he continued.
“You f**king coming at me saying some sour s**t? You’re lucky I’ve got something to lose now, because I would punch you in your face.”
“How am I supposed to understand that when my whole personal experience with [Jackson] was gentle and beautiful and loving and embracing?”
Once the interview went public, Paris Jackson, the King of Pop’s only daughter, replied to Carter with a heart emoji.
The younger Jackson only recently spoke out about Leaving Neverland, vaguely defending her father. She is the only one of Jackson’s three children to have shared her opinion regarding the matter.
WATCH: Paris Jackson vaguely defends father Michael in reaction to HBO’s ‘Leaving Neverland’
READ MORE: Michael Jackson fans furious with Oprah following ‘After Neverland,’ urge people to #MuteOprah
While sharing his thoughts on Jackson’s accusers, Carter suggested they were paid to conduct the Leaving Neverland interviews.
“You don’t think, for the interviews that they’re doing, they’re not getting paid? Why not do it when he was being accused of molestation?” said Carter. “Why not do it then? It actually could indict a perpetrator.”
Carter went on to claim that he had been offered hundreds of thousands of dollars to speak out against the late singer.
“I’ve been offered six figures already for an interview and I turned them all down. I told them to go f**k themselves,” he said.
In a later tweet, Carter attempted to reach out to Robson with a foul-mouthed message.
“Wade Robson, don’t drag my name into s**t! You don’t want this. Keep my name out of your mouth, you started this s**t,” he wrote.
READ MORE: Michael Jackson accusers detail alleged sexual abuse in first TV interview
In addition to the handful of sexual abuse allegations made against Jackson, the premieres of Living with Michael Jackson (2003), Leaving Neverland and After Neverland have contributed to the dwindling of the popstar’s persona since 1993.
Throughout his life, Jackson denied all sexual assault and abuse accusations. The singer was never found guilty of any crime in a court of law.
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