Wade Robson has denied having a repressed memory, claiming he has "never forgotten one moment" of what Michael Jackson did to him.
The 32-year-old choreographer is requesting money from the Michael Jackson Estate after alleging he suffered “childhood sexual abuse” during sleepovers at the late singer’s Neverland Ranch between the age of seven and 14.
Jackson's family have furiously slammed the allegations, claiming there is no truth to them. They point to the fact that Robson denied being abused when he testified at the singer’s 2005 molestation trial. The chorographer has now attempted to explain his position in a TV interview.
"This is not a case of repressed memory," he stated on the Today show. "I have never forgotten one moment of what Michael did to me, but I was psychologically and emotionally completely unable and unwilling to understand that it was sexual abuse.
"[He] performed sexual acts on me and forced me to perform sexual acts on him."
Previous reports claimed Robson had no memory of the alleged incidents until he suffered a nervous breakdown and then saw a therapist.
He now says that Jackson put pressure on him when he gave evidence and told him their behaviour was "an expression of love".
"It was complete manipulation [by Jackson] and brainwashing," he said. "He would role play and train me for these [trial] scenarios."
Jackson was accused of child sex abuse in 1993 but the case was settled out of court. Robson claims Jackson was in touch with him throughout the period. He would phone him daily to role play, with the choreographer claiming Jackson warned him that if people found out what had gone on between them "both of us would go to jail for the rest of our lives".
Robson also discussed his breakdown, explaining, "for the first time in my life I began to realise that my completely numb and unexplored feelings in relation to what Michael did to me might be a problem and maybe I need to speak to someone about it".
A lawyer helping with Jackson's estate called Howard Weitzman has dismissed Robson's claims, insisting they are "outrageous and pathetic".
It has also been suggested that this is a way for the choreographer to make money, as he lost much of his wealth after his nervous breakdown.
"I've lived in silence and denial for 22 years and I can't spend another moment in that... I'm never going to go away with this for the sake of money. I'm never going to be silenced for money. That's not going to happen," he argued.
TV host Matt Lauer asked Robson to discuss his feelings about Jackson now. The iconic singer died in 2009 of acute Propofol intoxication, with his personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray currently imprisoned for his involuntary manslaughter. When he died the star was preparing for a series of comeback shows, although his family are currently suing promoter AEG Live claiming he was not well enough to perform. It has been suggested he was so frail when he died he was unable to sing and dance at the same time and would have mimed while on stage in London, UK.
"Heartbreak, pain, anger and compassion... The image that one presents to the world is not the whole explanation of who someone is," Robson said. "Michael Jackson was yes, an incredibly talented artist with an incredible gift. He was many things. And he was also a paedophile and a child sexual abuser.
"There are millions of survivors of child sexual abuse out there who are suffering in silence and/or denial, as was I. If my coming forward and speaking my truth can help even one victim gain the courage to speak their truth and begin the healing process, that would be more than I could ever ask."
