Thread by @MJJRepository

Here's a disgusting look at the relentless, systematic approach Billboard Magazine took across multiple issues to attempt dismantling of MJ's legacy while serving as a massive promotional tool for Dan & LN.

This is separate from their online vendetta against MJ in similar style.

Billboard started their sleazy coverage from the first new issue (Feb 9) following LN's Sundance debut.

They ask "Will LN affect MJ's legacy?" then quote only the anti-MJ rhetoric including Gayle King "a game changer," THR "devastating effect" & "Dan has received death threats."

One month later (March 9), Billboard runs a cover story on this topic with the front-cover headline: "INNOCENCE LOST: Can Michael Jackson's Legacy Survive 'Neverland'?"

This headline appears atop Juice WRLD's cover shot, which given JW's sudden death has became a historic cover.

In this same March 9 issue, Billboard runs the "TOPLINE" story claiming LN "split fans of MJ and had a disruptive effect on plans made by the estate."

The only "disruptive effect on plans" they cite was the Chicago musical trial run being skipped, instead heading direct to NYC.

The same issue then runs a 2 page spread w/ creepy-filtered NL photo. "100s of millions at stake."

They include a quote in the teaser from an "estate lawyer" saying "it's got to hurt," before revealing this estate lawyer is Howard King (Tupac Shakur), not related to MJ's at all.

The article quotes Weitzman's "just another rehash of dated and discredited allegations" but immediately attempts to downplay that remark as if the estate couldn't had been well-versed on the claims when they just heard about film in January.

They also rely on anonymous sources.

The article then rehashes the synopsis of Leaving Neverland, complete with all the PR talking points and buzz words.

Such a hit piece wouldn't be complete w/out quoting celebs in bold: Oprah "this moment transcends MJ," Ehrlich "you may never listen to MJ again." and so on...

Then, still in this same issue of the print edition, Billboard has the audacity to run a graphic detailing the "timeline of allegations."

They botch the facts even in their dumb graphic, such as claiming James "declined to testify" in 05, when he was court-barred & never-asked.

But wait, there's more. Further down this same issue of Billboard (the 2nd within a month that promotes LN), they have a full page spread of the trio on Oprah.

Complete with this headline: "After LN aired Dan Reed was accused of telling a one-sided story. That was the point." 🤷‍♂️

Billboard uses the second separate story in the same issue to double-rehash the allegations of LN while also promoting Oprah's "emotional" special.

Again they splash more blue tick quotes including Apatow: "5 min. in you'll think to yourself...every word they're saying is true."

All of the scandalous coverage by Billboard in the first two issues that described LN was just the appetizer.

Their next issue (Mar 23) marks an unprecedentedly desperate attempt to become some "final nail" to MJ's legacy. The cover is MJ cut up into 50 pieces, "BREAKING POINT."

Right from the cover itself, Billboard attempts to steer the fake and manufactured narrative. "executives, creators and fans are confronting complacency & grappling anew..."

And from the get-go they again depict MJ as a monster, raising the BS "separating art from the artist."

As if that wasn't cringe-worthy enough, Billboard uses a full page spread of the boy-band photo depicting Dan, Wade & James in costume #1 from the photoshoot.

Their feature spread is captioned: "The Reckoning in Dan Reed's culture shaking documentary."

It gets worse from here.

Before reaching the cover story, Billboard can't help but put another grudge-riddled story ahead of it.

They drudge up the old MJ v. Eagles & go on to explain how Eagles overtook Thriller after a supposed discovery of 9M added Eagles sales from 06-18. Even here they mention LN.

Still pages away from the cover story, Billboard slips in a single half-page piece that haphazardly summarizes a couple of points from the "24 page PowerPoint" the estate provided to them.

It is a thinly veiled attempt to claim neutrality; they also add Zonen & Finaldi quotes.

Then we reach the two-page photo cover spread to begin their main heart of adoration toward Leaving Neverland and the actors behind it.

This time using their costume #2 appearance from their photoshoot.

Again calling it "THE RECKONING" and running w/ contrived quote by Wade.

Billboard devotes a solid 13 PAGES for this cover story and interview of Wade, James and Dan, while spreading wall-of-text vitriol of LN through constant headline-grabbing quotes and excerpts from blue ticks, MeToo heroes & critics who were wined & dined. They again quote Oprah.

The imagery used throughout their stories on MJ all have sinister spins to them. From the chopped-up pieces of a disfigured MJ on the cover to other distorted graphics elsewhere.

In the mix of the MJ story is another devoted to the onslaught of MeToo allegations in the industry.

Much like the bogus report Billboard rushed out to suggest MJ's streams dwindled after LN (forcing them to later issue a multi-part correction proving the opposite), it seems the content from these 3 issues was written far in advance—believing LN was an earth-shattering movement.

Billboard's obsessive smear campaign against a deceased celebrity repeatedly refers to LN as "The Reckoning."

In fact, a 2018 film about Weinstein uses that as its actual title. Billboard posted a blurb to site & that was the extent of any promo.

Double standards, as always. 😔