Michael Jackson's maid reveals sordid Neverland secrets | 60 Minutes Australia

This is Neverland, currently for sale, former home and playground of musical icon Michael Jackson

It's 10 years since the star performer died but he continues to make news

The headlines these days though are less about him being King of Pop, more about him being King of the Kids.

He said no Adrian. You're excellent

Loyalty to me means a lot you can be with me forever

The first time I cleaned his bedroom

Uh, I didn't even know where to start

He was the sort of classic rock star was he just sort of dropped everything behind him and lets you pick it up

Yeah, he was like that

Home Videos from the time captured the singer relaxing at Neverland

It was a place to live out his fantasies and he shared the fun with the children. He surrounded himself with

What was the first thing for you what made you first suspect

That Michael Jackson had an unhealthy interest in children. I

Noticed that there were a lot of little boys. That's all that would hang around there

You wouldn't see like little girls and I knew the little boys were there

When they would arrive they would put their clothes in the suitcase in a suitcase in his room. I

started

realizing thinking and wondering

When he was taking baths with him, they were sleeping in his bed, but they're sleeping in their sleeping

Yeah, yeah you were talking about

the worst kind of sleeping with children

Yes, I know the truth. I was there and

When I would go in the next day there were little boys underwears either on the floor with Michaels or they were in the jacuzzi

So you were suspicious as soon as you saw that? Yeah, I got suspicious

And then I would find underwears also in his bed. I

I did find

underwears that were

mints

briefs

in the walk-in closet and

they were

Right and I I don't like to say this they were like crunchy hard with yellow stains all over him

I didn't know who they belonged to

Because the little boys started wearing Michael's briefs

And they would leave their underwears inside his drawer

The more Adrian saw the more convinced. She was that Michael Jackson was a predator

A feeling she says was shared by other staff at Neverland

There was a lot of Vaseline at Neverland

Sometimes it was found in the golf carts when mr. Jack's want to take off with the

with the boys

Vessel a yeah Vaseline and there was a lot of Vaseline in Michaels bedroom

It was actually all over the ranch. Is there possibly an innocent explanation for that? I?

Don't think so

What disturbed Adrienne the most was the way the popstar would be physical with the kids who were entrusted to his care

They were sitting on his laps the kids. I just saw a lot of

maybe fondling

Him maybe rubbing his hands and kids hair

Kissing him when you say fondling hugging kind of petting

Petting the kids petting the kids. We're kind of by the rear end. I

Don't think it was appropriate because they're not his children. You know, I

Just didn't think it was right. Did you ever talk to anybody about it?

you know, I signed a confidentiality agreement and

I was already conditioned and

Programmed you don't question it and we were told to stay away from the family. You just made you do your job

Every time we were together

It happened

There was no night that went by that I was with him that he didn't sexually abuse me

Adrian is not. The only one to be speaking out on the 10th anniversary of Michael Jackson's death. I

Was seven years old

Michael asked do you and the family when I come to Neverland?

Hello wait

Today is your birthday

Self. Congratulations. I love you. Goodbye

Australian choreographer Wade Robson has claimed he was molested by the singer when he was a boy

Told me if they ever found out what we were doing

He and I would go to jail for the rest of our lives

Now he and former child actor James safe Chuck have gone much further

Accusing Jackson of the most despicable depravity

In a controversial documentary leaving Neverland that was recently unveiled at the Sundance Film Festival

Don't believe your story or perhaps don't want to believe it

Is there anything that you feel that you can't say to them in a way not that long ago? I

was in the same position they were

Even though it happened to me. I still couldn't believe it. I still couldn't believe that

What Michael did was a bad thing?

Would you have thought 14 years later all this would be regurgitated I would never have imagined such a thing happening

I just still have trouble comprehending it for loya Tom Mesereau

The latest allegations are the claims of opportunists out to make a buck. I can't get over it

I mean, I just don't put any credibility in any of this. I just don't

In

2005 he helped clear jackson of child molestation charges and

Defends the singer to this day. I am 100% convinced Michael never abused a child never harmed a child

Certainly, never molested a child. I think this is hogwash

Are you on any sort of retainer at all from the Jackson estate? No, I'm not on any retainer at all

So no one's paying you any money to say nice things about Michael Jackson. No, no

I will always say was a nice person he was he was one of the nicest people I ever met

But you of all people know the smoke and fire argument

Is there any fire? There's no fire here whatsoever

Coming up. I used his fame and power in very loving and also very childish

Mede ways inside the playground of evil. Did you at any time see Michael Jackson? Molest Jordan Chandler it was

Terrible desperate bribes

$300 that was for covering for him dead frets if they could hire a hitman to take me out

Slice my hair and Michael Jackson's darkest secrets. We just want to show you this I

Remember that I was working there when that day when that ad was taping that that's next on 60 minutes

He was enormous it shouldn't have been King of Pop should have been gotta pop Emperor

Charisma isn't even the word for the spell he had on people

So I was caught up in it, too

Everything around him was a fantasy

Genie wolf is an old-school

Entertainment reporter who followed Michael Jackson's career right from the start

Enjoy the latest video from the hit album dangers. She

Regarded Jackson as the ultimate creative genius but also saw a dark side I

Couldn't help but observe what a

Spoiled King of Pop he was how he used

his fame and power in very loving and also very childish and

mean ways

Genie remembers how at the height of Jackson's fame

It was easy for starstruck families and their kids to be drawn into the singer's magical world

Surrounding himself as he did with children, didn't you ever find that unusual?

We didn't think much was unusual. He tried to be the Pied Piper

When I was around him, they were hidden in groups

I mean all these little kids some costumes some just regular kids following him and it just seemed like a

Comfort for him and his explanation was he didn't have a childhood? Yes. Did it seem strange?

Did it seem eccentric? Yes, but that eccentricity allowed him to get away with a lot because it's Michael

In the 1990s bus loads of children would be invited to Neverland to enjoy the theme park and a zoo

Down this way, you're gonna see a the game room is right there

But Jackson's made

Adrian McManus says there was always a lucky few who seemed to receive special attention

Young boys like home alone actor Macaulay Culkin who she claims she saw being touched inappropriately

by the singer

You're on record you're on public record court record is talking about Macaulay Culkin

Do you stand by that story? I?

Stand by what I said during my deposition, you know, I think it's best just leave it at that

Because Macaulay Culkin says, it's preposterous doesn't he? Yeah, he denies it to this day. He does

But you say you did heven I say I saw what I saw

Macaulay Culkin has always supported Michael Jackson and denies the singer ever molested him

But back in 1993

Another of Jackson's young male friends turned against him

13 year-old jordan chandler accused jackson of sexually abusing him during sleepovers at Neverland

Did you at any time see Michael Jackson molest Jordan Chandler

I saw some stuff that I didn't think was appropriate with. Mr. Jackson Jordan

What sort of things did you say with with Jordan Chandler Michael kissing on him?

Michaels has kind of very close to Georgie's crotch

It was

Terrible to see

Police launched an investigation into the abuse allegations and

Jordan Chandler's family announced they were preparing a civil case

But despite her strong suspicions to the contrary in a sworn deposition

Adrienne McManus said she had never witnessed Jackson molest children. I

Was scared to say anything bad about Michael. Mr. Jackson and

Then after that after I did the deposition probably 30 days maybe after Michael called me at my home

She claims Jackson demanded to know what his personal maid had told investigators about his behavior

Adrienne found herself in an unenviable position. I

Didn't think I was supposed to be doing that. I was kind of worried about that, but then I thought well you better do it

you know, so I did it and then

When one day and afternoon, he came up to me and he said Adrienne

This is for you and he had to me a little index card. That was like stapled on the sides

and it said

Thanks for everything

I opened it and it was $300

So that was for covering for him. He paid me $300. He was born no solids for $300. Yeah

Michael Jackson fired back at his accusers in a live televised announcement from Neverland

There have been many disgusting

Statements made recently concerning allegations of improper conduct on my part

These statements about me are totally false. Don't treat me like a criminal because I am innocent I

Remember that I was working there when that day when that media was taping that

1993. Mm-hmm. Don't treat me like a criminal because I'm innocent

Does that bring back strong memories? Uh, it takes me back to that day and

It makes me mad that I had to be involved in something like that

Why me?

So you don't believe those protestations one tiny bit

They don't

Jackson was never charged with molesting Jordan Chandler, but the young boy and his family

Received a 20 million dollar settlement from the singer it led to intense criticism

Jackson was buying the silence of his victims

Did you ever

Sexually engage

Fondle have sexual contact with this child or any other child never ever

I could never harm a child or anyone. It's not in my heart. It's not who I am and it's not what I meant

I'm not even interested in

This is joy Robson, you've known Michael Jackson you describe how would you describe your relationship with Michael?

Michaels like family to us. He's been very supportive

Personally and he waits career

At the time many came to Jackson's defense including Wade Robson and his family

Wade was the 10 year old Australian boy who developed an extremely tight bond with the singer and

Was still having sleepovers at the Neverland Ranch

Weird how would you describe your relationship with Michael? It's a real close relationship

It's both sides friendly and business

We love each other both very Julie, we're just real good friends

How did you feel when you heard that a boy was alleging that Michael had abused him Oh shot too

And I think it's sick cuz I know Michael well enough that you wouldn't do anything like that. I know that for a fact

After Jackson paid millions to settle the case against jordan chandler

Things changed for the worst for the workers at Neverland

Adrian McManus claims she and other staff were victimized by michael jackson's security guards

Because they knew too much

It was threatened. His bodyguards told me that

If I ever came up and on TV that they could hire a hitman take me out

Sliced my neck would never find my body

And you believed them

Yeah, I did. I lived in fear for many many years

Adrian lived with the fear and Michael Jackson lived with the rumors. Come on. Just get on show. Come on. Just show me

Just show me but in 2003 he made a monumental mistake

By inviting journalists Martin Bashir to show his life at Neverland. Do you come out here on your own? Yeah

Just come out on your own. Yes. What then go on a ride. Yep

You see the carousel. I'll play music

I look I don't play classical music on the carousel the documentary living with Michael Jackson

Gave an insight into the madness that engulfed the singers every move

Michael Jackson had just dangled his new baby out of the window of a Berlin hotel

Please buddies like it my kid blended

Michael Jackson hoped the documentary would turn his reputation around instead. It destroyed it

Have you been hearing about what people have been saying

That's totally ignorant. I would never do that to my children or any any child trying to kill them gone stupid

And why would I put a scarf over the baby's face if I was trying to throw him off the balcony?

I think the Martin Bashir documentary was a disaster for Michael Jackson. I think he never should have trusted. Mr

Bashir to do an objective

professional documentary

Jackson's lawyer Tom Izzo believes it was a turning point

Why do you think that you think the result was slanted Dean I think mr. Bashir turned it all against him

Tried to create a sensationalist documentary

for personal gain, that's my opinion and

It was spliced together and put together in a way which in my opinion was designed to make Michael look bad

What looked particularly bad was this

Twelve-year-old Gavin Arvizo had been recovering from cancer when Jackson met and befriended him

In the documentary Martin Bashir asked the young boy about the sleeping arrangements at Neverland

And then he finally said ok

If you love me to see one of it I was like, ah, man and so I finally sat on the bed

but Michael, you know, you're a

44 year old man now

What what do you get out of this? What do you get out of this? What can't you share your bed?

But the most loving thing to do is to share your bed with someone

You know your anything that yeah

After the broadcast Michael Jackson accused Bashir of betraying his trust and manipulating the interview

But the fuse was lit police raided Neverland Ranch

Approximately 70 sheriff's rated, Neverland

scoured every building every room for computers for documentary evidence anything they could find

They were relentless in their efforts to find evidence to convict Michael Jackson with and in a write of that sighs

What did they find?

Nothing in my opinion

Michael Jackson was arrested and charged

It was a humiliating downfall. That would see Jackson's dirty laundry aired before the world

Coming up the jacksons bike back so you think it's all

Tied into money. Yes money and fame and publicity the made under pressure

How do we know you're telling the truth now, but always defiant. I know the truth. I can sleep very good at night

That's rich on 60 minutes

Adrian McManus claims she has been left penniless by her four years working at Neverland as

Michael Jackson's house made

When she left in 1994

She and four other employees

Sued the singer for wrongful termination and lost

Do you still owe the Jackson estate money? I

Probably do but

Michaels dead now, you know

Yeah, you must know the amount. Well, you know, I know that um, I can't remember it. It might have been Oh,

God it was a lot of money you were ordered to pay legal fees

Initially, yeah for breach of contract for suing mr. Jackson, which was what 1.6 million it was father. Yeah, just to refresh your memory

Okay. Yeah, the sheriff hasn't come knocking at the door yet. No

And your hope they don't

Well, they do they do

In a countersuit Jackson's estate

Accused her of stealing belongings from Neverland to sell to the media. There was a

sketch

That I found in the trash you

Then unsold that sketch

The sketch of Elvis that you supposedly found in the trash. I figured well, I found in the trash. It didn't mean anything to me

Which I shouldn't did that, you know, but I did and the jury said that you then owed Michael Jackson

$34,000. Yeah from that from now after yeah, so did you pay the thirty four thousand back? No, I did it. No

You haven't paid any of that back either. No

The credibility of Adrian McManus has again been questioned because of her changing account of what she saw at, Neverland

sworn evidence she gave in

1993 that she never saw any inappropriate behavior by Jackson towards any child

at Michael Jackson's trial

You were found to have lied under oath

Okay. Now I'm gonna explain that. Um when Michael threatened me I

was scared what was gonna happen to me and my family and my son you

Admit to not telling the truth. Yeah, because he threatened me

How do we know you're telling the truth now?

Well, let's put it this way. I know the truth. I can sleep very good at night

I'm happy I did what I did by standing up and trying to do the right thing

You've got to look very carefully at people's motives and you've got to look very carefully at the facts

You've got the most famous person in the world one of the wealthiest people in the world

Perceived as very vulnerable

Okay, and people constantly try to exploit him throughout his lifetime

The lawyer Tom Mesereau so much of what was aimed at Michael Jackson was about cold hard cash

People wanted to make so much money on

Watching the great Michael Jackson rise high and then splatter

They wanted the story to have a miserable ending for him

They hoped they would see him in the courtroom in Chains and jail clothes

Without makeup without his hair fixed up without the clothing

He liked to wear they were looking forward to seeing the final chapter where Michael Jackson gets destroyed and it was very disheartening

to observe so you think it's all

Tied into money. Yes money and fame and publicity

Including what he views as the latest trumped-up charges of child abuse

some of these

Accusers have not just changed their story slightly. They've done a 180

Is there a possible explanation in the me2 movement where people now feel more comfortable?

Saying publicly. Look I was abused

Can we now please do something about it?

Right. Now if you are accused of this type of thing you were almost judged guilty before you can defend yourself

I think right now we're going a little too far and a lot of people who are not honest who are trying to capitalize

on this particular movement are

raising

Accusations that need to be challenged you don't think the freedom of the May 2 movement

could be explained for

These latest accusers coming up and saying that Michael Jackson molested them

I think the freedom of the me2 movement has allowed false accusations to be made as well as

Real accusations and we've got to be very careful to make sure we sift out what's real and what's false

Coming up

King of Pop in core I think it's worth to be charged with something like this than Thomason disputed testimony. I saw a good

Bunch of people who I felt very deeply were lying and an extraordinary result

Were you surprised by the outcome celebrities can do no wrong in?

Today's world that's next on 60 minutes

Why can't you share your bed

The most loving thing they do is to share your bed with someone by agreeing to participate in Martin Bashir's documentary

Michael Jackson with the innocent assistance of his 12 year old friend Gavin Arvizo

Had given police all the reason they needed to investigate

America indeed the world had never seen anything like it

In 2005 Jackson's case came to court

and

So the stage was set for what would be one of the biggest trials of the century

it was a showdown more than a decade in the making and

Covered by twice as many media as turned up for the OJ Simpson trial

Jackson faced 14 counts from child molestation

To conspiring to imprison the accuser and his family at the Neverland Ranch if found guilty

He faced at least 20 years in jail

These are horrific charges. These are ugly nasty charges

I think it's worse to be charged with something like this than homicide. I really do

The 14 week trial was a circus I

Think you have just seen that it takes about 20 minutes to make it a hundred yards when you're in mr. Jackson's company

Everyday crowds would gather to see the King of Pop

This case is about one thing only

It's about the dignity

the integrity the decency the honor

the charity

The innocence and the complete vindication of a wonderful human being named. Michael. Jackson

Hollywood journalist, Janie wolf saw things very differently. I

Saw people who were out to get Michael Jackson. I saw people who were angry at Michael Jackson

I also saw people who adored him and then I saw a good

Bunch of people who I felt very deeply were lying. We're getting paid were getting

Influenced and and I found the whole thing

Frightening on which side do you think people?

Were lying in favor of Michael Jackson in his defense in his defense saying that nothing ever happened

Adrian McManus took the stand to give evidence

Against her former employer. Well, it's pretty crazy. I wasn't shocked that it was that it was happening again

Because I knew it was gonna happen again

Do you know what I'm saying?

You always thought a trial sooner or later was going to come along did you? Yeah, I did. Yes, I did

Sad to say but yeah

Wade Robson is now accusing Michael Jackson of abusing him throughout his childhood

Was the star witness for the defense?

He was very very strong in his defense of Michael Jackson. He told me in no uncertain terms

He had not been molested. He had not been abused and that these claims were ridiculous. I mean this man was so strongly

supportive of Michael Jackson

So powerful in his defense of Michael Jackson that it just shocks me that he's changed his story in recent years

I just can't get over it

as

the trial reached a conclusion the strain of Michael Jackson was starting to show I

watched him deteriorate

Physically and emotionally during the trial he lost weight his cheeks became more sunken in by verdict day

He just looked like a shell of his old self to me

After eight days of deliberation the jury reached its verdict

we the jury find the defendant not guilty of attempting to commit a lewd act upon a minor child a

Unanimous decision of not guilty on all charges

That moment in the courtroom

When they said not guilty

How many times 14 14 times?

What was that? Like that was one of the most unique?

powerful

unusual experiences of my lifetime

What would Michael Jackson say to you he said thank you thank you. Thank you, never forget

For Michael Jackson, it was vindication

But the damage was done and life at Neverland would never be the same again

Were you surprised by the outcome

No, I wasn't surprised because I

think in today's world a lot of jurors

They don't like to

Say that a celebrity is is guilty

Why not

Because they think they're above everybody else. They just they look up to them and they right away think everybody wants money

That's why you know celebrities can do no wrong

in today's world

That's what I think

Coming up the biggest headline of all

Very eerie to even be around you. I've never visited this place before the stories. That won't go away

talk about

Their abuse make these new accusations. Do you believe them?

It would be very hard not to believe them and returning to Neverland one last time, yeah, I can't believe I'm coming back here

very mixed emotions

That's next on 60 minutes

Michael Jackson might have been found not guilty of child sexual abuse in 2005

But the trial and the lurid headlines have created irreparably damaged his career

Never again. Would he hit the highs of the musical stardom? He had once known

These will be my final show

Performances in London

This will be it this is it when I say this is it it really means this is it because

In 2009 though at fifty years of age he announced one last shot

Jackson called his farewell tour. This is it and sold out 50 concerts at London's o2 arena

But less than three weeks from the start of the tour

Michael Jackson made his biggest headline ever when he overdosed on prescription drugs and died

The day Michael died, where were you I came home and

Their father called me and he said can't you have to come down to the hospital?

Like the rest of the world news of Jackson's death was met with disbelief

By his family as his mum Katherine told Liz haze in

2013

Nobody would say anything and I said well, where's Michael I want to go to his room

I want to go and visit him, you know

Nobody said anything

And then find me in about ten or fifteen minutes later. They took me to a room and nobody would say anything

So finally I said well did he make it and I was screaming like did he make it?

and

Frank finally said slowly. No, he didn't make it

I don't know what happened after that. I guess I must have blacked out or screamed or something but

That's what happened

Stay

More than 1 billion people watched a funeral service that was broadcast live around the world

The curtain closing on one of the greatest entertainers who ever lived

This is where Michael spent his last few hours, it's very eerie to even be around you

I've never visited this place before I've never even wanted to

Returning to the mansion where Michael Jackson died is a reminder for Jeanne Wolff of what has been lost

Once blinded by his star power. She now views him differently

Do you think Jeanne that these latest?

Accusations have affected the Michael Jackson legacy. I definitely do I don't think people will look at him in the same way

I don't think his music will die. It's just too great. I think his music is

Beyond him, but the myth the myth is gone

But for Tom Mesereau the lawyer who defended him, it's Michael Jackson

Who is the victim not the boys who ended up in his bed in Neverland?

You're one person that knows in life. There's a lot of gray

Not a lot of black and white

but you're

Adamant, aren't you you don't think Michael Jackson has molested one single person. Michael was a creative spirit

He danced to his own drummer. He saw things. We don't see he heard things

We don't hear he was a creative genius. He was eccentric he was different and he was an artist

I don't believe he was a molester for five seconds if we look at the history of this though the number of accusers

Chandler

Gavin Arvizo

Wade Robson now Jimmy's safe Chuck. I mean are they all making it up?

Let's look at them individually

Safe Chuck swore under penalty of perjury that he wasn't abused

Robson swore under penalty of perjury that he wasn't abused

Her visa wasn't believed by the jury

Two other people were paid off to end the litigation to end the lawsuit so we could get on with his career

So, where do you where do you when you look at everyone under a microscope? What do you really come up with? Not much

Well a lot more than most mere mortals face in their lifetime but he's the biggest target on the planet

He was the most famous person on the planet. He was immensely wealthy. He was perceived as immensely vulnerable

This made him a target throughout his life

Any and he's being attacked even in death

by people who want money

The days

were filled with

magical childhood adventure

experiences

playing tag watching movies eating junk food

Anything you could ever want as a child

Out of a storybook right? I'm a fairy tale

Michael Jackson gave the world his music but to his accusers he took away so much

More than most Genie wolf has listened to what they've said and

Believes their accounts of what happened at Neverland are convincing

Jeanie

You've seen and heard Wade Robson and Jimmy's safe Chuck. Yes. I talked about

Their abuse make these new accusations. Do you believe them?

It would be very hard not to believe them, how do you explain their complete reversal of

Their stories they were both in love as only a kid could be with Michael Jackson

Both of them have repeatedly said that Michael Jackson told them over and over again

We can never tell anyone because if we do I'll go to jail for life and you'll go to jail for life. So

embedded in their mind

Was the imperative that we never tell this secret

I

Can't believe I'm coming back here

Very mixed emotions, Adrian McManus insists. She's also telling the truth about

Michael Jackson and what went on in Neverland a

Place she would rather forget

When you see these gates again

What's the abiding memory

Anxiety

Misery I

Would never go through those gates again ever. That's how you think about all those years here. Is it misery misery a

bad choice bad choice that I made

If Michael Jackson was still

Alive today, do you think you would be?

Speaking out like this if he was alive, I would say it I would say it to his face. I

really would

You know, I was 28 when I started working for him these boys were young if it was hard for me at that age

Can you imagine how?

How it was for them. It was another side to him and I saw it. Mmm, I

Don't feel sorry for that. I just don't I feel sorry for the children

Hello, I'm Liam Bartlett, thanks for watching so keep up with the latest from 60 minutes, Australia

Make sure you subscribe to our Channel. You can also download the 9 now app for full episodes and other exclusive

60 minutes content