New Zealand and Canadian radio bans Michael Jackson

Image: Sundance Institute

The controversial HBO documentary ‘Leaving Neverland’ has prompted a Michael Jackson ban on radio in New Zealand and Canadian.

The Jackson family has condemned the doco as a ‘fabrication’, insisting he should be allowed to ‘rest in peace’.  

The Guardian reports that NZ Government-owned broadcaster RNZ has applied “editorial judgement” in its decision not to air Jackson’s music.

MediaWorks too confirmed that his music had been pulled, as a “a reflection of our audiences and their preferences”.

At the same time, NZME boss Dean Buchanan said; “Playlists change from week to week and right now Michael Jackson does not feature on them.”

Meantime three major Montreal radio stations are taking a stand as a result of the child molestation allegations made against the singer.

As USA Today reports, the French-language stations CKOI and Rythme and the English-language The Beat pulled his music from rotation following listener reaction to the documentary.

Cogeco Media operates 23 radio stations and says the decision will also apply in smaller markets in Quebec.

The news comes after several publications reported that Jackson’s music had been dropped by BBC Radio 2 earlier this week, something the BBC has since refuted.

Leaving Neverland details the abuse allegations of two men, who’d previously told authorities that Jackson hadn’t molested them.

The documentary airs in Australia on Friday night on Network Ten. It remains to be seen whether any Australian radio stations will follow the lead of Canada.