American stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle has been slammed for discrediting Michael Jackson's accusers and their allegations of sexual abuse against the late star.
In his latest Netflix comedy special Sticks & Stones, Chappelle, 46, rubbished Wade Robson and James Safechuck's claims of being molested by Jackson as children.
The accusations, made in the controversial HBO/Channel 4 documentary Leaving Neverland, have been staunchly denied by Jackson's estate.
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Chappelle said he didn't believe Robson and Safechuck's claims as Home Alone star Macauley Culkin, who spent time with Jackson as a child, hadn't made allegations of his own.
"I don't believe these motherf*****s. I do not believe them," Chappelle said.
"I don't think he did it, but you know what? Even if he did do it... it's Michael Jackson. I know more than half the people in this room have been molested in their lives. But it wasn't no goddamn Michael Jackson, was it?"
The controversial comedian also spoke of the allegations of aggravated sexual assault against R&B singer R. Kelly - which he said he was "pretty sure" he believed.
Jackson's accusers have responded to Chappelle's comments, saying it "reveals him, not us.''
"I'm heartbroken for all those children who look to see how they will be received when they finally find the courage to speak out about their sexual abuse," Safechuck told TMZ.
"It's unforunate he has chosen to use his platform to shame sexual abuse victims, and spread his ignorance of sexuak abuse and the way it is perpetrated upon children, in an attempt to resurrect his career," Robson's lawyer, Vince Finaldi, told the outlet.
However, Jackson's estate has sided with Chappelle.
"These guys are damn liars. After years of exploiting Michael's generosity, they waited until he was gone and unable to defend himself before accusing him," said the co-executor of the King of Pop's estate, John Branca, in a statement shared with TMZ.
"They interviewed only two guys out of the thousands who visited Neverland... the whole documentary is bogus. Robson and Safechuck are liars... which is why Dave's comedy touched a nerve."
This isn't the first time Chappelle's Netflix specials have come under fire. His first two were also widely condemned for expressing homophobia and transphobia.
Chappelle has seemingly accepted the controversial nature of his specials, saying he's "goddamn sick of it".
"This is the worst time ever to be a celebrity," he said.
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