Barbra Streisand sorry after saying Michael Jackson’s alleged victims ‘thrilled’ to be at Neverland

Barbra Streisand has apologised after saying Michael Jackson’s accusers were “thrilled” to be at his Neverland ranch – and that the alleged abuse “didn’t kill them”.

In an interview with The Times, the Oscar-winning actress and singer said she believed the allegations made by James Safechuck and Wade Robson in the documentary Leaving Neverland.

The men claim the pop star sexually abused them from the ages of 10 and seven respectively after inviting them and their families to his Neverland ranch.

In the interview, Streisand said she felt bad for both men but failed to blame Jackson.

“His sexual needs were his sexual needs, coming from whatever childhood he has or whatever DNA he has,” she said.

“You can say ‘molested’, but those children, as you heard say (the grown-up Robson and Safechuck), they were thrilled to be there.

“They both married and they both have children, so it didn’t kill them.”

When asked if she was angry with the late singer, she added: “It’s a combination of feelings. I feel bad for the children. I feel bad for him.

“I blame, I guess, the parents, who would allow their children to sleep with him. Why would Michael need these little children dressed like him and in the shoes and the dancing and the hats?”

The documentary was met with a furious reaction by the Jackson estate, which denied the allegations and lambasted it as “an outrageous and pathetic attempt to exploit and cash in” on the superstar.

The alleged victims’ mothers, Stephanie Safechuck and Joy Robson, both appeared in Leaving Neverland to recount their experiences with Jackson.

Stephanie said she “failed to protect” her son while Joy said she regretted her decision to leave her child with Jackson at his Neverland ranch.

Following criticism of her comments online, Streisand said in a statement: “To be crystal clear, there is no situation or circumstance where it is okay for the innocence of children to be taken advantage of by anyone.

“The stories these two young men shared were painful to hear, and I feel nothing but sympathy for them.”

In a second statement, she added an outright apology and said she should have chosen her words more carefully.

“I am profoundly sorry for any pain or misunderstanding I caused by not choosing my words more carefully about Michael Jackson and his victims.”

(c) Sky News 2019: Barbra Streisand sorry after saying Michael Jackson’s alleged victims ‘thrilled’ to be at Neverland