Michael Jackson’s iconic hat and glove removed from world’s largest children’s museum after abuse claims

In the wake of the HBO released “Leaving Neverland” documentary focusing on Michael Jackson’s alleged child sex abuse history, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has removed three of his items on display. According to the Indianapolis Star, the items include one of his gloves and fedora which were both purchased at an auction in 2017 as well as a poster.

The glove and fedora were initially on display at the museum’s “American Pop” exhibit while the poster was on display at Ryan White’s “Power of Children” exhibit. White, who Jackson met became a poster child for HIV/AIDS in the United States after he was refused admission to a school following his diagnosis. He passed away in 1990.

“When we put together exhibitions, we look at the objects and their association with high-profile people. Obviously, we want to put stories in front of our visitors (showing) people of high character,” the museum’s director of collections Chris Carron told IndyStar.

“When you learn new stories or you look at something historical in a different way, then sometimes we re-evaluate whether that’s appropriate to be (on display).”

Speaking with CBS, the director of media and public relations for the museum, Kimberly Harms Robinson also re-echoed the museum’s stance.

“As the world’s largest children’s museum, we are very sensitive to our audience,” she said. “In an excess of caution, and in response to the controversy over the HBO film called ‘Leaving Neverland,’ which directly involved allegations of abuse against children, we removed those objects while we carefully consider the situation more fully.”

There are, however, other photos of Jackson that are on display in the “Power of Children” exhibit.

In the aftermath of the “Leaving Neverland” documentary, some fans have boycotted the singer while radio stations in New Zealand and Canada have reportedly stopped playing his music. His statue at Britain’s National Football Museum in Manchester, England, has also been removed.

Jackson’s family has condemned the documentary, describing it as a “public lynching” while the musician’s estate is suing HBO, a co-producer of the documentary.

In the two-part four-hour film directed by British filmmaker Dan Reed, two accusers, Wade Robson, 36, and former child actor James Safechuck, 40, gave a gruesome account of their experiences when they were aged seven and ten and had befriended the singer.