“Scary Movie” doesn’t just spoof horror films. The latest franchise outing turns its sights on Michael Jackson in brazen new promotional material.
The “Scary Movie” franchise doesn’t just mock horror flicks. It’s now taking shots at the King of Pop.
With the Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” set to arrive in theaters April 24, the promotional machine behind the new “Scary Movie” – the sixth installment of the long-running spoof series – released a new poster and teaser poking fun at the child abuse allegations against the iconic musician.
The poster features the faux Ghostface of the “Scary Movie” films with a “Thriller”-esque red jacket and sequined glove as well as the taglines “Prepare to hee-hee” and “Touching fans everywhere June 5.”
The teaser, in addition to sending up horror movies like “Get Out,” “Sinners” and “Terrifier,” stars “Saturday Night Live” regular Kenan Thompson as a pratfalling version of Jackson. (It also contains a textual jab at the singer: “For generations only one artist has truly touched his fans.”)
In 1993, dentist Evan Chandler accused Jackson of molesting his 13-year-old son, Jordan. The pop star denied any wrongdoing but settled the lawsuit for $23 million in early 1994.
A decade later, Jackson was arrested on charges of molesting 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo, who was allegedly abused at the singer’s Neverland Ranch in California. The case went to trial in 2005, and Jackson was ultimately acquitted on all counts, with jurors citing insufficient evidence.
Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who met Jackson as children, also alleged years of abuse by Jackson in the 2019 documentary “Leaving Neverland.”
The “Michael” movie, however, follows Jackson’s legendary rise to solo fame and ends in the late 1980s, before the allegations.
“Scary Movie” stars co-writers Marlon and Shawn Wayans, as well as other returning franchise players such as Anna Faris and Regina Hall.
Contributing: Patrick Ryan
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.usatoday.com ’
