Michael Jackson Accuser James Safechuck, Mother to Face Questioning Under Oath
James Safechuck, one of the men who has accused late pop star Michael Jackson of sexually abusing him as a child, is set to face questioning under oath as his long-running civil lawsuit against companies connected to the singer moves forward.
According to court documents cited by TMZ, Safechuck is scheduled to give a deposition on September 14, 2026, while his mother, Stephanie Safechuck, is expected to be questioned on October 15 and October 20.
The depositions form part of the discovery process in the civil litigation and do not represent a ruling on the allegations against Jackson or his companies.
Safechuck and fellow accuser Wade Robson have alleged that Jackson sexually abused them when they were children.
Their current lawsuits are not against Jackson himself, who died in 2009. Instead, the claims are against MJJ Productions and MJJ Ventures, with the men alleging that the companies failed to protect them from the alleged abuse. The companies have denied the allegations.
Safechuck’s deposition is expected to focus on his allegations, his recollection of events and matters relevant to the claims being pursued against the companies.
His mother, Stephanie Safechuck, is also scheduled to give sworn testimony over two days in October.
Stephanie previously discussed her family’s relationship with Jackson in the 2019 HBO documentary Leaving Neverland. She recalled how the singer became close to the family after James met him while filming a Pepsi commercial when he was about nine years old.
She also spoke about allowing James to spend time alone with Jackson and said she later asked her son whether anything inappropriate had happened. According to her account, James denied it at the time.
Her testimony could therefore become an important part of the ongoing discovery process, particularly because of her position within the family during the period covered by the allegations.
Safechuck initially filed his lawsuit against Jackson’s companies in 2014. The case, like Robson’s separate lawsuit, faced dismissal before a California appeals court revived the claims in 2023.
The appellate ruling allowed the lawsuits to proceed against the companies, meaning the cases could move toward a jury trial rather than being dismissed at the earlier stage.
A new trial date has since been set for February 14, 2028, following further delays and additional discovery requirements.
The allegations against Jackson have remained highly controversial since they became widely known, particularly following the release of Leaving Neverland.
Jackson was acquitted in 2005 in his criminal trial involving allegations of child molestation. The claims made by Safechuck and Robson are separate civil allegations and have not resulted in a criminal conviction against Jackson.
The upcoming depositions therefore represent another stage in the civil proceedings rather than a determination of whether the allegations are true.
For now, Safechuck is scheduled to answer questions under oath on September 14, with his mother expected to follow in October as both sides continue preparing for the eventual trial.
