Report: Janet Jackson Refused to Perform at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony in Protest of HBO's 'Leaving Neverland'
The youngest Jackson quietly takes a stand against HBO.
On April 28th, HBO will air the 2019 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Fans will see Janet Jackson finally joining the ranks of other icons, along with an adoring tribute from Janelle Monáe. But they won't see Jackson perform, as is customary to the ceremony.
WATCH:Janelle Monáe Crowns Janet Jackson "Queen of Black Girl Magic" at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction
According to a report from Variety, Jackson declined to electrify the Barclays Center in an act of solidarity with her late brother. Earlier this year, the not-just-TV network aired the damningly controversial Leaving Neverland documentary, which detailed Wade Robson and James Safechuck's allegations of sexual assault and molestation against Michael Jackson. And while Janet hasn't explicitly voiced her support for Michael following the Leaving Neverland backlash, this may be as direct as she's willing to be.
Jackson wasn't the only one in her Hall of Fame class to decline a performance. Radiohead wasn't even in attendance, as the ceremony apparently conflicted with a dance performance set to their music in Paris. Thom Yorke added "we don’t really understand it [the Hall of Fame], as English people. … We don’t really know what to make of it."