Michael Jackson documentary fallout prompting music ban from radio stations

MONTREAL — Three major Montreal radio stations have stopped playing Michael Jackson songs as a result of child-molestation allegations against the late musician that aired Sunday in an HBO documentary.

A spokeswoman for the owner of the French-language stations CKOI and Rythme and the English-language The Beat says Jackson’s music was pulled starting Monday morning.

Cogeco spokeswoman Christine Dicaire says the action is a response to listener reactions to the documentary.

She added that the decision will also apply to Cogeco Media stations in smaller markets in Quebec. The company operates 23 radio stations.

A quick check of the playlists from several Chicago radio stations showed that Jackson’s music was still in the rotation.

The two-part, four-hour documentary “Leaving Neverland” aired Sunday and Monday nights on HBO. It details the abuse allegations of two men who had previously denied Jackson molested them and actually supported him to authorities.

The Chicago Sun-Times contributed to this report.

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