Barbra Streisand says Michael Jackson’s accuser's parents 'were seduced by fame'

Singer and actor Barbra Streisand, 76, has made bizarre statements about the harm suffered by alleged sexual assault victims of Michael Jackson, in an interview published on Friday. Jackson is pictured in 2002

Singer and actor Barbra Streisand, 76, has made bizarre statements about the harm suffered by alleged sexual assault victims of Michael Jackson, in an interview published on Friday. Jackson is pictured in 2002

Barbra Streisand has been forced to respond to her comments on Michael Jackson’s accusers after she said the alleged sexual abuse victims 'wanted to be there' as children. 

The 76-year-old singer and actor sparked an angry backlash Saturday after saying Jackson’s 'sexual needs were his sexual needs' in a bizarre interview.

And she was later forced to defend her words after her comments caused outrage around the world. 

The singer said she 'feels nothing but sympathy for the men' but still heaped blame on the boys' parents for allowing themselves to be 'seduced by fame and fantasy'. 

In a statement to The Washington Post Streisand she said: 'To be crystal clear, there is no situation or circumstance where it is OK for the innocence of children to be taken advantage of by anyone.

'The stories these two young men shared were painful to hear, and I feel nothing but sympathy for them.'

But she continued to lay blame with the two men's parents adding: 'The single most important role of being a parent is to protect their children. It’s clear that the parents of the two young men were also victimized and seduced by fame and fantasy.'    

Streisand had told British newspaper The Times of London that the two main subjects of documentary 'Leaving Neverland,' now-adults Wade Robson and James Safechuck, 'were thrilled to be there' as children and whatever happened to them 'didn't kill them'.

The recently released 'Leaving Neverland' documentary is about how Robson and Safechuck, now in their 30s, say Jackson, who died at age 50 in 2009, sexually abused them from the ages of seven and 10, respectively.

Streisand said she believes the victims' claims, but felt bad for both them and Jackson, adding that Jackson's 'sexual needs were his sexual needs' and the blame should lie with the boys' parents.

'I feel bad for the children,' she said, of Robson and Safechuck. 'I feel bad for him. I blame, I guess, the parents, who would allow their children to sleep with him. Why would Michael need these little children dressed like him and in the shoes and the dancing and the hats?'  

Barbra Streisand, 76, told British newspaper The Times that the two main subjects of documentary 'Leaving Neverland,' adults Wade Robson and James Safechuck, 'were thrilled to be there' as children and whatever happened to them 'didn't kill them'

Barbra Streisand, 76, told British newspaper The Times that the two main subjects of documentary 'Leaving Neverland,' adults Wade Robson and James Safechuck, 'were thrilled to be there' as children and whatever happened to them 'didn't kill them'

The director and producer of that film, British filmmaker Dan Reed, joined many in being appalled at Streisand's remarks

The director and producer of that film, British filmmaker Dan Reed, joined many in being appalled at Streisand's remarks

Streisand said she believed the claims by now-adults Wade Robson and James Safechuck in the documentary 'Leaving Neverland' but that Jackson's 'sexual needs were his sexual needs' In this January 24, file photo, Robson (left), Reed (center) and Safechuck (right) pose during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah where the documentary was released

Streisand said she believed the claims by now-adults Wade Robson and James Safechuck in the documentary 'Leaving Neverland' but that Jackson's 'sexual needs were his sexual needs' In this January 24, file photo, Robson (left), Reed (center) and Safechuck (right) pose during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah where the documentary was released

The director and producer of that film, British filmmaker Dan Reed, joined many in being appalled at Streisand's remarks.

'"It didn’t

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