Safechuck and Jackson first crossed paths in 1987, when Safechuck was chosen to co-star with Jackson in a Pepsi commercial. At the time, Safechuck was a child actor, only eight years old, and just embarking on an anticipated career in showbiz. In the ad, Safechuck plays a child fan who stumbles across Jackson's dressing room and, when he gets caught by the star himself, offers up a Pepsi and a smile.
Quickly, Safechuck became a favourite of Jackson's, and the entire Safechuck family was drawn into his orbit, even hosting Jackson for dinner at their home in the Los Angeles suburbs. It was during this time that, Safechuck alleges, the grooming and abuse took place. Most notably, as he shows in the documentary, he claims that Jackson gave him a ring as part of a mock "wedding" ceremony, conducted when Safechuck was 10.
Safechuck also accompanied Jackson on his Bad tour in 1988. He even appeared onstage with Jackson at the final concert of the tour in Los Angeles, doing the moonwalk alongside the singer.