Drake drops Michael Jackson track from setlist amid Leaving Neverland child abuse claims

The rapper's song 'Don't Matter To Me' features a previously unused sample of Jackson's vocals

Drake has seemingly removed a track featuring Michael Jackson from his touring set-list.

The move comes just days after the documentary, Leaving Neverland, which centres on two men alleging Jackson sexually molested them as children, was broadcast on Channel 4.

Drake kicked off his Assassination Vacation Tour in Manchester last night (10 March), and decided not to play the song “Don’t Matter To Me”. The single features previously unheard Jackson vocals and was featured on the 2018 album Scorpion.

The US rapper previously played the song on the US leg of the same tour. He has not confirmed whether deciding not to play the song was a conscious move following the allegations of child abuse against Jackson.

Upon its release, ”Don’t Matter To Me” caused controversy, with Jackson’s nephew Austin Brown criticising Drake for using the sample, saying: “I just feel like if [Michael] didn’t finish it, [Drake] shouldn’t use it.”

Leaving Neverland has been heavily criticised by the Jackson estate, who have called the documentary a “public lynching”. They have begun the process of suing HBO – who co-produced the film with Channel 4 – for $100 million.

Read about all the fallout since the documentary premiered at Sundance Film Festival here.