Michael Jackson "devastado" por un documental inglés
Michael Jackson "devastated" by UK documentary
By Andrew Cawthorne
LONDON, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Pop star Michael Jackson (news) said on Thursday he was "devastated" by a documentary on British TV about his personal life and angered that it may lead viewers to conclude that he abuses children.
"Today I feel more betrayed than perhaps ever before, that someone who had got to know my children, my staff and me, whom I let into my heart and told the truth, could then sacrifice the trust I placed in him and produce this terrible and unfair program," Jackson said in a statement released in London.
"Everyone who knows me will know the truth, which is that my children come first in my life and that I would never harm any child."
In a rare behind-the-scenes look at his fiercely guarded private life, Monday's documentary by British journalist Martin Bashir showed Jackson revealing he shared his bed with children at his Neverland ranch.
He insisted there was nothing wrong with that and vowed to kill himself if there were no children left in the world.
His two older children, five-year-old Prince Michael I and four-year-old Paris, appeared on film with Jackson wearing party masks. He fed his third child -- whom he has nicknamed Blanket -- a bottle of milk while draping a veil over his head.
Jackson has been dogged by controversy and rumor ever since 1993 when he reached a multi-million dollar settlement with a 14-year-old boy who had accused him of sexual molestation. The superstar maintained his own innocence throughout.
"Michael is devastated and feels utterly betrayed by the British television program, 'Living with Michael Jackson,' presented by Martin Bashir and broadcast in the U.K. on Monday 3rd February 2003," the statement issued in London said.
It added that Jackson regarded the programme, due to be broadcast in the United States on Thursday, "as a gross distortion of the truth and a tawdry attempt to misrepresent his life and his abilities as a father.
"Michael feels deeply angry that the programme could have led viewers to conclude that he abuses children in any way," it added. "Michael Jackson has never, and would never, treat a child inappropriately or expose them to any harm and totally refutes any suggestions to the contrary."
Jackson accused Bashir, who filmed with the star over eight months, of breaking an assurance not to feature his children and ignored pleas to cut some footage from the final edit.
"Michael is deeply upset that the programme sensationally sets out to use two or three pieces of footage giving a wholly distorted picture of his behavior and conduct as a father," the statement said.
"Michael believes that what was eventually broadcast was a salacious ratings-chaser, designed to celebrate Martin Bashir and which was indifferent to the effect on Michael personally, his family and his close friends."
Debbie Rowe, Michael's ex-wife and mother of two of his children, was quoted as supporting him.
"It breaks my heart that anyone could truly believe that Michael would do anything to harm or endanger our children: they are the most important thing in his life," she said, according to the statement, released by a London public relations firm.
Reuters/Variety
Michael Jackson "devastated" by UK documentary
By Andrew Cawthorne
LONDON, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Pop star Michael Jackson (news) said on Thursday he was "devastated" by a documentary on British TV about his personal life and angered that it may lead viewers to conclude that he abuses children.
"Today I feel more betrayed than perhaps ever before, that someone who had got to know my children, my staff and me, whom I let into my heart and told the truth, could then sacrifice the trust I placed in him and produce this terrible and unfair program," Jackson said in a statement released in London.
"Everyone who knows me will know the truth, which is that my children come first in my life and that I would never harm any child."
In a rare behind-the-scenes look at his fiercely guarded private life, Monday's documentary by British journalist Martin Bashir showed Jackson revealing he shared his bed with children at his Neverland ranch.
He insisted there was nothing wrong with that and vowed to kill himself if there were no children left in the world.
His two older children, five-year-old Prince Michael I and four-year-old Paris, appeared on film with Jackson wearing party masks. He fed his third child -- whom he has nicknamed Blanket -- a bottle of milk while draping a veil over his head.
Jackson has been dogged by controversy and rumor ever since 1993 when he reached a multi-million dollar settlement with a 14-year-old boy who had accused him of sexual molestation. The superstar maintained his own innocence throughout.
"Michael is devastated and feels utterly betrayed by the British television program, 'Living with Michael Jackson,' presented by Martin Bashir and broadcast in the U.K. on Monday 3rd February 2003," the statement issued in London said.
It added that Jackson regarded the programme, due to be broadcast in the United States on Thursday, "as a gross distortion of the truth and a tawdry attempt to misrepresent his life and his abilities as a father.
"Michael feels deeply angry that the programme could have led viewers to conclude that he abuses children in any way," it added. "Michael Jackson has never, and would never, treat a child inappropriately or expose them to any harm and totally refutes any suggestions to the contrary."
Jackson accused Bashir, who filmed with the star over eight months, of breaking an assurance not to feature his children and ignored pleas to cut some footage from the final edit.
"Michael is deeply upset that the programme sensationally sets out to use two or three pieces of footage giving a wholly distorted picture of his behavior and conduct as a father," the statement said.
"Michael believes that what was eventually broadcast was a salacious ratings-chaser, designed to celebrate Martin Bashir and which was indifferent to the effect on Michael personally, his family and his close friends."
Debbie Rowe, Michael's ex-wife and mother of two of his children, was quoted as supporting him.
"It breaks my heart that anyone could truly believe that Michael would do anything to harm or endanger our children: they are the most important thing in his life," she said, according to the statement, released by a London public relations firm.
Reuters/Variety
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