US: Pop star Michael Jackson has lashed out at the makers of a documentary on him that was shown this week, saying he feels "more betrayed than perhaps ever before".
He has made an official complaint to the Independent Television Commission and the Broadcasting Standards Commission.
The reclusive American singer has been widely criticised following the ITV1 programme, Living With Michael Jackson, in which he revealed that he still shares his bedroom with children.
A spokesman said Jackson first saw the programme, in which he was interviewed by investigative journalist Martin Bashir, last night. He immediately released a statement through his British representative,
Mr Stephen Lock, at Bell Yard Communications in London, criticising its portrayal of him. He said the documentary was deceptive and that he would never harm a child.
"I trusted Martin Bashir to come into my life and that of my family because I wanted the truth to be told. "Martin Bashir persuaded me to trust him, that his would be an honest and fair portrayal of my life and told me that he was 'the man that turned Diana's life around'."
The pop star went on: “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 programme.
"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." Jackson said he had received many messages of support from fans in Britain since the documentary was aired on Monday night.
In the documentary, the eccentric star insisted there was nothing wrong with having children in his bedroom and vowed to kill himself if there were no kids left in the world.
Granada Television, which produced the documentary, stood by Mr Bashir and said it was maybe "inevitable" Jackson would be upset. "It's not surprising that a film about him, which is so open and revealing, draws some hostile reaction," it said. – (PA, Reuters)
Robin Lynch adds:
A reported surge in British sales of Michael Jackson's music – which has seen a 1000 per cent increase in sales for his Greatest Hits album – has not been experienced in Ireland. Mr Gennaro Castaldo, of HMV London said: "Jackson's sales haven't been going anywhere for a while now, just ticking
along, so any rise at all will show up quite dramatically.