Janet Jackson Denies Delaying Michael’s Funeral
From the archive: published Oct 10, 2012, 14 years ago. Details may have changed since.
Janet Jackson has demanded that an article in November 2012’s Vanity Fair, which accused her of delaying her brother Michael’s funeral, be retracted.
According to the piece, the 46-year-old singer ordered that the ceremony was delayed until she was reimbursed for her $40,000 deposit that secured his plot. It is an excerpt from Randall Sullivan’s upcoming book, Untouchable: The Strange Life and Tragic Death of Michael Jackson.
Janet’s attorney, Blair G. Brown, has sent a legal letter to the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Graydon Carter, accusing the story of being “false and defamatory.”
“Ms. Jackson never delayed the funeral in anyway,” added Brown’s letter. “In fact, she paid for the funeral and was reimbursed for some of those expenses by Michael Jackson’ estate in the year after the services took place.”
“In addition, there were other private cost associated with Michael Jackson’s passing that Ms. Jackson incurred and for which she has never sought reimbursement. To falsely accuse Ms. Jackson of holding up her brother’s funeral over money is outrageous.”
Jackson was buried on September 3, 2009, almost two months after his death which shocked the entire world. A string of concerts in London had been organised several months before his death that were intended to kick-start his career again.
“This story is particularly hurtful and distressing because of Ms. Jackson’s strong desire to serve her brother, whom she loved dearly, and her wish to stand with and support her family.”
Vanity Fair have yet to comment on the affair, but Janet Jackson and her team expect a published printed retraction in the coming issues of the magazine.