The Jackson family drama has the prerequisites for reality show of the year.
According to an article in Vanity Fair and a new book by Randy Sullivan (to be published this month), Janet Jackson is the latest member to come under fire for allegedly delaying her brother Michael Jackson’s burial after demanding her $40,000 deposit be repaid beforehand.
The “Control” singer issued a retraction of the statements through her attorney, claiming the article was “defamatory.”
“This article, as well as the excerpts from Randy Sullivan’s Untouchable: The Strange Life and Tragic Death of Michael Jackson, which were published in Vanity Fair‘s November 2012 issue…makes statements about Ms. Jackson that have no basis in fact and are highly damaging to Ms. Jackson’s reputation,” it reads.
“Ms. Jackson never delayed the funeral. In fact, she paid for the funeral and was reimbursed for some of those expenses by Michael Jackson’s estate in the year after the services took place…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.”
According to E! News, Michael Jackson was ultimately buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, Calif., on Sept. 3, 2009—more than two months after his death.