Jackson Lawsuit Video Released

4 months ago 06th Jul 06:30

A video of Michael Jackson defending himself against child molestation allegations has been made public for the first time.

The three hour footage, obtained by British tabloid the News of the World, shows the late pop legend being questioned by lawyers as part of a suit from five former workers at his Neverland ranch who sued for wrongful dismissal.

The tape, made in 1996, was filmed three years after Jackson was first accused of molesting 13-year-old Jordy Chandler, who was reportedly paid millions of dollars not to testify in the case - and nine years before Jackson was cleared of child abuse allegations in relation to 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo.

I'm a black American and I'm proud of it. The bleached skin is a rumor. I don't bleach my skin. I'm not gayMichael Jackson from the video

The footage, taken at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York, shows Jackson facing up to questions from a lawyer who accused him of threatening staff who allegedly witnessed inappropriate behavior at his Santa Barbara County home.

Jackson is shown throwing his hands up in frustration and shaking his head as he was quizzed over accusations he acted inappropriately with child actor Macaulay Culkin and Brett Barnes, then 11, who both denied Jackson had abused them at the star's 2005 trial.

The Thriller hitmaker goes on to read out a statement in his defense, insisting he wanted to clear up a lot of the rumors swirling around him at the time.

He said, "When I get angry enough I write down what I want to say and what I want to talk about, to set the record straight. "Because you get to a point where you get tired of people lying.

I get tired of situations like this, where people completely lie on (sic) me and I'm sick of it. I want to set the record straight.

"I'm a black American and I'm proud of it. The bleached skin is a rumor. I don't bleach my skin. I'm not gay.

"Don't judge a person unless you have spoken to them one-on-one, which is true. Because what you hear is a lie".