Michael Jackson Responds To ‘Malicious’ Rumors

The King of Pop has decided that enough is enough.

Michael Jackson wants to set the record straight on a variety of published reports that he deems “untrue, defamatory and malicious in nature,” and he’s decided to address them all in one fell swoop.

“Mr. Jackson is not bedridden nor on any type of medication?including painkillers,” his rep, Raymone Bain, says in a statement to Access Hollywood. “In fact, Mr. Jackson is doing very well, and conducted a meeting with his advisors yesterday, which included Former Attorney General Benjamin R. Civiletti, and Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., among others.”

Bain says that there was never any press release issued in regards to a European tour, and adds, “Despite reports to the contrary, Mr. Jackson is currently in the studio putting finishing touches on his music.”

He also clears up rumors surrounding Jackson’s reported departure from Las Vegas:

“Mr. Jackson has not ‘left’ Las Vegas nor is he being ‘evicted’ from his residence in Las Vegas. He decided not to exercise the option to purchase the house. Period.”

As for reports about Jackson’s relationship with his family, Bain refutes the notion that Jackson has accused any of them of stealing from him.

“Mr. Jackson does not believe that his brother, Randy Jackson, has stolen monies from him, nor does he believe that Randy, or any of his family members, would ever steal from him. Reports regarding the same were untrue and malicious.”

Bain also denies that Jackson has lost or sold his share of the ATV/Sony partnership, and says that any reports to the contrary are “ludicrous, without merit, and are being written without sufficient personal financial information to make such an unwarranted pronouncement.”

And, finally, it isn’t only himself that Jackson is concerned about. He also wishes to defend the reputation of his assistant, and addresses one person in particular while doing so:

“Mr. Jackson is concerned that his assistant, Grace Rwaramba, is constantly being attacked by Fox News’ Roger Friedman. There have been vicious and untrue reports concerning Ms. Rwaramba, who lives a very private life and has done nothing wrong, but is being attacked for her professional relationship and proximity to Mr. Jackson.”

Following the above statements regarding specific reports, Bain sums up with a general warning to those who have tried to “destroy Mr. Jackson’s image:”

“While in his entire career, Mr. Jackson has never uttered a disparaging word to any reporter, nor has he ever used or instructed his security to use any force toward any reporter, there are those whose vehement hatred for Mr. Jackson has reached a level where all journalistic integrity has been lost, in order to write reports for which there is no substantiation, are untrue, written to create a frenzy, or used to try and destroy Mr. Jackson’s image. They know who they are; and, this is a sad commentary?a commentary which Mr. Jackson’s attorneys will address.”