BBC NEWS
BBCi CATEGORIES   TV   RADIO   COMMUNICATE   WHERE I LIVE   INDEX    SEARCH 

BBC News UK Edition
 You are in: Politics  
News Front Page
World
UK
England
N Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Politics
Business
Entertainment
Science/Nature
Technology
Health
Education
-------------
Talking Point
-------------
Country Profiles
In Depth
-------------
Programmes
-------------
BBC Sport
BBC Weather
CBBC News
SERVICES
-------------
EDITIONS
Tuesday, 11 February, 2003, 11:21 GMT
MPs attack Jackson documentary
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson has complained about the programme
A TV documentary in which Michael Jackson admitted sharing his bed with children has been condemned by two MPs.

Labour's Helen Clark and Tory David Amess said the ITV programme condoned the singer's behaviour.

David Amess
Mr Amess was one two MPs who was angered by the programme
In a House of Commons motion they said: "Such views and practices should never have been given airtime."

Some 15m viewers watched the programme when it was aired last week.

Mrs Clark said: "Some viewers may see it as an endorsement of Michael Jackson's behaviour.

"What if one or two per cent take it as justification to abuse children?"

Betrayed?

Martin Bashir's interview with Mr Jackson has angered the singer who has since said he was betrayed.

Helen Clark
Helen Clark: Justification to abuse?
He has since complained the programme, which provoked a storm of controversy, "could have led viewers to conclude that he abuses children".

Jackson said he would produce his own video excerpts, filmed by his own staff during the eight-month documentary shoot, to prove Bashir's portrayal was hypocritical.

He also repeated a vehement denial of "recycled" child abuse allegations, which were published in British papers over the weekend.

See also:

10 Feb 03 | TV and Radio
10 Feb 03 | TV and Radio
07 Feb 03 | TV and Radio
06 Feb 03 | TV and Radio

 E-mail this story to a friend



© BBC ^^ Back to top

News Front Page | World | UK | England | N Ireland | Scotland | Wales |
Politics | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology |
Health | Education | Talking Point | Country Profiles | In Depth |
Programmes