Jacko denies baby claim
2004-07-21 08:00
Los Angeles - Pop icon Michael Jackson on Tuesday denied a magazine report that said he was about to become the father of quadruplets.
The denial from the "King of Pop's" spokesperson Raymone Bain came hours after Us Weekly magazine quoted unidentified sources close to the singer as saying he was poised to increase his brood of children from three to seven.
"Us Weekly magazine reported on Tuesday, July 20, 2004, that Michael Jackson is about to become a father of quadruplets," a statement on the star's official website MJJsource.com said.
"MJJsource denies the validity of this report," it added. Jackson's spokesperson declined to further discuss the claims.
The magazine quoted a source close to the embattled 45-year-old star as saying a woman in Florida, where Jackson recently spent time with the anonymous mother-to-be in a $4 00 a night hotel suite, was due to have the four children on his behalf.
"This is great for Michael," the unnamed source told Us. "He's having quads!"
Jackson, whose trial on charges that he sexually molested a 12-year-old boy at his Neverland Ranch last year is tentatively due to start in September, already has three children.
His first two - Prince, seven, and Paris, six - are by ex-wife Debbie Rowe, who is now reportedly questioning their custody agreement, and Prince Michael II, two, who was also delivered by an unknown surrogate mother.
The entertainer has pleaded not guilty to the 10 charges against him that include child molestation, extortion and alleged conspiracies to kidnap and falsely imprison someone.
He has dismissed the claims as a "big lie" and said they form part of a plot by the family of the now 14-year-old accuser to extort money from him.
- SAPA