Michael Jackson’s nephew blames Martin Bashir interview for ‘destroying’ late star’s reputation

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Michael Jackson’s nephew Taj has blamed Martin Bashir’s interview with the late pop star, for creating a false ‘narrative’ and ‘destroying’ his reputation.

An inquiry led by Lord Dyson found that Bashir was ‘deceitful’ in the way he obtained an interview with Princess Diana for BBC’s Panorama in 1995. It was determined that Bashir used false bank statements which may have persuaded the Princess of Wales to sit down with the journalist. 

In 2003, Bashir interviewed Thriller hitmaker Jackson for an ITV special, which saw the reporter follow the King of Pop around behind the scenes. Bashir, 58, also pressed Jackson on his relationship with young children, which led to the singer vehemently denying having inappropriate relations and insisting that the youngsters sleeping in his bed was innocent. 

Jackson’s nephew Taj, 47, has now called for an inquiry into how Bashir secured the interview with the musician, who died in 2009 aged 50. 

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Taj said: ‘I think I just want to hear accountability, I want there to be an investigation. 

‘The family want there to be an investigation because this was a man who was let into my uncle’s life, trusted and then was able to manipulate and then pretty much destroy my uncle’s persona when he was trying to rehabilitate it.’ 

He then claimed: ‘My uncle was shown a letter from Princess Diana that was basically commending the interview.

‘Being that my uncle appreciated Diana so much and loved her, it was pretty much a welcome to trusting this guy. I do 100% believe that is why he went with Martin Bashir instead of anyone, he pretty much had pickings of anyone.’ 

Taj defended Jackson against the various allegations of child sex abuse and said: ‘I know it’s all innocent, it’s your perception of it… 

‘There’s plenty of reasons to be on a bed.’ 

Susanna Reid read out a statement from Bashir in which he denied creating a narrative around the allegations, to which Taj responded: ‘Of course he does, why wouldn’t he?

‘People have had this narrative the whole time and no one’s corrected it. That’s the unfortunate thing with this Bashir thing. 

‘He’s been allowed to get away with it and there’s people like me, families who have to deal with these lies.’ 

Taj added: ‘This was done under someone’s watch and people deserve to know the truth.’ 

Uri Gellar has joined the growing numbers of people wanting an investigation into Bashir’s interview with Jackson, and told Metro.co.uk that he’ll feel ‘guilty until the day [he] dies’ for helping to facilitate the documentary.

Bashir has spoken out since the findings of the Lord Dyson inquiry were released on Friday, and said that he doesn’t feel his interview was ‘harmful’ to Diana. 

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.

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