November 17, 2006 11:30

Michael Jackson fans demand ticket refunds

They're furious over star's London live 'performance'

Photo Gallery: Michael Jackson

Furious Michael Jackson fans are seeking refunds on their tickets for the World Music Awards after the star failed to perform his hit ‘Thriller’ at the event.

Entry to the show at London’s Earls Court on Wednesday (November 15) cost as much as £100, and fans are now saying they were misled by promises that the star would play one of his most famous songs. It would have been his first UK live performance in nine years.

In the end, he joined a choir onstage to sing just a couple of lines of the 1985 USA For Africa charity hit ‘We Are The World’, which he co-wrote.

Fan Katherine Kidd told the BBC: "I'm furious. I feel like I've been ripped off."

"People were expecting something significant but he didn't perform at all," said Abdo Binmadhi, "When the lights went on I saw people's faces and they were like: 'Is that it?’

"I should have just stayed at home and watched it on TV... We should definitely get a refund."

However, the organisers of the World Music Awards said that they had "not been contacted by any of the fans or had one complaint" regarding the event.

They added that Jackson's performance had been cut short because the ceremony over-ran, breaking a noise curfew at the venue.