December 23, 2008 2:06

Michael Jackson health claims 'total fabrication'

Unauthorised biographer's reports are denied by Jackson's reps

Photo Gallery: Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson is not suffering from ill-health, nor is he in need of a lung transplant, his rep has said in a statement.

Biographer Ian Halperin claimed that the singer has gone half-blind, and is in need of a lung transplant because he is suffering from alpha-1 anti-trypsin deficiency, emphysema and chronic gastrointestinal bleeding.

However Jackson’s spokesperson, who goes by the name of Dr Tohme, released a statement through Los Angeles company Scoop Marketing, saying that Halperin’s claims are not true, and are simply an attempt to gain publicity for a biography he has written.

Tohme said: "Concerning this author’s allegations, we would hope in the future that legitimate media will not continue to be exploited by such an obvious attempt to promote this unauthorized ‘biography.’ The writer’s wild allegations concerning Mr Jackson’s health are a total fabrication. Mr Jackson is in fine health, and finalizing negotiations with a major entertainment company and television network for both a world tour and a series of specials and appearances.”

--By our New York staff.
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