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The article did not contain a response from Jackson's family or legal team, although it said the writer had attempted to get their side
Firpo Carr told a news conference outside the Jackson family home Friday that the entertainer's parents and siblings object to a Vanity Fair magazine story about the current child-molestation charges against Jackson and similar allegations 10 years ago that were never prosecuted
The article underwent rigorous fact-checking and legal vetting
The magazine issued a one-sentence statement affirming its story: "Vanity Fair stands by Maureen Orth's Michael Jackson story
Regarding claims in the story that Jackson has had drug problems, Carr said it was well documented that after a 1984 accident Jackson was given painkillers, became addicted to them and went into rehabilitation for a time to get off the drug
Carr said the story contains false statements and allegations that were not attributed "
Carr, who said he has known the Jackson family for about 10 years but was speaking as a private citizen, said the public should remember that Jackson is presumed innocent until proven guilty
"We find it curious that this article appears when Michael's legal team cannot respond to this yellow journalism because of a gag order," Carr said
Jackson pleaded not guilty earlier this month to seven counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and two counts of giving the child an "intoxicating agent," reportedly wine
All parties involved in Jackson's legal case remain under a gag order and cannot speak publicly about it Michael Jackson Friend Criticizes Article
Jan 30, 7:02 PM EST
A friend of Michael Jackson's family said they are outraged by a magazine article out this week that portrays the embattled singer negatively |