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The author of a new biography on Michael Jackson claims the star is fighting for his life due to a rare respiratory condition, but a columnist who covers the singer closely says reports of the alleged illness are "extremely exaggerated."
As previously reported, author Ian Halperin told In Touch magazine and Britain's Sunday Express newspaper that the reclusive performer needs a lung transplant because he's suffering from Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, an occasionally fatal genetic condition.
"He's had it for years, but it's gotten worse,' Halperin told In Touch. "He needs a lung transplant but may be too weak to go through with it. He also has emphysema and chronic gastrointestinal bleeding, which his doctors have had a lot of trouble stopping. It's the bleeding that is the most problematic part. It could kill him.'
Jackson "can barely speak" and "the vision in his left eye is 95 percent gone," Halperin added. The King of Pop's brother Jermaine didn't deny the reports, telling Fox News, "He's not doing so well right now. This isn't a good time."
The Halperin quotes made news around the world Monday, but Fox411 columnist Roger Friedman says none of it is true.
"Michael Jackson is not suffering from any life threatening diseases. Everyone can relax. Reports of his ailing health have been extremely exaggerated," he wrote in Monday's column.
Friedman continued: Yesterday I spoke to one of Jackson's regular insiders who reported that the kooky former King of Pop is just fine, playing with his kids, and living large in a house he can't afford in Beverly Hills.
On top of that, it was just a few days ago that this columnist spoke with Darren Julien, the man arranging the big Jackson memorabilia auction in Los Angeles next April. Our conversation occurred just before the "news" of Jackson's illness broke. Julien told me that his dealings with Jackson and Jackson's manager, the enigmatic Dr. Tohme Tohme, were proceeding without incident. Jackson wasn't ill, and, Julien said, 'seemed really organized'
about the sale.
Over the years, Jackson illnesses have been identified as vitiligo, Lupus, addiction to prescription pain killers, and laziness. He's also a publicity hound who thinks that news of illness will make him sympathetic to the public. He learned this from Elizabeth Taylor, his one-time best friend.
More importantly, Jackson remains in financial peril thanks to his recent settlement of a $7 million lawsuit with Prince Adbulla of Bahrain.
Additionally, Jackson just refinanced his Neverland ranch with Colony Capital LLC and Thomas Barrack because of his never ending need for cash. Apparently, he's used the money to squander it on a new expensive home rental rather than just return to Neverland or live in his parent's home in Encino, California, where he holds the mortgage.
But dying or in need of emergency surgery? Not Michael Jackson. It was just recently that he ventured outside his house wearing a Zorro mask to get attention. An easier way might be just to make an album or perform a concert.
