Michael Jackson's reps say disease claims are 'total fabrication'

When it comes to anything involving Michael Jackson, separating truth from reality can be a 24-hour occupation. Yesterday we reported that the singer was gravely ill - so said Ian Halperin, who is writing a book on Jackson. Now Jackson's reps are refuting Halperin's claims.

A spokesperson who goes by the name of Dr. Tohme released a statement through the Los Angeles firm called Scoop Marketing. In the statement, Dr. Tohme denied Mr. Halperin's claims, even going so far as to call them an attempt to garner publicity for his upcoming biography on the singer.

"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."

In a recent interview, Halperin claimed that Jackson is suffering from a disease called Alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency and is 95 percent blind in one eye. He also claimed that the singer is in desperate need of a lung transplant and could barely speak.

Again, truth vs reality is sometimes subjective when it comes to Jacko. Just last month, in an attempt to avoid flying to England to testify in a lawsuit against him, the singer's lawyer, Robert Englehart, said Jackson was too sick to travel and requested that his testimony be carried via a video link from the US.

That request was denied and Jackson appeared in court.