Jacko backs out of British trip

Troubled pop star Michael Jackson’s trip to the UK was thrown into doubt today amid reports he has backed out.

Jackson was allowed to travel to promote his CD, Number Ones, in Britain where it is selling better than in the US, despite being on bail, charged with child sex abuse.

News of the planned “sneak in, sneak out” Christmas trip had prompted a group of Labour MPs and a host of child welfare groups to call for him to be banned from entering the country, putting pressure on Britain's Home Secretary David Blunkett.

Even his friend Uri Geller advised him not to come to Britain, fearing the media storm would “tear him apart”.

And yesterday, British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott questioned the decision of the US authorities to allow Jackson to travel to the UK.

Today, The Sun reported that Jackson had scrapped plans for the visit on the advice of aides.

Mr Prescott told BBC1’s Breakfast with Frost programme yesterday: “There is always a presumption in this country that a man is innocent until proved guilty. It’s a pretty strong rule.”

But he added: “I must confess I was a little bit surprised that someone in America can be released from their [bail] condition of not travelling abroad in order to launch a CD.

“I wonder whether that would have happened to an ordinary person who said, ‘I want to go to visit my mum’. But that’s their decision, not ours.”

Television mystic Geller yesterday advised the superstar to stay away from the UK and the controversy his anticipated trip would create.

Mr Geller, speaking from his Berkshire home, said that he still believed Jackson was innocent of the child molestation charges he faced in the US but said the 45-year-old should stay out of the media spotlight.

He also revealed that he had previously “shouted” at Jackson to change his behaviour towards children as he knew people would find it inappropriate.

Mr Geller said: “I do not think Michael should come here. My advice to him is that the media structure here is devastating towards him.

“I am not blaming the media but the viciousness of some reports will tear him apart.

“It is time for Michael to absorb things and meditate, he has to pray a lot, he has to be with the few friends he has got in America, wherever they are, and with his family.

“It is not time to step off planes and to cause more and more controversy. It is not the right decision to come here.”

Meanwhile, celebrities gathered at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch yesterday in a show of solidarity ahead of his anticipated trip to Britain.

The get-together, entitled You Are Not Alone, after one of Jackson’s hits, was reportedly thrown as a thank-you to some 600 friends and relatives from the troubled pop star.

Among the guests were celebrities including tennis star Serena Williams, rapper MC Hammer, comedian Eddie Griffin and American Idol host and DJ Ryan Seacrest.