Jacko asked to apologise for alleged Jew remarks

The American Anti-Defamation League today demanded an apology from Michael Jackson after a TV network aired what was said to be a telephone answering-machine message in which the pop star referred to Jews as “leeches”.

The message was supposedly recorded two years ago and has now surfaced in connection with a lawsuit against the pop star.

“Michael Jackson has an anti-Semitic streak and hasn’t learned from his past mistakes,” ADL director Abraham Foxman said. “It seems every time he has a problem in his life, he blames it on Jews.”

Jackson infuriated Jewish groups in 1995 when his song They Don’t Care About Us included the lyrics “Jew me, sue me, everybody do me, kick me, kike me.”

Jackson apologised, saying the lyrics were meant to demonstrate the hatefulness of racism, anti-Semitism and stereotyping. He then changed the lyrics.

On Tuesday, ABC’s Good Morning America show aired portions of a 2003 voice message that Jackson was alleged to have left for a former adviser, Dieter Wiesner.

A transcript provided by King’s office quotes Jackson as saying: “They suck them like leeches. ... They start out the most popular person in the world, make a lot of money, big house, cars and everything and end up penniless. It’s a conspiracy. The Jews do it on purpose.”

Jackson spokeswoman Raymone Bain said today the singer had no comment.

The message was among about a dozen released by attorney Howard King, who represents Wiesner and another former adviser who are locked in business disputes with the pop star and are suing him for millions. King said he released the messages to keep Jackson from appearing sympathetic in court.