A spokesman for Michael Jackson denied in a statement released on Monday that his client was suffering from a rare respiratory disease and that he was in need of lung transplant.

 

Dr. Tohme Tohme, Jacko’s “official and sole spokesperson,” said that reports claiming the former King of Pop’s poor health condition were a “total fabrication” and that Michael Jackson was in “fine health” and on the verge of reaching a deal with a major entertainment company and a television network.

 

The statement, which was issued by Los Angeles firm Scoop Marketing, aims to reject information offered in an interview by writer Ian Halperin. The writer informed In Touch magazine and Sunday Express newspaper that Michael Jackson was very ill and that he suffered from a genetic condition called Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency. In addition, he said that the 50-year-old ex-pop star was half blind, could “barely speak” and was in need of a lung transplant, although his condition did not permit him to undergo a surgery.

 

Ian Halperin, who has penned biographies of Kurt Cobain (“Love & Death: The Murder of Kurt Cobain”) and Britney Spears (“Stalking Britney: Under Siege with Britney Spears”), is currently working on an unauthorized biography of Jacko.

 

Dr. Tohme Tohme explained that the details offered by Ian Halperin represented a mere attempt of the writer to promote his upcoming book.

 

Furthermore, the statement said that Michael Jackson was preparing to hit the road for a world tour, as well as numerous appearances on various shows.