US: Child protection activists were outraged yesterday at pop star Michael Jackson's revelation that he shares his bed with children, nine years after he was accused of child sex abuse.
Jackson (44), told ITV television in a documentary broadcast on Monday that he has formed a close friendship with a 12-year-old boy named Gavin, who regularly spends the night at his Neverland mansion.
"His claims that he has shared his bed with many children who are not his own and it is 'what the whole world should do' sends out totally the wrong message to those whose intentions are anything but innocent," the National Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) said.
Britain's child cruelty agency condemned his behaviour as justification for those who want to harm or sexually abuse children.
It also feared that paedophiles would use his revelations to excuse their own behaviour.
Children's charity Barnardo's said the star's behaviour was totally inappropriate and that it would merit an investigation if it had been reported to the authorities in Britain.
"One has to ask whether substantial wealth protects adults but not necessarily children," the charity said in a press release.
Unofficial figures showed an average of 14.1 million people watched the show, with a peak of 15.1 million.
Jackson told the makers of the documentary, titled Living With Michael Jackson, that it was always the children's choice to sleep in his bedroom - and that he was happy to oblige.
"It's not sexual. We're going to sleep. I tuck them in and I put a little music on and when it's story time I read a book," he said. "What's wrong with sharing a love?"
Jackson was accused of sexual abuse in 1993 when police were called in to look into allegations involving a 13-year-old boy. A multi-million-dollar settlement was reached with the boy's family and the investigation was dropped.
The documentary also revealed that Jackson's baby boy - unknown to the world until he was photographed dangling him from a hotel balcony in Germany last November - was conceived by a surrogate mother.