Jermaine Jackson Defends Tribute Concert Planned for Michael

One day after announcing some of the performers who are to headline a tribute concert for Michael Jackson in Austria later this month, the singer’s brother Jermaine Jackson denied that Mary J. Blige and Chris Brown would be unable to attend and that the concert had lost the support of some members of the Jackson family, Reuters reported.

At a press conference in London on Wednesday, Jermaine Jackson said that though Ms. Blige would be at a fashion event in Italy on Sept. 26, she would fly to Vienna to perform at the Schönbrunn Palace that night. Mr. Jackson also said that Chris Brown, who in August was sentenced to probation for assaulting the pop star Rihanna, would perform at the tribute if he is given permission to leave the United States. “It’s just up to what he’s going through with his court case right now,” Mr. Jackson said, according to Reuters. “He’s definitely going to be here.”

He also said that the Jackson family matriarch, Katherine, was in favor of the concert “from the very start.”

New York Times / Thanks Joy!