Michael Jackson Demands Apology From BBC, Two British Comedians

Pop star Michael Jackson did not take kindly to BBC radio jokesters, Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis, who compared him to the IRA.

Punt and Dennis of The Now Show made their on-air comments while making light of the troubles in Northern Ireland. They referred to the pop star and the terrorist group in the same breath by wondering out loud if both weren’t “80s celebrities.” As reported by The Telegraph, one of the pair of comedians said:

"I can't believe which 80s celebrities I want back less, Michael Jackson or the IRA."

The BBC Web site described the program in similar terms and said:

"Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis discuss the return to Britain of undesirables from Michael Jackson to the IRA."

An unnamed source told the Mirror:

"Michael was told about the comments and was appalled. It was a disgusting slur. To compare him to cold-blooded murderers is not funny. It's highly offensive."

Offended Jackson was. So much so he has complained to AEG Live, and promoters of his 50-night UK comeback are deciding if they are going to file an official complaint with the BBC. The BBC did receive complaints about the Friday Radio 4 broadcast. Listeners who were offended by the comments did not hesitate to flood Radio 4 with comments on how distasteful they thought it was.