Controversial MJ comedy withdrawn

UK pay TV giant Sky said Friday it has decided not to air a TV program about Michael Jackson after his daughter Paris Jackson said she was “incredibly offended” by the portrayal of the late music star.

The episode was scheduled to be part of a series called “Urban Myths” and was set to air on Sky Arts. It focused on Jackson taking a road trip from New York to Los Angeles with Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando after the 9/11 attacks. Joseph Fiennes played Jackson.

“We have taken the decision not to broadcast 'Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon', a half hour episode from the Sky Arts Urban Myths series, in light of the concerns expressed by Michael Jackson's immediate family,” Sky said. “We set out to take a light-hearted look at reportedly true events and never intended to cause any offense.”

On Thursday, Paris Jackson tweeted following the release of a trailer for the episode. She said the images made her “want to vomit”. A petition to boycott the episode had been signed by more than 20,000 people.