Three songs from Michael Jackson’s self-titled posthumous 2010 album have been removed from digital platforms.
Released following the King of Pop’s passing, Monster (featuring 50 Cent), Keep Your Head Up and Breaking News are all said to have been recorded in 2007.
However, the tracks have been at the centre of an ongoing lawsuit between the late star’s Estate and Sony Music over claims they don’t feature his vocals.
While his mother Katherine previously claimed “some” of the tracks on the album are “fake,” a spokesperson for Michael’s website insisted the choice to pull the tracks “had nothing to do with their authenticity”.
“The Estate and Sony Music believe the continuing conversation about the tracks is distracting the fan community and casual Michael Jackson listeners from focusing their attention where it should be, on Michael’s legendary and deep music catalogue,” they added.
It comes after the star’s nephew TJ revealed details of a new biopic based on Black or White hitmaker’s life and career, which he hopes will reframe the “awful” allegations levelled against Michael.
“I think it’s awful, to be honest. I think it’s very sad,” he said. “I think it’s in a way disgusting because what sells in this world is negativity.
“People like to gossip, people like scandals. My uncle is not here to defend himself, so he’s an easy target. He was always an easy target, because he was always quiet.”
TJ added: “But now that he’s no longer with us, there couldn’t be an easier target. Everyone knows who Michael Jackson is. So it’s an easy story to sell. But I truly believe truth always wins out.”
