Michael Jackson’s nephew Tudge is furious that Harry Styles is being called the ‘new King of Pop’ | Entertainment news

Michael Jackson’s nephew is outraged that Harry Styles is being called the “new king of pop”.

Taj Jackson has spoken out after the 28-year-old former One Direction frontman was tabbed on the cover of UK’s Rolling Stone magazine’s September issue.

The 49-year-old singer wrote on Twitter: “There is no new king of pop. You don’t own the @RollingStone title and you didn’t earn it, my uncle did.

“Decades of dedication and sacrifice. Title cancelled.

“No disrespect to @Harry_Styles he is very talented. Give it its own unique title.”

The Estate Of Michael Jackson has the trademark “King Of Pop” that was widely used about Jackson both during his life and after his death.

He’s so protective of the name that he once sued a small gourmet popcorn company for naming its website KingOfPop.com.

Anyone who now tries to open the web address KingOfPop.com will be redirected to Michael Jackson’s official website.

Michael died at the age of 50 in 2009 from a cardiac arrest he suffered after taking propofol as a sleeping pill.

Jackson was acquitted in 2005 of child abuse, but those charges have been linked to his name, most recently in the 2019 documentary series Leaving Neverland.

Taj, whose father is the brother of Michael Tito Jackson. fiercely defended his uncle after the film’s release, criticizing the accusers featured in the series for “glorifying” Jackson on screen.

He told Billboard that he was molested as a child, but claimed that during more than 200 overnight stays at Jackson’s home, he never noticed anything untoward.

Taj said he had “zero doubt of my uncle’s innocence”, adding: “Michael was probably the nicest man I’ve ever met. He had a healing factor and the biggest heart and soul.

“When you were around him, nothing else in the world mattered. All your troubles and all your pain are gone. Even when my mom died, it seemed like I was going to be okay because of him.”

Taj’s mother Dee Dee, who divorced Tito in 1988, was found dead in a swimming pool in 1994 in what was initially thought to be an accident.

Businessman Donald Bohanna, who was dating her at the time of her death, was later found guilty of her murder but has maintained his innocence.