In death MJ cannot escape from Dad

Michael Jackson's father, who had an uneasy relationship with the superstar, has angered fans by making a commercial plug at his first appearance since his son's death.

Joe Jackson, the 79-year-old patriarch of the musical clan, made a surprise showing on the red carpet at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) awards, which had transformed into a remembrance for the pioneering King of Pop.

During a live interview on CNN television, Jackson introduced an unidentified man who appeared to be a business partner, saying he wanted to make "a real good statement".

"Marshall and I have -- we own a record company. Talking about Blu-ray technology. That's the next step," Jackson said.

The blogosphere was instantly buzzing with outrage.

Warren Ballentine, an African-American motivational speaker and radio show host, said that he was flooded with angry messages over Jackson's comments.

"Joe Jackson and his lack of sensitivity and respect disgusts me," said one posting on Jezebel, a blog geared toward women.

Another person wrote on Jezebel that Joe Jackson's behaviour was "almost too ghastly to consider: a man seems pursued pretty much to the grave by the demons his father planted in him, and even in death the (expletive) ghoul is still hustling his son's corpse."

Jackson, a steelworker in the industrial city of Gary, Indiana, reared his nine children into musical sensations starting from the Jackson 5 to the phenomenal careers of Michael Jackson and his younger sister Janet Jackson.

Michael Jackson later said that his father would beat him when he missed a note and emotionally humiliate him, contributing to the future star's psychological fragility but also planting in him the will to succeed.

Joe Jackson has acknowledged he would whip his children but denied it was abuse.

Despite the frequent recriminations, the entire family reunited earlier this year in Las Vegas to celebrate Joe and Katherine Jackson's 60th wedding anniversary.

Janet Jackson thanks fans

Janet Jackson has taken the stage at the awards to speak on behalf of her grieving family and thank fans for their love and support.

It was her first public appearance since her brother died.

With a deep sadness on her face, she strolled to the microphone and began to speak.

"My entire family wanted to be here tonight, but it was just too painful, so they elected me to be here,'' she said.

She noted that the King of Pop was an icon to all in attendance, but that to the Jacksons, "he was family''.

After her brief comments, Ne-Yo and host Jamie Foxx took the stage and sang a poignant I'll Be There by the Jackson 5.

Jackson's mother to seek custody of children: lawyer

Michael Jackson's mother will seek custody of his three young children, a lawyer for the late singer's family has told CNN.

In the first indication of a looming courtroom battle for Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and Prince Michael II, 7, lawyer Londell McMillan on Sunday said Katherine Jackson wanted to be the children's guardian.

"She will seek custody of the children. She loves them dearly," McMillan told CNN on the sidelines of the Black Entertainment Television (BET) awards at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.