Michael Jackson's estate condemned Wednesday a TV documentary featuring the star's convicted doctor Conrad Murray, set to be aired days after the medic was found guilty of manslaughter in the King of Pop's 2009 death.
The estate of Michael Jackson said the program -- along with an interview in which Murray quotes Jackson's last words as "begging" for propofol, the drug that killed him -- was "reprehensible," and urged broadcasters including MSNBC not to air it.
"Like so many of Michael's fans, the estate is... disgusted by MSNBC's irresponsible and inexplicable decision to air a Conrad Murray 'documentary,'" it said about the show, "Michael Jackson and the Doctor, A Fatal Friendship."
The estate's co-executors John Branca and John McClain sent a letter to the top executives of Comcast, NBC Universal and MSNBC "to express their disdain for their actions," it added in a statement.
The show, scheduled to be aired Friday in the United States and in Britain within the next week, includes interviews with Murray in the months leading up to his trial in Los Angeles, which ended with his conviction of involuntary manslaughter Monday.
In an interview with the "Today" show which will be part the MSNBC special, Murray notably recounts the hours before Jackson's death, when the star was begging for "milk" -- his word for propofol, which he had been using to help him sleep.
"He was pleading, and begging me, to please, please, let him have some milk," Murray says in the documentary. "That was the only thing that would work. He really could not sleep," he says, according to MSNBC.
Murray was remanded in custody after being found guilty of Jackson's death on June 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, where the star was rehearsing for a series of comeback concerts in London.
He faces up to four years in jail, and is due back in court on November 29 for sentencing.
In the estate's letter, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, it said: "No sooner was Conrad Murray ordered led away in handcuffs... than we discovered your MSNBC network inexplicably will showcase him in primetime... as if he is worth of celebrity.
"The mere title of your 'documentary'... is bewildering. Since when was Dr. Murray ever Michael Jackson's friend?".
Excerpts from the show so far broadcast suggested that Murray, "who refused to tell his story under penalty of perjury in a court of law, apparently has no qualms about smearing the reputation of his 'friend,'" it said.
It questioned reported claims by production company October Films that Murray was only paid $1 for his role in the documentary, in which he was followed around by cameras for two years "as if he is his own reality television show."
"It doesn't matter to us if it was a production company, Comcast, NBC, Universal or MSNBC that paid for 'access' to Dr Murray, because all are morally culpable," said the letter.
"It is equally irrelevant whether any or all interviews took place before the jury convicted him. These are moral loopholes aimed at excusing a reprehensible program stemming from Michael Jackson's tragic death."
"We demand that you exercise proper judgment and refrain from airing this program," it added.
MSNBC did not immediately respond to a request for reaction to the Jackson estate letter. In Britain, Channel Four said in a tweet that the show is to be broadcast in the next week, at a date and time to be confirmed.
Copyright 2011 AFP Global Edition
