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Jackson Twitter not me - Miliband | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
David Miliband has been forced to deny being the author of a Twitter message paying tribute to Michael Jackson. | |
Some media organisations published a tweet which they said was by the foreign secretary but which was later revealed as a spoof. | |
The fake message said: "Never has one soared so high and yet dived so low. RIP Michael." | |
Mr Miliband has now issued his own, genuine, tribute to Jackson on the Foreign Office website. | |
He says: "The death of Michael Jackson is very sad news for his family, friends and fans. | |
"My thoughts are with his family at this time. But the instant Twitter put out in my name last night was not me." | |
Brown tribute | |
The fake tweet was published at about midnight on Thursday, shortly after the singer's death was confirmed. | |
It was picked up by several media organisations, prompting the Foreign Office to put a message on its own Twitter page urging people to disregard it. | |
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office tweet says: "David Miliband does NOT have a Twitter account." | The Foreign and Commonwealth Office tweet says: "David Miliband does NOT have a Twitter account." |
The spoof David Miliband has 1,990 followers on Twitter, although his tweets are clearly satirical in tone. | The spoof David Miliband has 1,990 followers on Twitter, although his tweets are clearly satirical in tone. |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Conservative leader David Cameron have both issued brief statements on the pop legend's death. | |
No 10 said Mr Brown's thoughts were with the singer's family at this difficult time. | No 10 said Mr Brown's thoughts were with the singer's family at this difficult time. |
"This is very sad news for the millions of Michael Jackson fans in Britain and around the world," a spokesman said. | "This is very sad news for the millions of Michael Jackson fans in Britain and around the world," a spokesman said. |
Mr Cameron said: "I know Michael Jackson's fans in Britain and around the world will be sad today. | Mr Cameron said: "I know Michael Jackson's fans in Britain and around the world will be sad today. |
"Despite the controversies, he was a legendary entertainer. | "Despite the controversies, he was a legendary entertainer. |
"Everybody will be thinking of his family, especially his children, at this time." | "Everybody will be thinking of his family, especially his children, at this time." |
Paramedics were called to Jackson's Los Angeles home at about midday on Thursday after he stopped breathing. | |
He was pronounced dead two hours later at the UCLA medical centre. Jackson's brother, Jermaine, said he was believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest. | |
Jackson, who had a history of health problems, had been due to stage a series of comeback concerts in the UK, beginning on 13 July. |