Jackson estate objects to autopsy special

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The executors of Michael Jackson's estate have requested that the Discovery Channel cancel its planned re-enactment of the U.S. pop star's autopsy.

The Hollywood Reporter said Jackson estate executors John Branca and John McClain have written to the cable network and thousands of fans have signed an online petition asking Discovery to scrap the controversial special, which is set to air Jan. 13 in the United Kingdom.

"Your decision to even schedule this program is in shockingly bad taste, insensitive to Michael's family and appears motivated solely by your blind desire to exploit Michael's death, while cynically attempting to dupe the public into believing this show will have serious medical value," Branca and McClain said in a letter posted on the celebrity news Web site TMZ.

"We were especially outraged when a sickening print advertisement for the program appeared making light of Michael's death by depicting a corpse sprawled on a steel gurney covered by a sheet with a hand sticking out wearing Michael's signature glove."

The Hollywood Reporter said Discovery declined to comment for its story.

Jackson's personal physician is awaiting trial on a charge of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the singer's death. Dr. Conrad Murray is accused of improperly administering sedatives and anesthesia to Jackson in an effort to help the music icon sleep. Jackson died June 25, 2009, at age 50.