Janet Jackson denies funeral delay story

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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Janet Jackson is vehemently denying a report claiming she purposely delayed her brother Michael's Los Angeles funeral until she was reimbursed for expenses.

The allegations were made in Randall Sullivan's upcoming book, "Untouchable: The Strange Life and Tragic Death of Michael Jackson," an excerpt of which is featured in the November issue of Vanity Fair.

UsMagazine.com reported Jackson's lawyers have demanded the magazine retract the article, which said she delayed Jackson's funeral more than two months until she was reimbursed for her $40,000 deposit to secure his burial plot. Michael died in June 2009 at age 50. His personal physician is in prison for administering lethal amounts of sedatives and anesthesia to Michael to help the pop music star sleep.

"Ms. Jackson never delayed the funeral in any way," UsMagazine.com reported Janet's attorney, Blair G. Brown, said in an Oct. 5 legal letter to Vanity Fair Editor in Chief Graydon Carter.

"In fact, she paid for the funeral and was reimbursed for some of those expenses by Michael Jackson's estate in the year after the services took place," the letter said. "In addition, there were other private costs associated with Michael Jackson's passing that Ms. Jackson incurred and for which she has never sought reimbursement. To falsely accuse Ms. Jackson of holding up her brother's funeral over money is outrageous. This story is particularly hurtful and distressing because of Ms. Jackson's strong desire to serve her brother, whom she loved dearly, and he wish to stand with and support her family."