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Friend: Jackson was under a lot of stress

Michael Jackson , the "King of Pop", seen in a March 5, 2009 file photo in London, died from a heart attack in Los Angeles on June 25, 2009. He was 50 years old. (UPI Photo/Rune Hellestad/File)
1 of 2 | Michael Jackson , the "King of Pop", seen in a March 5, 2009 file photo in London, died from a heart attack in Los Angeles on June 25, 2009. He was 50 years old. (UPI Photo/Rune Hellestad/File) | License Photo

LOS ANGELES, June 26 (UPI) -- Uri Geller, a magician who describes himself as Michael Jackson's best friend, said he thinks the U.S. pop star was under tremendous stress before his death.

Jackson died in Los Angeles Thursday at the age of 50 after going into cardiac arrest. He had spent recent weeks preparing for a series of 50 London comeback concerts slated to start next month.

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"(Jackson) was in good shape. ... I'm not a doctor, but I can only assume he was under immense stresses and pressures, and you can ask any doctor, stress is a killer," the illusionist and psychic told Britain's Sky News. "The pressure of these concerts, putting under huge pressures, he was a perfectionist. That could have been what did it. But that's just my opinion."

Geller went on to say he thinks planning to perform in 50 shows was a mistake.

"Three, four, five, maybe 10 shows, is enough," he said. "(Jackson) was healthy, aerobically fit. I remember him here in my house, and he wouldn't touch junk food. So, now ... to confront this devastating reality that Michael is dead is just ... I want to wake up tomorrow and think this is a dream and that he is not dead."

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Geller recalled Jackson as being "a happy man when fans were around."

"He drank their love. He loved what he did, but somewhere in his deep dark corners of his heart, he was a confused man and a lonely person," Geller said. "The reason was because nobody could understand him. He is in heaven now, a better place than us. God rest his soul."

Geller also told Usmagazine.com he is crushed by the death of Jackson, who served as best man when Geller renewed his wedding vows in 2001.

"I just don't want to believe it," Geller said of the sad news. "He is my best friend. I just can't believe."

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