Promoter: Jacksons Weren’t Grounded

“Michael Forever” tribute concert promoter Global Live says there is no truth to reports that some of the performers were forced to make their own way home because the promoter hadn’t paid the travel company.

Chris Hunt, one of a team that Global had working on the Jackson event at Cardiff Millennium Stadium in Wales, told Pollstar “the only story here” is that someone planted false info and celebrity newswire TMZ ran it “without checking the facts.”

He said that as soon as R&B group 3T – which includes three of Jackson’s nephews – got back to the U.S., it “scotched the rumour” that they were among those left on the proverbial tarmac because Global owed $200,000 to Entertainment Travel Company.

The Daily Mail was among the UK papers to follow up on the story, but Global has insisted that none of the artists had to find their own way home.

The Oct. 8 concert caused controversy before it happened as Jermaine, Randy and Janet Jackson decided not to attend.

Jermaine and Randy said the tribute was “inappropriate” and “ill-timed”, particularly as it was held during the trial of Conrad Murray, the doctor charged with involuntary manslaughter over their brother’s death in June 2009.

Reports of poor ticket sales and Black Eyed Peas pulling out of its headline slot led to further stories saying the event would be scrapped.

It eventually played to a crowd of about 50,000 fans and had a lineup including Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, Smokey Robinson, Ne-Yo, Leona Lewis and JLS.