WORLD> Scandals
Jackson apologizes over baby-dangling incident
(Agencies)
Updated: 2002-11-21 13:14

Superstar Michael Jackson on Wednesday apologized for dangling his barefoot baby son out of a fourth-floor hotel window in Germany, shocking fans around the world at what appeared to be a reckless stunt.

"I offer no excuses for what happened. I made a terrible mistake. I got caught up in the excitement of the moment. I would never intentionally endanger the lives of my children," Jackson said in a statement issued in Los Angeles.

The statement confirmed that the baby, who Jackson held briefly over a metal railing, its head covered in a towel, was the singer's new son.

It said Jackson showed the baby to thousands of fans outside his Berlin hotel window on Tuesday "in response to some fans' request to see Michael's new son."

Jackson has two other children by his ex-wife Debbie Rowe. He has not revealed who is the mother of his baby son who is less than a year old.

Television pictures of Jackson holding the baby with one hand prompted outraged calls to the Adlon Hotel where Jackson was staying. The pictures caused a sensation on the Internet and Jackson was castigated by German newspapers.

The incident in Berlin came less than a week after the reclusive singer made news around the world because of his his facial appearance during a court hearing in California.

Rare close-up pictures of the self-styled King of Pop depicted an eyeliner-and-lipstick-wearing Jackson with a stubbly goatee, a clear bandage on his scarred nose and a wild mane of black, silky hair.