Jermaine Jackson: 'I Wish I'd Died Instead Of Michael'

Jermaine Jackson has revealed he wishes he had died instead of his brother, Michael.

Jermaine made the revelation this morning (July 2) during an interview on NBC's Today show, according to the Associated Press.

In his first interview since his brother's death a week ago, Jermaine described Michael as “a gift from Allah” and said he had died “too soon”.

“I don't know how people are going to take this, but I wish it was me," Jermaine said.

When asked to discuss why he felt that way, Jermaine replied that he had always regarded himself as his brother's “backbone”.

"I wanted to be there for him. I was there and he was sort of like moulded," he said.

"Things he couldn't say, I would say them. During the trials, during everything ..."


Jermaine Jackson on the Today show.

Along with his sister Janet, Jermaine has long been been viewed as one of Michael's closest allies in the Jackson family.

It was Jermaine who confirmed Michael's death to the world's media last Thursday.

Speaking today, he said he had rushed to the UCLA medical center in Los Angeles, but arrived to late to see Michael alive.

But he added that he held himself together “because I know he's very much alive”.

"His spirit is, and that was just a shell, but I kissed him on his forehead and I hugged him, and I touched him and I said, `Michael, I'll never leave you. You'll never leave me',” Jermaine said.

Meanwhile, Jermaine also said he thought Michael should be buried at his Neverland home.

His comments come less than 24 hours after the Jackson family said there would be no public or private display of the star's body at the Santa Barbara ranch.

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