Michael Jackson Dad Defends 'Spanking' Star

Michael Jackson's father has defended the tough approach he used to raise the singer and his other children.

In a new documentary, Joe Jackson said he used to spank his children to stop them from getting into trouble.

"I had to be like that because when raising him, in those days, so many gangs out there getting into trouble, going to jail," he said.

"Most of them are dead now. He [Michael] didn't have to worry about that."

The 81-year-old also said he had no regrets about his parenting techniques.

"They tried to make a big issue when I spanked Michael or some of the kids, ya know?,” he said.

“Just like they didn't spank their kids when they did wrong. The media twists everything."

An exert from the documentary, which has been produced by his estranged wife Katherine, has been published by TMZ.

Michael Jackson died last year at the age of 50. His death was ruled as homicide.