Jacko's Estate Says Autopsy Re-Enactment in “Shockingly Bad Taste”

The executors of Michael Jackson's estate asked the Discovery Channel on Wednesday to reconsider plans to show a re-enactment of the singer's autopsy to viewers in Europe, saying it is in "shockingly bad taste."

"Your decision to even schedule this program is in shockingly bad taste, insensitive to Michael's family and appears motivated solely by your blind desire to exploit Michael's death, while cynically attempting to dupe the public into believing this show will have serious medical value," John Branca and John McClain said in a letter to the president of the cable network.

A Discovery Channel spokeswoman did not immediately return a request for comment on the letter addressed to David Zaslav.

Branca and McClain say the show does not even conform with the Discovery Channel's own standards.

"There was a time not long ago when Discovery was synonymous with some of the best programming television had to offer, including focusing attention on many of the same environmental issues Michael was so passionate about during his life," according to the co-executors. "That's why we find your decision to proceed with an offensive, exploitive program ... so mind-boggling."

Jackson was 50 when he died in Los Angeles in June 2009 of an overdose of the sedative propofol.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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