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Journalism of Courage
US child welfare experts have slammed pop icon Michael Jackson as irresponsible for dangling a small baby from a fourth-floor balcony, apparently in a bid to thrill fans.
Child protection workers said they were shocked over the incident that took place in Berlin yesterday as he waved to fans and reporters from his hotel near the Brandenburg gate.
Reports said the child was the reclusive star’s third and youngest child, Prince Michael II, whom Jackson took to Berlin where he is to receive a Bambi entertainment award tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Jackson issued a written statement last night in Berlin saying he had gotten carried away when fans below the window asked to see the baby.
‘‘I made a terrible mistake,’’ he said. ‘‘I got caught up in the excitement of the moment. I would never intentionally endanger the lives of my children.’’
Jackson, who was taking a break from a $21 million breach of contract trial in California, held the youngster out over the railing of his hotel balcony with a cloth draped over its head, to the screams of fans below.
‘‘Considering Jackson started a charity to protect children, this was alarmingly irresponsible behaviour with a child,’’ said Kevin Kirkpatrick of Prevent Child Abuse America.
‘‘Holding a child like that is pretty careless to say the least,’’ he said adding that children are killed every year by falls from windows.
Kirkpatrick said that Jackson’s action would probably be considered child endangerment or neglect in the US, but said that it was unlikely action would be taken against him as the child was apparently unharmed.
