Jermaine Jackson: 'I Wish It Was Me,' Michael A 'Gift From Allah' (VIDEO)

(AP Article, Scroll Down for Video)

NEW YORK -- Jermaine Jackson says he would like to see Neverland Ranch as his brother Michael's final resting place.

In an interview broadcast Thursday on NBC's "Today" show, Jermaine Jackson also said he wishes he had died instead of his younger brother, and that Michael was "a gift from Allah."

"He went too soon. I don't know how people are going to take this, but I wish it was me," Jermaine Jackson said.

When asked why he felt that way, Jermaine Jackson said he always felt that he was Michael's "backbone."

"I wanted to be there for him. I was there and he was sort of like molded. Things he couldn't say, I would say them. During the trials, during everything ..."

Jermaine Jackson said that when he rushed to UCLA Medical Center last Thursday, where the 50-year-old pop singer was pronounced dead, "I wanted to see Michael, and I wanted to see my brother, and see him there lifeless and breathless was very emotional for me, but I held myself together, because I know he's very much alive."

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"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.'"

On Wednesday, Jackson family spokesman Ken Sunshine said a public memorial was in the works but it wouldn't be held at Neverland.

A person familiar with the situation told the AP that permits for a burial at the sprawling Santa Barbara, Calif., estate could not be arranged in time. The person was not authorized to speak for the family and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Jackson said Neverland was Michael's home.

"He created this. Why wouldn't he be here? I feel his presence."

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Comments

[tchoupitoulav]

Yeah, we wish it were you too Jermaine instead of Mike.

[shanester]

ouch! that's cold :)

Whay about Tito??

[tchoupitoulav]

You're funny shanester!!! :)

[shanester]

Why didn't Jermaine and the rest of the family step in earlier to help Michael. His personal life has been a mess for 15 years.

[oldgeek1]

Michael killed himself. Mentally disabled and unable to listen to or take advice.

[gladys46]

He may have! A gifted person, a musical genius, a lover of all people may have found it more than difficult to be visually perfect as well.

America is shameless in it's capitalization gone amok .. addicting young & old to very dangerous dr ugs, with impunity !

[sonshine]

What is up with Jermaine's hair? If Michael was 50 Jermaine has to be around 55. His hair looks like a hat and you can see the lines where the dye ends. It looks bad.

[maggiee]

give him a break. He's had a rough week.

[psbintl]

Is that all you can come up with at a time like this?!

[kutkreata]

My condolences to the Jackson family. RIP MJ.

[EndTheHumanWar]

This makes me wanna vomit, man.
Exposing your personal feelings about a death in the family, on camera, in this staged way vis-a-vis lighting, sound and camera angles etc etc etc.
And then just saying the dumbest f--king things, like "I wish it was me", or "The Jackson Five set the stage for everyone else".
Gross!!!!!!!!!

[Diogenis]

Grief is an unusual emotion !

[LesaLesa]

It's people like you and the media that made Jermaine come out and show support & love for his brother. I'm sorry you feel this way but blood is thicker than water. He has always supported Michael personally and on TV down through the years.

Try not to get so bent out of shape when family members show love towards one another.

[Mekarri]

I don't know why he gave this interview and I didn't watch it but it sounds as if he said very good things about his brother but I have to question why would you give an interview and you brother hadn't even been laid to rest yet. I think it is distasteful but maybe he just wanted to show Michael in a better light since the media have been trashing him so badly. Personally I would see if it was possible for me to bury him in Europe where people appreciated him. Like I said America can really suck sometimes.

[Brooklyn49]

Perhaps what Jermaine meant to say was that Michael was the gift from Allah that kept on giving.

[dansup]

the wallet is dead now, what will they all do?

[msdarrla]

Sad story...nice to see someone speak and shre the emotion the family is going through and willing to share with true fans. Jermaine seemed very sad no matter what haters have to say.

RIP Michael....

[gladys46]

True.

[JDRNYC]

The Jackson family - American Freakshow.

[realistnotsocialist]

I wonder what your family would be like if you were living under the microscope like their family. Don't fool yourself fool!

[Chicago48]

His face has not held up well. That's what multiple plastic surgery does. Your face starts to almost melt. Maybe w/ MJ's death, Jermaine will get himself together and with the help of Islam.

[PuddinPie]

Some of the Jackson boys suffered from severe acne. I'm not discounting the effects of plastic surgery, but, I think the roughness of the skin could be a result of acne scars.

[spark19me]

He did not have surgery..one of the ones to age naturally. It's called acne scarring.

[psbintl]

I personally met Jermaine this past December, nicest person. And no, he did not have plastic surgery.

[ediva75]

Wow very good and sad interview. I am glad to see Jermaine speak on the family's behalf. It is such a loss to the music world and I feel for the kids these days and the crap and entertainers they have today who don't hold **** to MJ FOR REAL!! It's hard to believe it has been a week today!! I do wonder how much the family knew about his prescription medication use and his financial affairs. Or if MJ kept them in the dark on such matters or put on airs about how he was doing. Regardless it is a loss for the family and for the world of music and entertainment. There will never be like an MJ to rock the entertainment world IN MY LIFETIME!!

[mathme]

The Today Show spent 2 minutes with Al Franken after a somewhat historic battle for the senate.. .

[gladys46]

9 long months & 2 minutes ... find a Franken thread !!

[realistnotsocialist]

they key word in your statement is "somewhat historic"....get it together!

[gladys46]

Try informing yourselves of all the good Michael gave this world:

http://eddihaskell.blogspot.com/2009/06/michael-jackson-is-1-entertaner-in.html

[gwt301]

Look at the shadow w to the left of Jermaine's forehead. Is that Micheal? or Jesus?

[ClownPosse]

So Authentic !

So Touching !

Makes you want to cry for the Jackson Family !