NYT bestselling author and celeb biographer and blogger, Ian Halperin has issued a challenge to beleaguered pop idol Michael Jackson to prove he is NOT dying of deadly lung disease. As was reported in several news outlets over the last few weeks, Jackson was said to be suffering from a “rare genetic condition called Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency” and would die within 6 months if he didn’t receive a lung transplant. In addition, Halperin, who has written a book on the troubled star, states that Jackson is most at risk from “chronic gastrointestinal bleeding” and has lost vision in one eye.

Of course, Jackson’s camp and his “official one and only spokeperson”, a Dr. Tohme Tohme (seriously?) have emphatically denied these claims as “a total fabrication” and claim that in fact, Jackson is great health and pursuing many lucrative and fancy business deal.

The National Enquirer (hey don’t laugh, they’ve gotten some big stories right lately) is also corroborating Jackson illness, and cite painkillers as a source of much of Jackson physical deterioration over the years:

A source close to the star divulged: “It’s tragic. His condition is just so far gone, I’d be surprised if he lasts six months.

“Painkillers and booze have caught up with him. The only way he was able to cope with the stress of sex scandals and his roller-coaster life was to mask the pain with substance abuse.

“But the end result is an addiction that will kill him.”

Halperin, with his reputation and book on the line, isn’t backing down and is willing to stand by his story, and like the old saying goes, he’s putting his money where his mouth is.

Insiders close to the author have told Glosslip that Ian’s team have sent word to Michael Jackson that they are willing to pay the full expense of flying Jackson to one of the leading lung clinics in the world — The Cleveland Clinic (or any of the other top-notch clinics of Jackson’s choosing) and pay for a full medical examination of the ailing star. From Halperin’s perspective, this would clear up any misinformation and if the author is wrong, and Jackson IS healthy, Halperin will hold a press conference and tell the world he was wrong and retract his statement. Our insiders said Ian is hoping he is wrong, as he wishes the star nothing but good health.

We await word on the outcome of this challenge. One final caveat to this mystery of he said/he said, is why Jackson’s own spokesperson claimed Jackson was too ill to travel to Bahrain and testify in the lawsuit pending against him, and why has he been photographed several times wheelchair bound and wearing a surgical mask?

Clearly, something isn’t right.

Source: D