Will.i.am has defended the playing of Michael Jackson's music with a reference to the Holocaust.

The rapper and singer has spoken out in support of Jackson as his legacy is tarnished by allegations of sexual abuse.

Claims against the late "King of Pop" were made in the documentary Leaving Neverland.

Wil.i.am, real name Will Adams, has equated the playing of Jackson's songs to buying from Bayer, a German firm he said made chemicals "to kill all the Jews".

The star, who is a judge on the BBC show The Voice, also suggested allegations against Jackson are part of a "smear campaign" and "just the black artists" are targeted.

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The Black Eyed Peas star, who was the last person to work with Jackson before his death, has claimed the recent accusations of child sexual abuse levelled at the singer are financially motivated but said he is "torn" by the testimonials of Wade Robson and James Safechuck.

Will.i.am has defended the continued playing of Jackson's back catalogue, claiming it would be "hypocritical" not to listen to his music.

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Image: Michael Jackson's supporters are sceptical about claims he was a paedophile

He has compared Jackson's work as a singer to a German chemical company involved in the Holocaust.

Speaking of playing the music of an alleged abuser, Will.i.am said he can think of a "thousand" worse crimes that are tolerated without reparations being sought.

He said: "We live in a very, very, very, very hypocritical, double-standard, fake society.

"I can name a thousand other products that we still buy, still use, that are owned by folks that have done the most horrendous things to people, millions of them, and we don't take their products from the market.

"You're not talking about banning Bayer that made the chemicals to kill all the Jews.

"You're not talking about real shit and yet you want to flex on a song?

"Bayer is really responsible for chemicals that killed millions of people but they're headache medicine now.

"Are you going to ridicule them for their past? Are there reparations that need to be done for that?"

He added: "Imagine every country that ever had slaves, people said never travel to those countries because of what they've done in the past.

"Are you not supposed to do anything with anyone who ever did anything ill in the past?

"England, Spain, Portugal. That's not that long ago. Are there reparations for everyone who's done something ill?

"I could name a thousand more ills that are worse but we're going to pull songs?"

Speaking at Elstree Studios ahead of The Voice semi-final, Will.i.am suggested that only black artists are targeted by smears, despite the conduct of "a lot of other folks".

Taj Jackson is a nephew of Michael Jackson Read More – Source [contf] [contfnew]

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