Michael Jackson has hit out at his London O2 Arena gig bookers, saying he believed he only signed up to play 10 shows – not the 50 he is scheduled for – at the venue.

Speaking to fans outside the Los Angeles dance studio where he’s rehearsing for the gigs, the singer admitted that he might not be physically well enough to complete all 50 shows, reports The Sun.

“I don’t know how I’m going to do 50 shows,” he said of the gigs, which kick off in July. “I’m not a big eater – I need to put some weight on.”

The star then laid into the gig promoters, saying he only wanted to play ten shows at the O2 Arena.

“I’m really angry with them booking me up to do 50 shows,” he said. “I only wanted to do ten, and take the tour around the world to other cities, not 50 in one place.

“I went to bed knowing I sold 10 dates, and woke up to the news I was booked to do 50.”

Randy Phillips, head of promoters AEG, who organised the gigs, refuted Jackson‘s claim that he was not originally fully aware of the length of the residency.

“This is not true,” he said in a statement. “The size and scale of this show would not be possible without an extended run which Michael has been fully on board with from the very beginning.”

Michael Jackson has already postponed the start of the residency from July 8 to July 13 citing production issues.

Michael Jackson tickets:

• • Jul 16, 2009 19:30 at The O2 Arena, London – Buy from Seetickets
  • Jul 18, 2009 19:30 at The O2 Arena, London – Buy from Seetickets
  • Jul 22, 2009 19:30 at The O2 Arena, London – Buy from Seetickets

More Michael Jackson tickets

See Michael Jackson play at an O2 Venue. Remember if you’re on O2 you can get Priority Tickets to The O2 and O2 Academy venues up to 48 hours before they go on general release. Register at The O2 Blueroom. Terms apply.

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