Troubled superstar Michael Jackson is a "red-blooded man" who loves women, his secret ex-girlfriend told American television viewers last night (26NOV03).

As speculation about the pop superstar's sexuality intensifies following his arrest on child molestation charges last week (20NOV03), pretty SHANA MANGATAL made a dramatic TV appearance to set the record straight.

Mangatal, who claims she dated Jacko for the seven years before he wed Lisa Marie Presley in 1994, told ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT host BOB GOEN there's nothing wacko about JACKO in bed.

Although she was coy about talking about her sex life with the THRILLER hitmaker, she told Goen, "It was a close personal relationship that I don't want to go into. (Michael) is a normal red-blooded man. He's very flirtatious. He loves women."

Mangatal added she has seen Jackson around children, and she feels his critics are wrong if they think he's sick by surrounding himself with other people's kids.

She explained, "Michael loves kids. He's like a 14-year-old kid with them. He's not like an adult preying on the children."

And, despite her extraordinary pro-Jacko TV statements, Mangatal insisted her ex-boyfriend didn't ask her to speak out on his behalf.

She added, "I'm scared that he's gonna be mad that I'm finally coming forward.

"I've sat back for 10 years and not said a word through all of the other allegations but I feel that it's time. People need to know."

27/11/2003 09:19