Michael Jackson was too scared to appear on the live final of American Idol, it’s been claimed.

According to a report in today’s Sun newspaper, the pop star was scheduled to perform on the reality television show earlier this month but pulled out at short notice.

The paper quotes the singer as saying: “I can’t do it. Everyone will hate me.”

American Idol was won by David Cook, who beat 17-year-old David Archuleta in the final.

32million viewers tuned into the show, making it the second most watched programme on American television in 2008.

(by Jason Gregory)