Michael Jackson, acquitted this month of child sex abuse charges, is in the Gulf Arab country of Bahrain on a private visit to "relax", a Bahraini official said today.
"He (Jackson) is here in Bahrain on a friendly visit, to relax and enjoy the hospitality of Bahrain. He is a long time friend of the (royal) family," said the official, who requested anonymity.
Jackson was flown to Bahrain yesterday on a private jet from Los Angeles and will stay for a few days at an undisclosed residence, the official said.
The 46-year-old pop star has a large fan base in Bahrain and other Gulf countries.
A US court acquitted Jackson of child sex abuse charges this month, in a trial that had threatened to destroy his career and send him to prison for nearly two decades.