'Our hearts are in pain': Jackson family hit back at 'disgusting' comments after death of Joe Jackson aged 89
The Jackson family have hit back at “disgusting” comments following the death of Joe Jackson at the age of 89 .
The patriarch of the famous family of entertainers died in a US hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning after battling cancer.
Taj Jackson, Joe's grandson, said the hearts of the "entire family" are in pain.
He tweeted: "Disgusted by some of the comments I'm reading about my grandpa Joe by those who didn't even know him. Please don't just regurgitate what you were spoon fed by the press.
"Joe was loved by our ENTIRE family and our hearts are in pain. Let us grieve without the nastiness."
Disgusted by some of the comments I’m reading about my grandpa Joe by those who didn’t even know him. Please don't just regurgitate what you were spoon fed by the press. Joe was loved by our ENTIRE family and our hearts are in pain. Let us grieve without the nastiness.#ripthehawk
— Taj Jackson (@tajjackson3) June 27, 2018
Taj, the son of The Jacksons star Tito Jackson and who was also a member of 1990s band 3T, also thanked Ebony magazine for their tribute to Joe, adding: "We see the love and support and appreciate it."
His tweets came after US gossip site TMZ reported that Joe had died in US hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The father of Michael, Janet and their eight siblings had been battling cancer for some time before his death.
He had suffered poor health in recent years, suffering a stroke and three heart attacks in 2015.
Jackson began working on the music careers of his children in the 1960s when he put together the Jackson 5 group in the family's home city of Gary, Indiana.
As the group's manager, he oversaw their rigorous rehearsals and booked performances for them at talent shows and small venues.
He was known for ruling his children with an iron fist, with Michael later in life making allegations that his father had been physically and emotionally abusive to him and his siblings.
Prince Michael Jackson, the 21-year-old son of the late King of Pop Michael Jackson, also posted a tribute on Twitter.
Sharing a photograph of himself and his grandfather, Prince wrote: "This man is and always will be an example or sheer willpower and dedication.
"He didn't choose the path that was the easiest but he choose the path that was best for his family.
"You taught me to take pride in the Jackson name and what it really means, you taught me dedication in the face of adversity and most of all you showed me strength and fearlessness.
"There is and never will be someone like you.
La Toya Jackson thanked her father for making the family one of the most famous in the world.
She wrote on Twitter: "I will always love you!
"You gave us strength, you made us one of the most famous families in the world.
"I am extremely appreciative of that, I will never forget our moments together and how you told me how much you cared."
