Manager says MJ was in full control of his career

London (ANI): Late Michael Jackson's manager has blasted rumours that the singer was manipulated by concert promoters in his final days, and insists that the King of Pop was in full control of his career. Ever since his death in June, media reports have speculated Jackson was the victim of an evil plot to keep him pumped with painkillers so he could perform strenuous dance routines during his ill-fated 'This Is It' residency.

And Jacko's former financial advisor Leonard Rowe had gone so far as to claim that the singer was 'not allowed to make his own decisions'.

“Michael Jackson's life at the end was being controlled and manipulated. He was not allowed to hire who he wanted to hire to work for him. Michael Jackson was being told what to do," the Daily Star quoted him as telling U.S. talk show host Larry King. “And people were controlling Michael Jackson. The same people that were controlling Michael Jackson financially," he said.

But Frank Dileo, who was working closely with Jackson as the manager of his comeback shows, insists the Thriller icon did what he pleased and didn't take orders. “That is as false as they get. Michael Jackson has done and always did what he wanted to do. No one controlled him," he told King.

“Listen, when I worked (with him on the Bad World Tour in) 1984, you want to see Michael, call up. Is Michael available? What time? You come over. Same thing now. You want to see Michael Jackson? What time? You come over. If he wants to see you, he's seeing you. How could they control him?" he added.