The family of Michael Jackson on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of burying the pop star at his Neverland Ranch retreat, saying no "private or public" services would be held at the estate.
"Contrary to previous news reports, the Jackson family is officially stating that there will be no public or private viewing at Neverland," according to a statement released by a public relations firm hired by the family.
"Plans are underway regarding a public memorial for Michael Jackson, and we will announce those plans shortly."
The Los Angeles Times reported earlier that the Jackson family's hopes of burying the singer at his sprawling rural estate northwest of Los Angeles had fallen victim to red tape.
Officials were unable to clear the way for the burial, the Times reported. "It's nobody's fault. Everybody in Santa Barbara feels bad about it," a source was quoted as saying.
Santa Barbara County communications director William Boyer told AFP Wednesday that local authorities had never received any contact from the Jackson family concerning the funeral.
The decision to grant the family the right to carry out a burial on private land would have been taken at state level by California's Department of Consumer Affairs, he added.
"We would love to be able to talk directly with the Jackson family or their representatives," Boyer said. "We've been trying to reach them directly. We'd love to talk to them. We'd like to try to help them.
"Unfortunately we have not had any opportunity to talk to them. We've had no formal contact at all. There's been no requests."
Reports on Tuesday indicated Jackson's body would be placed on public display at Neverland on Friday before a private service for his family at the Ranch on Sunday.
The reports triggered a stampede of media and tourists to the sleepy town of Los Olivos near Neverland, with hotels across the surrounding area selling out within hours as journalists flocked to the region.
Meanwhile E! entertainment television reported on its website that Jackson would be buried at Los Angeles Forest Lawn cemetery. A spokesman for the funeral home declined to comment on the report.
"We do not comment on services that we have here," he told AFP.
Local media reported a public memorial for Jackson may now be held at the 20,000-seat Staples Center or the bigger Los Angeles Coliseum, venue for the 1984 Olympic Games.
Source: AFP American Edition
