Rupert Everett happy Michael Jackson gone

Jul 22, 2009, 12:00 GMT

07/11/2009 - Christine Ebersole, Rupert Everett. He said: "He was a freak. He looked like a character from \'Shrek\'. He was a black to white minstrel. He was crucified by that court case when he was accused of child molestation - that killed him. © Sylvain Gaboury / PR Photos

Rupert Everett is pleased Michael Jackson died.

The 'Shrek' star believes it's better the pop legend passed away last month at the age of 50 as he would never have been able to cope with the pressures of his planned comeback shows at London's O2 arena.

He told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "I think it was fortuitous that he died. He was supposed to be doing 50 concerts in London. It wouldn't have mattered how good or bad he was. He wouldn't have managed to do them all and the press would have destroyed him."

Rupert admits he wasn't a huge fan of the 'Thriller' singer, particularly because of the changes in his appearance - which Michael blamed on vitiligo, a condition that makes your skin change colour.

He said: "He was a freak. He looked like a character from 'Shrek'. He was a black to white minstrel. He was crucified by that court case when he was accused of child molestation - that killed him.

"He personified the pain anxiety of a black man in a slave country. We all watched as he changed from black to white. He was living performance art."

In 2005, Michael was cleared on 10 accounts of child molestation but sources close to him say he never fully recovered from the ordeal.