Streisand: ‘I’m sorry I defended Jackson’

BARBRA STREISAND has apologised over her comments about two men who accused Michael Jackson of sexually abusing them as children, saying she is “profoundly sorry”.

The 76-year-old’s apology came as Diana Ross entered the controversy, describing Jackson, whose career she helped launch, as a “magnificent force”.

The two singers defended Jackson after release of the documentary Leaving Neverland, which included claims by Wade Robson and James Safechuck that they were abused by him as boys.

Streisand drew intense criticism over remarks made in an interview with The Times. “They both married and both have children, so it didn’t kill them,” she said.

Shortly after the interview was published, the hashtag #Cancelbarbrastreisand began trending on Twitter.

In her apology, she said: “I am profoundly sorry for any pain or misunderstanding I caused by not choosing my words more carefully.

“I didn’t mean to dismiss the trauma these boys experienced in any way.

“I feel deep remorse and I hope that James and Wade know that I truly respect and admire them for speaking their truth.”

Ross has not commented further since she declared in a tweet on Saturday her trust in her close friend, who died from a drug overdose in 2009, aged 50.