MACAULAY Culkin has defended Michael Jackson, saying the singer “never did anything to me”.

In his first interview since the controversial Finding Neverland documentary the Home Alone star – 22 years younger than Jackson when they became pals – revealed they shared a sense of humour.

In a lengthy interview with Esquire, Culkin said they used to prank-call people, and use silly voices to fool them.

His last memory of Jackson was when he was testifying for the star's defense in 2005 – he was acquitted of intoxicating and molesting a boy, 13.

They hugged during a short recess, he recalled.

Asked by the publication about accusations of sexual abuse which have continued to persist since the star died, Culkin said: "He never did anything to me.

"I never saw him do anything… I'd have no reason to hold anything back."

Culkin said that he would "totally" reveal something if he had witnessed any inappropriate behaviour, but he did not see Jackson commit any such crime.

'NORMAL' RELATIONSHIP

The actor, who met Jackson in 1990 when he was 10 years old, was not interviewed in the Leaving Neverland documentary.

In January 2019 on the podcast Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum, Culkin said of their friendship: “It's almost easy to try say it was 'weird' or whatever, but it wasn't, because it made sense.

“It's one of my friendships that people question, only because of the fact that he was the most famous person in the world.”

He appeared in Jackson’s music video for Black and White in 1991.

Culkin has always referred to Jackson as a friend and attended his funeral in September 2009.

He is also the godfather of the star's daughter, Paris.

The actor has always maintained that he and Jackson had a “normal” relationship when he was younger.

"GOOD OLD FUN"

Although he slept repeatedly in the singer’s bed when just a child, Culkin says he was never abused by his famous friend.

During Jackson’s 2005 trial, Culkin called the allegations “absolutely ridiculous”, denying the King of Pop ever touched him inappropriately.

He claimed that his parents were always present even though he slept in Jacko’s room, that the door was always open and it was just “good old fun”.

Culkin said he was friends with Jackson because he related to being a child star.

He told Esquire that he remains close to Paris, and that he has passed on one of his odd habits – pinching spoons from airplanes and eateries.

Culkin described his quirk as "harmless", and he and his goddaughter even bear matching spoon tattoos on their inner forearms.

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