The sexual abuse charges against Michael Jackson have devastated his mother - and left the entertainer hiding from the outside world, his parents reveal.

Only days before the start of the star’s trial, Joe and Katherine Jackson spoke exclusively with international interviewer Daphne Barak - and told how the accusations have torn their lives apart.

But they vowed to stand by their son through what they claim is a racist witch hunt.

“She’s not doing well,” Jackson’s father said about his wife. “She’s taking it very, very hard. She don’t sleep at night. She’s awake crying. My wife cried a lot about this whole thing. She’s having problems with her heart.”

“I do a lot of praying,” Katherine Jackson told Barak.

The interview, conducted at the couple’s Las Vegas home, is set to air on CBS’ “48 Hours” on Saturday. Snippets can also be seen on the syndicated show “The Insider” beginning Thursday night.

Joe Jackson revealed that his son hides from TV news coverage of the accusations. “I guess he wants to make sure he doesn’t hear too much news that’s going on about the whole situation,” said the elder Jackson.

Added Katherine: “A lot of people get on television just to be on television. … They have to remember that there’s a family out there that loves that person they’re lying on and talking about. Especially a mother, and she has feelings.”

Those feelings were particularly hurt, she said, by images of her son being arrested.

“When they took him down to jail and I saw them put handcuffs on him, that hurt worse than anything else,” Katherine Jackson said.

Jackson’s mother told how she was at his Neverland ranch when child services made a surprise visit to see his kids.

“When they brought them out and they saw me sitting there, they just ran - `Grandma.’ Just jumped in my arms and hugged me and kissed me,” she said.

“His children are happy. Every time I see them, they’re always happy.”

Joe Jackson said he believes his son’s career will recover if he is acquitted - but that racism turned America against him.

“Of course he can resume his career,” he said. “This is just the United States. All the rest of the countries, all over the world, are proud of Michael. It’s here we have the most trouble out of them. … It is racism.”

“I know my son,” said Katherine Jackson, “and this is ridiculous. … He’s very generous. He’s very giving. And people seem to take advantage of people like that.

“My son would never hurt a child. He loved children too much.

“I’m going to support him and stand by him as a mother. That’s the only thing I can do right now.”

The couple said Jackson’s former attorney Mark Geragos assured them a year ago the trial would not go ahead - but Katherine said she knew it would.

“I did, because I know how wicked people are,” she said. “Somebody wants to prove a point.”

Jackson’s parents vowed to support their son through his trial.

“I may not get a chance to be there every day, but I’m going to go,” said Joe Jackson.

His wife said, “I’ll be there whenever I can, as much as I can.”

Source: NY Daily News

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