Omer Bhatti finally denies Michael Jackson his father

After two weeks of bathing in the publicity the rumors created, Omer Bhatti, the 25-year old said by some to be Michael Jackson’s fourth child, has finally denied that the star was his dad.

“Michael is not my father,” he told a friend. “He and I were just very close. He was my best friend.”

Omer — who moved back to Norway in 2004 when Michael’s life hit some trouble — also claims to have been ‘shocked’ by the reaction to his getting front-row seats at Michael’s memorial. “Michael always used to say I was like a son to him,” he said. “But my parents are here in Norway. I was asked to sit with his family because I was a close friend — not because I am his son.”

Michael met the 12-year old Omer in 1996, and was so fond of the striking Norwegian he moved Omer and his family into Neverland at once. Omer’s mom worked there as a nanny, while his dad was a driver. But Omer himself had some stranger routines; “Omer would sleep-over at Michael’s,” Omer’s friend, Ricky Harlow, told the UK’s Daily Mirror. “They would hang out and watch movies – that kind of stuff. But I never got the vibe anything strange was going on.”

Not strange? Well, let’s see: These sleepovers with the 12-year old Omer happened right after Michael was accused of molesting 13-year-old Jordan Chandler, and just before he was arrested on charges of sexual molestation that almost killed his career. [That case fell apart and Michael was freed when it was finally proven his accuser was lying.]

Friends say that Omer has taken the star’s death pretty hard. “Omer is usually the life and soul of the party,” says a close friend.”But he looked so pale and thin, I have never seen him so depressed.” Even Pia, his mom, said, “He’s been totally crushed.”

Rumors of a parental link between Omer and Michael have been floating around since 2004. And Omer said nothing. When Jermaine – Michael’s brother — told reporters the family would welcome Omer among them, it only got worse.

Then came the news that Omer was seeking a DNA test to find out if Michael was truly his dad. But now the young singer has denied all that talk. So is this all over? You’ll have to decide.