Peaches Geldof has decided that there’s just too much focus on her controversial quickie marriage and divorce, perhaps it’s time for a new scandal? Like going on national television and declaring ‘I’ve been stroked by Michael Jackson’ on the eve of his comeback.

She said: “I was eight years old. I was at Disneyland with Pappy Geldof and the family.

“Michael Jackson was there doing some sort of promotional thing. He invited a load of kids who were staying in the Disney hotel to come meet him.”

Peaches said the Thriller singer, 50, right, was in a room sat on a throne, surrounded by Disney characters. She said: “He was sitting on a huge throne at the end of the hall, flanked by Mickey and Goofy.

“The image is burned in my mind of him there, just like ‘come closer’.

“I went and I sat on his lap and then he proceeded to stroke me and whisper in my ear a little bit.

“I’ve got photos to prove it. I’ve been stroked by Michael Jackson.”

The Sun – you can view the video here

While saying this, Peaches stroked her cheek, to indicate where she was touched. The story doesn’t strike me as being completely odd, I cuddle my friends children all the time, although I wouldn’t do it to a stranger’s child. Some might suggest (including the other presenters on the Celebrity Juice show) that this is weird behavior, but I think they’re being unfair. No one suggests that Britney is a molester when she visits a hospital for publicity, but Michael Jackson gets quite a bit of attention every time he goes near a child. Peaches says he was meeting the children for a publicity stunt. Admittedly the man does have an acknowledged strange relationship with children, I think the jury is still out on any kind of criminal convictions. Clearly he doesn’t have a firm grasp of social norms, but I think it was a low shot for Peaches to use this story for cheap laughs. Then again, like Michael Jackson, she seems to have a loose grasp of social norms too.

In related news, Michael Jackson has sold out 27 shows at London’s O2 Arena, with another 3 planned. That’s 660,000 tickets if they all go ahead. Not bad for a ‘washed up’ pop star.

Peaches Geldof is shown at Fasion Week on 3/8/09. Michael Jackson is shown at a press conference on 3/5/09. Credit: WENN