Jackson says reputation as freak based on ignorance

Michael Jackson knows his reputation as a freak — but just ignores it.

"I don't pay attention to that," the 49-year-old singer tells Ebony magazine. "In my opinion, it's ignorance. It's usually not based on fact. ... Every neighborhood has the guy who you don't see, so you gossip about him. You see those stories about him, there's the myth that he did this or he did that. People are crazy!"

Jackson, a twice-divorced father of three, says he hasn't changed all that much since releasing his blockbuster album "Thriller" nearly 25 years ago.