Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone director Chris Columbus has apologised to Michael Jackson.

Columbus said on US TV he would not allow Daniel Radcliffe to take any phone calls from Jackson.

But he says he simply didn't want Daniel to get caught up in the "cult of celebrity".

Columbus previously directed Jackson's close friend and former child star Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone.

He told www.suntimes.com: "I don't want Jackson to think I'm slamming him. What I meant by that is you don't want Daniel to get caught up in the cult of celebrity.

"Just because you're in a movie doesn't mean that all other celebrities are your best friends."