The Voice coach Will.i.am has branded TV and radio bosses “hypocrites” for banning Michael Jackson songs from their shows.

The rapper was a close friend of the late Thriller singer, whose reputation is now under fire after he was branded a child sex abuser in the recent documentary film Leaving Neverland.

Will.i.am said: “I don’t know what to trust or who to believe. Who is behind it or what? Obviously it’s money. All I know is it’s a smear campaign. If he did it, then it’s sad and inhumane.

“But if he didn’t, then what is happening is sad and inhumane.”

The Black Eyed Peas star raged: “It is double standards. You’re not talking about banning the company that made the chemicals to kill all the Jews.

(Image: ITV/REX)

“Imagine every country that ever had slaves and people said, ‘never travel to those countries because of things they’ve done in the past’.

“Are you not supposed to do anything with anyone who ever did ill? I could name 1,000 ills that are worse, but we are gonna pull songs instead. Why?”

Will added: “We live in a very, very, very hypocritical, double standards, fake society.

(Image: PA)

“I could name 1,000 other products that you still buy and still use that are owned by folks that have done the most horrendous things to people…”

He added he is “torn” over what to believe about the singer, who died in 2009.

He said: “The Michael Jackson I loved I will always love.

“The person I met was the kindest and most genuine and big-hearted person, who wouldn’t hurt a fly.”