Kanye West did not try to take Michael Jackson’s crown as the King of Pop, he wrote on his blog Friday.

Various sites reported earlier that the hip-hop singer declared himself “the new King of Pop” on Scrape TV, weeks after Jackson died at the age of 50.

He was quoted as saying: “It’s so sad to see Michael gone but it makes a path for a new King of Pop and I’m willing to take that on. There’s nobody who can match me in sales and in respect so it only makes sense for me to take over Michael’s crown and become the new King.”

However, West claims he never said anything about the late icon.

“I was just listening to [radio host] and heard some quote about me saying I’m the new King of Pop,” he wrote. “Not only did I not say that, I haven’t said anything. It makes me feel bad that obviously I made people feel that I would be corny enough to say something so whack after the passing of an idol, a legend and more than that, a human being with feelings and family.”

He continued: “It scares me to think what people will believe, without even a source. Any random person can type something on the internet and then the world believes it. I don’t talk to press or do TV or do promotions of any sort. I’ve stopped chasing and buying into fame. Fame is like cigarettes with no surgeon general warning. It destroys most people as it did to the true and only king of pop. We exploit ourselves and eat our own egos ’till there is nothing left. I have a feeling that this won’t be the last false statement with my name on it, but this will be the last time I defend myself. I’m done.”

http://www.usmagazine.com/news/kanye-west-denies-saying-hes-the-new-king-of-pop-2009317#comment-1227886, Bauer-Griffin