Posted by Adam

Wednesday May 6, 2009

Michael Jackson has been told to gain weight ahead of his comeback gigs in London — because he is too skinny.

Jackson’s medical team have told the star he is 20lb underweight and urgently needs to pile on the pounds before he performs 50 live shows, from July 8 to February 24.

The Thriller singer, 50, is also undergoing antibiotic treatment for a skin infection, still suffers pain from an old back injury and wears a mask to avoid picking up bugs.

“There are concerns Michael is too frail,” a source told British newspaper The Sun. “He has been ordered to eat more but he refuses to and eats like a bird.”

Jackson has not performed since a disastrous slot at the World Music Awards in 2006, when he only managed to sing two lines of We Are The World.

He has been rehearsing for his farewell shows at a heavily guarded LA hangar — and is reportedly insisting on having live animals on stage with him.

Promoters AEG Live last night insisted Michael is “extremely fit” and looking forward to his shows.

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