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Monday, 6 July 2009

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Christian Audigier: Michael Jackson was like a big kid

Fashion designer says Jacko never grew up

Michael Jackson was an emotional individual, according to his close friend

Michael Jackson's close friend Christian Audigier says the king of pop was just like a 'big kid'.

'Michael was a very emotional individual,' fashion designer Christian tells Now in an exclusive interview.

'The last time I saw him, we spent time with his kids for about an hour and, afterwards, we had dinner. He was always dancing and chatting and laughing.

'He was like a big kid, you know. And he was a great father, he was all about his kids.'

Christian was travelling to France when he first heard the news that Michael had been taken to hospital.

'I was on my way to Paris and I was just about to board the plane and I heard on CNN that he had had a heart attack,' the designer says.

'And when I arrived in France, I found out that Michael had passed away. I was just too shocked and sad.'

Although Christian is unable to attend the funeral, he is concerned about what will happen to Michael's three young children – Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and 7-year-old Blanket – now that they have lost their father.

'I hope they’re going to be be OK,' he tells us. 'I think they are going to live with his mum Katherine for now. I want to try to stay in touch with them as I always saw them quite frequently whenever I would visit Michael.'

As Christian is speaking to Now at his fine wine and champagne launch party at London club Movida on 1 July, footage of him walking beside the late singer at one of his fashion shows flashes up on a large screen behind him.

'Oh my God, it's very hard to see that [his eyes well up],' he admits. 'This was an amazing time in my life. I met Michael 4 years ago at a party and I liked him immediately. We became very close friends. I will miss him greatly.'

Alexandra Wenman

Christian Audigier, pictured with Now's Alexandra Wenman, is in the UK to launch his range of fine wines and
 for the global
 launch of his champagne. See www.christianaudigierwines.com.