Michael Jackson claimed that Prince was 'mean, nasty and rude'

The late Michael Jackson secretly filmed a series of tapes 30 years ago, in which he claimed that his rival Prince was "mean, nasty and rude" and that the Purple Rain star would die prematurely. According to the Mirror, which revealed the contents of the recordings for the first time, Jackson said he was worried that Prince would kill himself.

The tapes were recorded for Jackson's autobiography Moonwalker in 1998.

The King of Pop, who died 25 June, 2009, of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, said Prince had been mean, nasty and rude, not only to him but also toward his family and that he did not like being "compared to Prince at all".

"I have proven myself since I was real little. It's not fair. He feels like I'm his opponent. I hope he changes because boy, he's gonna get hurt. He's the type that might commit suicide or something," said Jackson on the tapes.

Jackson called Prince, who died from a painkiller overdose in April, "very competitive". "He was so rude, one of rudest people I have ever met. He has been very mean and nasty to my family."

When speaking about Prince's appearance at a James Brown tribute show in 1983 in Los Angeles, Jackson ridiculed his rival for falling into the crowd after mistaking a papier mâché stage lamppost for a real one. He said: "He made a fool of himself. He was a joke."

"People were running and screaming. I was so embarrassed. It was all on video." He claimed that Prince was "starstruck" when the two first met, but that quickly changed after he found fame.

On the tapes, Jackson also talked about his brothers, calling Randy "hardheaded", Jackie "negative" and Jermaine "talented but lacking self-confidence", according to the Mirror. He added that his sister LaToya's behaviour was weird and that Janet was a tomboy. Jackson also made it clear that he hated his dad Joe.

During an interview with US talk show Oprah Winfrey, Joe admitted to hitting his children with a strap. He said: "I don't [regret the beatings]," he said. "It kept them out of jail and kept them right."

The 61-year-old also punished his wife for being too soft. He said: "Katherine is too easy with people… just like Michael."