Video footage of Michael Jackson being interviewed by a lawyer about claims that he abused several young boys has been made public for the first time.

The late pop star is shown being interviewed in 1996 by Michael Ring, the chief lawyer for a group of former Neverland workers who claimed wrongful dismissal, a civil case which Jackson later won.

The footage, released by News of the World, shows Jackson looked shocked when he is asked if he was ever accused of sexually molesting one of the boys. He then laughs and shakes his head before covering his face with his hands.

He is instructed by his legal representatives not to answer the question.

During the video Jackson is also asked about two sheets of notes in his own handwriting. He says they are notes about "crazy stories that people have created" which he hoped to "set straight" in an interview.

Addressing the rumours, Jackson says: "I'm a black American and proud of it."

He denied bleaching his skin and added: "They once said I wanted a white kid to play me as a child, which is a rumour."

Jackson added: "I'm not gay."

The performer said he followed Jesus's teachings to "love the children and be like children, be youthful and innocent and pure."