Jon Bon JoviJon Bon Jovi is denying claims that he shunned Michael Jackson at the World Music Awards last week.

Michael was awarded the Diamond Award for selling 100million records but an inside source at the show claims Jon, whose band won last year’s award, “didn’t want to share the stage with Jackson”.

The source added that organisers found it hard to find a replacement as “nobody wanted to present [Michael] with the award” but eventually Beyoncé Knowles agreed to do it - but she didn’t find it easy: “[Jackson] didn’t want to come out of his room and come onstage, so Beyoncé had to basically go in there and persuade Michael to get onstage.”

However, a spokesperson for Bon Jovi has denied the story, telling the New York Daily News: “An invitation to attend and/or present at the World Music Awards was not received.”