LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson's father Monday denied making a bizarre plug for his record label during a red carpet appearance, insisting he had only been responding to a question about his future.

The 79-year-old patriarch Joe Jackson - who had an uneasy relationship with his iconic son - triggered howls of protest on Sunday when he appeared to be promoting his record company before the Black Entertainment Television awards.

During a live interview on CNN television, Jackson introduced business partner Marshall Thompson, saying he wanted to make "a real good statement."

"Marshall and I have - we own a record company. Talking about Blu-ray technology. That's the next step," Jackson said, sparking outraged comments in the blogosphere from Jackson fans.

However he insisted Monday the comments had been misinterpreted during a press conference outside the family home.

"I was asked a question last night about the record company... We have a lot of good artists fixing to come out," Jackson said.

"I was asked that question and I answered just like it was asked because they wanted to know what else I was doing."

A transcript of the CNN interview clearly shows Jackson volunteering the information about the company.

However family advisor Al Sharpton insisted Joe Jackson's comments had been misconstrued, saying he had revealed the information about his company because he wanted to "send a message" to the world.

"Some misinterpreted why Mr Jackson went and what he said," he said. "He said it and went because he wanted to send a signal to the world that the Jackson family's going to continue doing what Michael did."

On Sunday, Warren Ballentine, an African-American motivational speaker and radio show host, said he was flooded with messages over Jackson's comments.

"Joe Jackson and his lack of sensitivity and respect disgusts me," said one posting on Jezebel, a blog geared toward women.

Jackson, a steelworker in the industrial city of Gary, Indiana, reared his nine children into musical sensations starting from the Jackson 5 to the phenomenal careers of Michael Jackson and younger sister Janet Jackson.

Michael Jackson later said that his father would beat him when he missed a note and emotionally humiliate him, contributing to the future star's psychological fragility but also planting in him the will to succeed.