Joe Jackson In Hospital After Stroke In Brazil

Joe Jackson, the father of Michael Jackson and the patriarch of the musical family, has suffered a stroke in Brazil.

The 87-year-old was admitted to hospital in Sao Paulo on Sunday afternoon and is being treated in intensive care.

A statement from the Albert Einstein Hospital said he was suffering from an irregular heartbeat.

Jackson was in Brazil to celebrate his birthday which was on Sunday.

Local media say Jackson was absent from his own party because he was already in the hospital.

Photos from his official website show him dining in Sao Paulo restaurants in the days leading up to the stroke.

Jackson managed the musical careers of his family from when they first started out as The Jackson Five in the late 1960s.

Michael Jackson claimed that he was emotionally and physically abused by his father from a young age.

However, he also said that his strict discipline also helped him achieve his worldwide success.

Both Joe, and Jackson and his nine siblings' mother Katherine, have always denied allegations of abuse.