Organizers of Michael Jackson tribute show say court will decide whether Chris Brown can play

Jackson show promoters hope Chris Brown will play

LONDON — Jermaine Jackson said Wednesday that he is confident Chris Brown will perform at this month’s Michael Jackson tribute concert in Austria, despite Brown’s conviction for assault.

Brown was sentenced to probation and community service last month after pleading guilty to beating his then-girlfriend, R&B singer Rihanna.

Jermaine Jackson announced Tuesday that Brown was on the lineup for the Sept. 26 concert in Vienna. But promoter Georg Kindel said a U.S. judge was expected to rule Wednesday on whether Brown could leave the United States.

However, no request had been filed with courts in Los Angeles Wednesday to allow Brown to go to Austria, and it was not immediately clear whether he needed court permission to travel.

“Chris Brown is working out some situations but he definitely expressed to us that he wants to be here and it’s just up to what he’s going through with his court case right now but he’s definitely going to work that out and be here,” Jermaine Jackson said at a press conference Wednesday in London.

Jackson said “people make mistakes” and Brown deserved forgiveness.

He also said he hoped Stevie Wonder would take part in the show, to be staged in front of a 17th-century palace in the Austrian capital.

Mary J. Blige, Sister Sledge, Natalie Cole and Akon are among artists announced for the concert, which is being billed as the main global tribute for the King of Pop, who died June 25 in Los Angeles.