MICHAEL JACKSON has blasted MADONNA as ‘not a nice person' from beyond the grave - shattering her claims the pair were firm friends.

In shocking new interview tapes recorded around 2002, Michael says his budding friendship with the Material Girl never got off the ground because she was cruel to children and described her as ‘a nasty witch'.

In the tapes Jackson tells Rabbi Shmuley Boteach of his first ‘date' with Madge. He says: "Madonna laid the law down to me before we went out, (saying) 'I am not going to Disneyland, OK? That's out.' I said, 'I didn't ask to go to Disneyland.' She said, 'We are going to the restaurant. And afterwards, we are going to a strip bar.'

"I said, 'I am not going to a strip bar, where they cross dress. Guys who are girls... I am not going there. If that's how it is, forget this whole thing.' Afterwards, she wrote some mean things about me in the press. And I wrote that she is a nasty witch, after I was so kind to her...

"We were at the table eating, and some little (kid) came up, (saying) 'Oh my god, Michael Jackson and Madonna!' She goes, 'Get out of here. Leave us alone.' I said, 'Don't you ever talk to children like this.' She said, 'Shut up.' I said, 'You shut up.' Yes, that's what I said. Then we went out again and went to the Academy Awards and she is not a nice person."

The tapes are an embarrassing blow for Madonna who only last month made a heartfelt speech about her ‘close friend Michael'.