Lionel Richie didn't enjoy the Michael Jackson hologram performance at the Billboard Music Awards and says he was ''freaked out'' because it was so realistic.

The 'Easy' hitmaker admits he was ''freaked out'' after seeing the virtual likeness of his late friend - who died of acute Propofol intoxication in June 2009 - perform at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday (18.05.14) because it was so realistic.

He said: ''It was freaky. I must tell you it freaked me out because it's Mike. I have to tell you it was brilliantly done, but it just made me a little uneasy because it was just... I keep waiting for him and then I realize that is him but it's not him. ''It's a little bit over the top for me.''

The 64-year-old crooner admitted he didn't enjoy the performance because it interfered with his own memories of the 'Thriller' star. Asked on 'Access Hollywood' if he would rather remember Michael the way he was, Lionel replied: ''Yeah, let me have Mike the way I... you know, it was...'' While Lionel was unimpressed by the performance, Michael's brother Jackie Jackson claims his late sibling would have given it a ''thumbs up'' and says he found it ''beautiful''.

He said: ''Beautiful, unbelievable. I thought he was there for real. I got teary eyed a little bit.''