The issue was brought up during an interview with Washington, DC radio station DC101, and according to Ultimate Classic Rock, Slash responded, "I've been hearing a lot about this particular interview from a lot of people that he really pissed off. And I've heard that. And I don't think there's any truth to that.

"I mean, obviously, the band stayed together for years after that whole thing. And it wasn't a big deal at the time. And if it did piss anybody off, it was something that went away. So I don't think it had anything to do with the original Guns N' Roses demise [...] I don't wanna read or hear that guy's B.S., so I just avoid it. That way I stay sane."

As previously reported, Goldstein claimed in an interview that Slash performing with Jackson caused problems between the guitarist and Rose. "In 1991, we were on the road, and Slash went to my office and said 'I'll be leaving tomorrow to play with Michael Jackson on a tribute concert,'" Goldstein recalled in the interview with Rolling Stone Brazil. "I told him not to do it because Axl was molested by his father when he was two and he believed the charges against Michael Jackson."

Goldstein went further, "Everyone knew Eddie Van Halen received $1 million to play in 'Beat It.' So I asked Slash, 'how much are you receiving? Can I manage this to you?' and he said, 'I'll just receive a big screen television.'

"When Axl found out Slash was gonna play with Michael Jackson and that the payment was a big screen TV he was devastated. He thought Slash would support him and be against all abuse. From Axl's point of view, that was the only problem. He could ignore the drugs and the alcohol, but never the child abuse."