Michael Jackson Death

"People criticized MJ for the way he lived the last years of his life but Elvis's last 20 years on the planet was sadder still. He was a has-been towards..."

mjking

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Could Michael Jackson Merchandise Out-Sell Elvis?

Published August 5th, 2009 by Karen

ABOVE: Do you want to dress like Michael Jackson? MJ t-shirts, jeans and fashions are just a few of the ways companies are hoping to cash-in on the singer’s popularity after his death.

Don’t look now but Michael Jackson jeans may soon be in a store near you.

According to an Associated Press report, Michael Jackson products may become a reality if a probate judge signs off on a merchandising deal with the singer’s estate. The proposed contracts give an indication of how the King of Pop may be merchandised in the coming months and years.

Among the items bandied about are trading cards, T-shirts, calendars, lighters, stuffed animals that play Jackson’s music and digital games, as well as denim products and high-end clothing lines, according to the filings.

Despite a tainted legacy while he was alive, some believe Jackson will even top The King, Elvis Presley, in annual merchandise sales. Presley’s estate generated $55 million in revenue last year, $14 million of which came from retail sales.

"yo, bearsharktopus, i"

Kanye West

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Kanye West Fights ‘King of Pop’ Misquote

Published August 3rd, 2009 by Wendy

ABOVE: No stranger to controversy, West’s heated remarks during a Hurricane Katrina benefit made headlines, instantly.

Kanye West had to set the record straight once again after a satirical Web site posted a fake story that reported the R&B star had anointed himself the new “King of Pop,” after Michael Jackson’s death, according to a report on RollingStone.com. The fake story, which was posted on Scrape.TV, was picked up and widely circulated amongst the news media as being accurate, causing West no end of troubles.

“Not only did I not say that, I haven’t said anything,” West retorted. “It makes me feel bad that obviously I made people feel that I would be corny enough to say something so whack after the passing of an idol, a legend and more than that a human being with feelings and family.”

According to Rolling Stone, it was apparent from reading the site’s other humorous headlines that West was just being made fun of for past indiscretions involving his giant ego. This isn’t the first time he has been victimized by online shenanigans, as Twitter imposters have also caused West to blog in defense of himself.

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Michael Jackson’s Mother Awarded Custody of His Kids

Published July 31st, 2009 by Wendy

ABOVE: Michael Jackson’s song “Childhood” addresses his unhappy childhood. Jackson’s children will remain in the custody of his mother, Katherine.

Michael Jackson’s children will live with their grandmother thanks to an agreement reached with the pop icon’s ex-wife, which should spare the kids from the emotional wreckage of a public custody battle, according to an Associated Press report.

According to the AP, the agreement announced yesterday maintains Jackson’s wishes as spelled out in his 2002 will, and leaves open the possibility of a relationship with Deborah Rowe, the mother of Jackson’s two oldest children. Rowe will be permitted to see her children in visits arranged by a child psychologist.

Unlike in previous custody arrangements, Rowe will receive no money from the deal.

The agreement ends the prospect of a lengthy and ugly custody fight between Katherine Jackson and Deborah Rowe, which would have included putting Michael’s kids on the stand to choose with whom they wanted to live.

The late pop star had two children with Rowe, Prince Michael, 12, and Paris-Michael, 11. The mother of his third child has not yet been revealed.

"I'm now 19 and experiencing being a dad. I must say although it feels good it's still hard. I knew it wouldn't be easy but to be honest, the hard part..."

TeenDad

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Michael Jackson Kids May Return to Mother, Not Rowe

Published July 30th, 2009 by Karen

ABOVE: A custody battle is brewing over former child-star Michael Jackson’s children. Will the Jackson kids follow in their famous father’s musical footsteps?

News is spreading quickly this morning that Michael Jackson’s ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, has indicated that she does not plan to enter a custody battle over the children she and Jackson had together.

Rowe is the mother of Jackson’s two older children, Prince Michael Joseph Jackson and Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson. However, Rowe has previously stated that Jackson is not the natural father of the children.

CNN reports that news of Rowe’s decision was announced during a CBS news interview, by a lawyer working on behalf of the Jackson family. Jackson’s mother, Katherine, has been working to gain custody of the late singer’s three children, include the two mothered by Rowe.

Details in this case are still developing.

Pending extensive investigations, the cause of Jackson’s death has yet to be released by medical examiners. Plans for Jackson’s official funeral have yet to be finalized, as the body is still being held by examiners. In recent days, Jackson’s doctor has come under investigation for manslaughter in the case.

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Drug Czar Says Jackson’s Death a Wake up Call

Published July 9th, 2009 by Wendy

photo credit: Lintilla

The U.S. government’s drug czar says that Michael Jackson’s death should be a wake-up call to the nation about the abuse of prescription drugs, according to an Associated Press report.

Gil Kerlikowske, chief of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, told the hosts of CBS’ “The Early Show” that more people are dying in America from drug overdoses than from gunshot wounds. He further said that the key to combating prescription drug abuse begins with parents, who must warn their kids of the dangers of using these drugs improperly.

Kerlikowske would not comment specifically on the Jackson case while the investigation into the pop star’s death is still pending, but said it most likely represents a warning about drug abuse that Americans must heed.

Investigators looking into the cause of Jackson’s death have zeroed in on drugs that were given to the musician to fight his insomnia.

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Michael Jackson’s Death Certificate Defers Cause

Published July 8th, 2009 by Wendy

Michael Jackson Tribute at Selby Public Library Sarasota, Florida

photo credit: srqpix

Michael Jackson’s death certificate has been released with the cause of death unknown, pending further investigation of the singer’s brain by the Los Angeles County coroner, according to an AP report.

According to the AP, public health officials issued the death certificate on Tuesday, the same day public and private memorials were held in Los Angeles. The cause of death is listed as “deferred.”

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said Jackson’s brain, or at least part of it, was still being held by investigators and would be returned to the family for burial once neuropathology tests were finished. “As soon as we are done with the brain, we will return it,” Winter was quoted as saying. “There is a whole series of tests that will be done.”

According to the AP, such a practice is quite common and often loved ones wait to bury the deceased until after their brains have been returned. So far, there is no indication where, or when, Jackson will finally be buried.

"Ok...ummm...lets see here...umm ghosts are real but that was no ghost... OK? that was just a shaddow from the window with one of the staff walking in..."

Makaila Jackson

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Michael Jackson: Funeral, Ghost, Hoax?

Published July 7th, 2009 by Karen

ABOVE: A ghost is probably not the creepiest thing about MJ’s house.

We are sort of hoping that in the middle of today’s Michael Jackson memorial at the Staples Center, MJ will hop up like a zombie from the ‘Thriller” video and reveal that this was all a very elaborate episode of Punk’d.

That’s probably not going to happen.

However, MJ seems to be reaching out from beyond the grave-to Larry King on CNN, for some reason. A popular video clip shows what seems to be a ghostly figure wandering around MJ’s house as reporters are touring his bedroom.

Actually, we think that the idea of being in MJ’s bedroom (and seeing all of the locks on his door) is far creepier than anything the ghost has to offer.

Do you believe in ghosts?

Will you watch Michael Jackson’s memorial on TV?

Do you think there’s any chance this whole MJ death thing is a hoax and that he’s really eating peanut butter sandwiches with Elvis and Bubbles in Memphis?

So many questions…

Even if you are a huge MJ fan, you have to admit that this memorial is over-the-top. His family is reportedly going to bring his casket to the Staples Center for fans to see during the public memorial service on Tuesday July 7. This will surely be broadcast live, and in re-runs, until we all lose our minds. Why are people so eager to attend a funeral?

Does the world really need a million blurry iPhone photos of Jackson’s casket in an arena? Seems kind of tacky to us.

Live Twitter coverage of the funeral? Spin Magazine online has it covered. Ghoulish much?

"i cant belive how many poeple went to mjs memorial it was estacic i miss him so much best wishes mj stay safe. gabi smith xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx RIP."

gabi smith

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Huge Crowd Expected for Michael Jackson Memorial

Published July 7th, 2009 by Wendy

photo credit: Hamelius

Thousands of Michael Jackson fans will descend on downtown Los Angeles today to pay their last respects to the late King of Pop at a star-studded memorial service, according to a Reuters report.

According to the report, about 18,000 fans and friends will crowd into the Staples Center sports arena and a nearby, overflow theater for the two-hour ceremony memorializing pop star Jackson, who died June 25 after going into cardiac arrest in his Los Angeles mansion. Some 250,000 more fans are expected to line the streets around the sports center.

Those expected to be on hand include, pop music singers Mariah Carey, Usher and Jennifer Hudson, as well as R&B veterans Smokey Robinson, Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder. Sports stars like Kobe Bryant and other celebrities are also are expected to turn out.

“This is certainly a momentous occasion that is probably as big, if not bigger than, when Elvis (Presley) passed away,” Steve Howard, a resident of Glendale, California, told the AP. Howard was one of the lucky ones who won a ticket to the Staples center gathering in an online lottery.

Two no-shows will be Elizabeth Taylor, who said she was too overcome by grief over Jackson’s death to attend, and Debbie Rowe, the mother of Jackson’s two eldest children.

"Nick, if you are a 48-year old Arabic woman.... Tell me have you live here 48 years to know the tactics and demeanor of racists? This is the battle..."

Myra

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Poll: 64 Percent Say Too Much Jackson Coverage

Published July 5th, 2009 by Wendy

photo credit: Tony the Misfit

Nearly two-thirds of Americans surveyed believe that news organizations have given too much coverage to the death of Michael Jackson, while some still feel the media have given it just the right amount of attention, according to a poll reported on by the Associated Press.

In the Pew Research Center poll published last week, 64 percent of those surveyed said Jackson’s death has received too much coverage, 29 percent said the story received the right amount and 3 percent said the story got too little attention.

Thirty percent said they followed the story very closely, though that number spiked to 80 percent among blacks, according to the independent public opinion research group.

Pew interviewed about 1,000 adults for the poll, which has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.5 percentage points.

"It is unimaginable why a family would put their lost loved ones business so closely in the public eye. To fight one another proves that they were not..."

CJ

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Battle Begins Over Michael Jackson’s Estate: Kids, Fortune, Neverland

Published June 30th, 2009 by Wendy

photo credit: henrybloomfield

The fight over Michael Jackson’s fortune has begun.

According to an Associated Press report, Jackson’s mother took the first step Monday when she petitioned the Superior Court of California to be named the administrator of the late singer’s estate. Katherine Jackson said in the filing she was acting to ensure Michael Jackson’s three children are the beneficiaries.

The AP called this the opening salvo in the battle over Jackson’s estate, which includes a lucrative music catalog of the King of Pop’s own hits, the rights to songs by the Beatles, and the Neverland ranch that could one day be a tourist attraction.

The amount of money at stake and the array of people involved will make this struggle more complicated than those over the estates of other celebrities like Anna Nicole Smith and James Brown, according to the AP.

“There’s no doubt that there’s going to be a big battle,” the AP quoted Alexis Martin Neely, a Los Angeles-based estate attorney, as saying. “It’s going to be very messy and I don’t see anything comparing to this,” he concluded.