The family of Michael Jackson issued a statement today:
In one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter. Our beloved son, brother and father of three children has gone so unexpectedly, in such a tragic way and much too soon. It leaves us, his family, speechless and devastated to a point, where communication with the outside world seems almost impossible at times.
We miss Michael endlessly, our pain cannot be described in words. But Michael would not want us to give up now. So we want to thank all of his faithful supporters and loyal fans worldwide, you – who Michael loved so much. Please do not despair, because Michael will continue to live on in each and every one of you. Continue to spread his message, because that is what he would want you to do. Carry on, so his legacy will live forever.
In addition, Joseph Jackson wishes to personally convey: “My grandchildren are deeply moved by all the love and support you have shown for them and their father, Michael Jackson.”
Joseph Jackson & Family
And in other MJ news:
Jackson’s addiction may have started when his hair caught on fire during a Pepsi commercial shoot in 1984. He was hospitalized for days with a burned scalp.
The Jackson family are looking for answers. Not satisfied with the initial autopsy conducted by the LA coroners office, they want a private autopsy. Jackson’s body was released to them on Friday. Deepak Chopra said earlier Saturday that Jackson asked him for painkillers in 2005 when Jackson was staying with him following his sex abuse trial..
More MJ News After the JUMP…
Jackson’s “personal physician” who was with Jackson when he died, cardiologist Conrad Robert Murray, has hired a lawyer, who says Murray is cooperating with authorities and is “not a target”. Murray had been living with Jackson the two weeks prior to his death.
Janet and LaToya Jackson arrived at Jackson’s home with moving trucks today. A court battle for child custody looms. Experts say the party with the strongest legal claim for the two oldest children is their mother, Debbie Rowe. Right now, the children are in the care of the Jackson extended family.
AEG Live will offer refunds to ticket holders of Jackson’s London shows. Michael Jackson is set to make Billboard chart history again. The Apollo theater in NY, where the Jacksons once performed shows, plans a star studded tribute. Time magazine rushes out a Jackson issue. The Jackson family plans MJ’s memorial.
Tonight’s BET (Black Entertainment Television) Awards show is reportedly being overhauled to include tributes to Michael Jackson.
I see nothing wrong with the moving trucks. In fact, one reporter said there were dolls and toys being moved. After all, how much time was there to get the children’s belongings and Michael’s things? Plus, if Katherine doesn’t get that money out of there, the owners will find it for themselves.
We may be surprised at what is in Michael’s will and guardianship requests. Usually there are at least two parties listed. The first may not be around, in the hospital, died, etc. Then the children would go to the second listed. However, as mentioned children are not property and the judge will do what is best for the children and keep all three together. This is so important for the little one who needs to be with his brother and sister.
My only hope is that the children will not be told things that are not true. They will need guidance. I don’t go along with, “The children are upset, but they’re fine.”
Pictures are now surfacing of Michael’s kids. They are beautiful children. I find it so sad that Michael spent so much effort in trying to protect them from the media with masks etc., and now as soon as he is gone, pictures are showing up. Very sad.
Just as an aside, as I was looking at the pictures, I noticed how fair skinned the children appear to be. Michael stated on an interview once that Blanket’s Mom was an anonymous donor, but he said she was African American. Blanket does not look African American at all. Even the interviewer pointed that out to Michael. I just can’t imagine all the crap that is going to start surfacing for months to come from all the people that knew Michael and were sworn to secrecy. A lot of it will be from scorned people and Michael will never be able to defend himself and we will probably never know the entire truth about any of it. Crappy and opportunistic people will be coming out of the woodwork. I think all the stuff about to come out will be sadder than the day he actually died. I hope and pray that it won’t be. I feel so sad for his kids right now, having to deal with the death of their father and then all the crap that is about to come out from all of his “so called friends”.
The story by the nanny mentioned earlier is here if anyone is interested –
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6591123.ece
No one seems to be come out of this well, from his mother who appeared to be more interested in Michael’s money than the welfare of his children, to Jermaine Jackson who drew Michael to his rather dubious Muslim world (the Nation of Islam appeared to have ripped him off quite seriously), to the people who leeched off him (apparently he only got 200K out of a 1 million dollars fee). The nanny, having been with Michael for such a long time, would know a lot of secrets (and the article suggests she can name names), and is probably the only who doesn’t a great vested interest in keeping those secrets quiet. I’m sure there is also self-interest on her part, perhaps she is also settling some score, but it would really be interesting if she decides to spill all, if the family doesn’t decide to buy her silence that is.
GrammieKari: I didn’t mean to sound cold-hearted in my post. I am a grandma too and there is no money, no person in the world with enough power to take away a child of mine. Just a personal thing, I guess.
I was wondering how often she saw the children, then I read that she hadn’t seen them for a very long time. Therefore, even tho she is the biological mother (who gave up her rights), how could a court return the children to her after all this time? It would be like giving them to a complete stranger!
mj
Jun 28th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Yes MJ, I know you are absolutely correct in this. It’s just so hard when you deal with someone’s sweet, fatherly side i.e., Joe, and still have to know that it is probably just a facade and there is a real monster inside, same with O.J. I’m sure. My soft-side prefers to remember the sweet Joe, it’s just me.
HappyDaisy: This is the Joe Jackson that I had contact with. That pic brought tears to my eyes. Perhaps he changed in his latter years, perhaps I am blind, who knows? But I just love that pic. I retired so I never saw Joe again after he promised me an autographed pic and cd from Michael. I would have loved them.
Many of you will think I’m crazy but I’ll never be convinced that Michael was a pedophile. I watched a lot of Geraldo Thursday night and he spent a lot of time with Michael during those times. He is convinced to this day that MJ was railroaded. I’ve always thought that myself. My personal belief is that the whole pedophile thing started small with a person who thought it would be a great way to extort money from him and others just jumped on the bandwagon.
Now my heart breaks for his children because by all accounts he was an amazing father. I do hope that the biological mother has no claim since she was willing to walk away. No amount of money or anything else could ever compel me to walk away and sign away the rights to my children and the fact that she did gives me bad vibes about the kind of parent she would be.
The whole thing is terribly sad. I’ve been in a funk ever since the news came out. I loved Michael’s music and maintain that he was one of the greatest talents we’ll ever see. RIP.
anna in vegas I retired so I never saw Joe again after he promised me an autographed pic and cd from Michael. I would have loved them.
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Did he not give you the cd and picture he promised you? Or did he just mail it?