Michael's funeral. Michael Jackson funeral ceremony closed to the press near Los Angeles

Michael Jackson finally found peace. True, only on condition that fans are not allowed to visit his grave. Hundreds of people came to see the idol on his last journey to the Forest Lawn cemetery in the suburbs of Los Angeles, about the same number were photographers and reporters.

The ceremony itself was attended only by relatives and close friends. However, there were not without television cameras, everything that happened was filmed specifically for a documentary film about the life of the singer.

Reporting by Igor Riskin.

The gloomy epic, which lasted more than two months, first with finding out the reasons for the death of Michael Jackson, then with determining the date of his funeral, they were going to bury him on his birthday, August 29, ended in the picturesque Los Angeles suburb of Glendale, in the Hollywood hills. The famous memorial park - Forest Lawn Cemetery - has become a place last resort king of pop.

Celebrities have been buried in this cemetery for decades. Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Nat "King" Cole, Jackson's idol Walt Disney - the list of these names is endless.

Michael Jackson was buried on one of the terraces of the Great Mausoleum. This majestic building is decorated with sculptures and stained glass windows, including a copy of The Last Supper. As the golden coffin was lowered into the grave, the great Aretha Franklin sang a farewell song.

Jackson's father and mother were sitting next to each other - the shots that surprised and touched many. The fact that the singer's parents have an extremely difficult relationship was written in every biographical book about Michael Jackson.

It certainly indicated that, while idolizing his mother, Jackson practically did not communicate with his father. Couldn't forgive cruel attitude to himself and his brothers in childhood, which the future pop idol was, in fact, deprived of.

His close friend Elizabeth Taylor initially said that she would not be able to come to the ceremony because it would be difficult for her to attend. And yet she came. Reporters vigorously discussed all these details, remaining behind the cemetery fence.

Despite the fact that the ceremony was declared closed, the funeral of Michael Jackson was still filmed. The fact is that even before his death, the Jackson brothers signed a contract with one of the American TV channels to create a film about the legendary family.

As far as we know, Michael Jackson did not want to take part in these shootings. However, even after his death, the King could not be left alone with his family and friends.

The coffin will be sealed in a special concrete capsule to prevent looters from reaching it. This is an additional security measure.

The rest of the dead is guarded as strictly and vigilantly as many of them were guarded during their lifetime. And there are such tombs in the cemetery, to which it is impossible for anyone, except for the closest relatives, to go.

Lisa Burke, historian, journalist: "If you want to go to the terrace of the Mausoleum, you need to ring the doorbell. The guard will ask you who you are and whose grave you are going to visit. Only after that the door will be opened. There are cameras and sound equipment everywhere, so the service security will track where and why you are going."

Enhanced security measures were taken at the entrances to the cemetery, and in Glendale itself. The police warned fans of Michael Jackson in advance to restrain their emotions, suppress the desire to be closer to the idol on the day of farewell to him, and did not appear at the cemetery. All entrances to Forest Lawn were cordoned off, and it was possible to pass through this cordon only with special passes.

Javier Ruiz, Glendale police sergeant: "This is a very big event, and we began to prepare for it in two weeks. Moreover, this is a plan not only for the time of the funeral, but also for the coming days."

It is established that the death of a star, at least a manslaughter, is the result of injections of potent drugs. Personal doctor Conrad Murray - it was he who injected Jackson with huge doses of propofol and other drugs that day, is under investigation and does not leave the house, fearing the revenge of the fans.

The court decision, which was achieved by Jackson's mother, orders to pay all the expenses for the funeral not from the family's funds, but from the legacy of the singer, who left huge debts. However, after his death, sales of discs increased sharply, so that debts are no longer talked about.

Even funerals required court proceedings. And it's not the last.

After Michael Jackson's heart stopped on June 25, plans for the farewell ceremony and even the date of the funeral changed several times. According to final information, on September 3 at 19:00 local time (that is, at 3:00 a.m. on September 4, Moscow time) in the memorial park of the famous Glendale Forest Lawn cemetery in Los Angeles, a service for friends and family will begin. However, some (for example, Jackson family lawyer Brian Oxman) claims that Michael Jackson was already interred - on August 6 - in order to avoid stampede and noise - in a narrow circle of relatives of the deceased.

Last week, the coroner [as in the Anglo-Saxon countries is called the investigator investigating the circumstances of the death in cases where there are suspicions of its violent nature - approx. ed.] officially confirmed the information that Michael Jackson was killed. According to the data obtained by the examination, the death of the king of pop music came as a result of " acute poisoning"Six potent drugs at once (propofol, lorazepam, midazolam, diazepam, lidocaine and ephedrine). All this makes you take a fresh look at the life of the deceased.

Jackson was born in large family seventh child. The father was distinguished by a rather despotic character - Michael, in particular, was repeatedly beaten by him and punished in every possible way. Many childhood traumas haunted the vulnerable Jackson all his life. On stage, he made his debut back in 1964 as part of a family The Jackson 5. In 1971 he began to perform solo (continuing to participate in The Jackson 5). It was in the 70s that the famous foundations of his style were laid, which later became integral elements of the great brand called "Michael Jackson": "moonwalk" and "robot". In many ways, it was thanks to Jackson's work that the video clip began to be regarded as a full-fledged miniature movie, gravitating not so much towards advertising as towards artistic character (see clips Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean). The 80s were the time of the highest flowering of the artist's creative potential, the time when the title "King of Pop" appeared, and this title was not disputed by anyone. It was Jackson who was one of the first African Americans to break through on MTV and changed (literally) the face of show business, proving that African American origin is not an obstacle to winning fans of all skin colors.

However, Jackson himself was clearly complex relationship to their appearance and race. Already in the early 80s, the public noticed some changes in the appearance of the singer and dancer. The changes concerned the color of the skin, the shape of the nose, the lips ... Ridiculing Michael's increasingly noticeable desire for "whitening", gossips they joked that he was the only representative of the gray race.

But the real problems began with the singer in the 90s. In 1993, Jackson, who spends a lot of time at his Neverland ranch surrounded by a large number children, whose company the singer always loved, was accused of molesting minors. The suspicions were not confirmed (however, some believe that Jackson simply paid off), but the damage to his reputation was huge, and most importantly, since then the artist began to abuse drugs that relieve stress. Perhaps one of the consequences of this process was the "symbolic" marriage in 1994 to the daughter of Elvis Presley, Lisa Marie Presley. The marriage did not last long, and in 1996, Jackson, as if wanting to assure his traditional sexuality, married again, to former nurse Debbie Rowe. She gave birth to two children to Jackson and Jackson had another child with the help of a surrogate mother - which, of course, again gave food various rumors and speculation.

In 2005, allegations of child molestation were repeated again. Once again, Jackson was acquitted (the jury reached a verdict), but on his financial condition and the litigation and gossip around her was reflected in the state of his health in the hardest way. Rumors circulated that the king was on the verge of bankruptcy, about the deterioration of his appearance and well-being. There were also rumors that Jackson converted to Islam and took the name Mikael. And although they have never been confirmed by the "convert" himself, Jackson's connections with the Nation of Islam have been repeatedly reported. The problems were exacerbated when, in November 2008, the son of the King of Bahrain, with whom Jackson was visiting, unexpectedly sued the artist for non-fulfillment of contractual obligations and demanding to pay him $ 7 million.

However, Jackson dreamed of a revival and in March 2009 it was announced that he intended to give " last episode concerts in London" called This Is It Tour. The first concert was to take place on July 13, 2009, and the final on March 6, 2010. Initially, it was about The O2 arena stadium, which can accommodate up to 20 thousand people. Demand for tickets turned out to be, however, exceeded all expectations, the organizers have planned 40 (!) additional performances, so that the "return of the king" could be seen in total by more than a million viewers.

However, this grandiose series of concerts was not destined to come true. On the morning of June 25, 2009, in a Los Angeles home, pumped up with the strongest drugs (some were needed to maintain vigor for intense training, others to relieve pain, others to overcome insomnia), Michael lost consciousness and fell. Arriving a few minutes later, the doctors found Jackson, no longer breathing, with a stopped heart. Resuscitation attempts came to nothing.

The official farewell ceremony brought together many stars. Broadcast in live watched by about a billion people - more than Obama's inauguration. Many speeches were made and many tears were shed. But perhaps the most striking words about the king were spoken by the Reverend Priest El Sharpton. Addressing the Jackson children, he said, "There was nothing strange about your father. What was strange was what your father faced."

The real idol for many fans of pop music was Michael Jackson. The cause of the death of the artist became the subject of a lively discussion in the media. Official version overgrown with rumors and speculation. The circumstances under which the beloved singer died, where he was buried and what will he left, will be discussed in this article.

the day before

Michael Jackson was in high spirits before his sudden death. The cause of death for people who knew him closely seems obvious. The singer spent a lot of energy preparing for the next tour. The proposed concerts in London were supposed to mark the return of the artist to big stage. He had not performed for a long time, was in poor physical shape, but intended to successfully overcome all obstacles. He had the strength to rehearse with dance group several hours a day. Literally a day before his death, the singer looked fresh and cheerful. He amazed those around him with his efficiency.

Ken Erlich (one of the producers of "Emmy") claims that before his death he experienced his better days Michael Jackson. The cause of the singer's death puzzles him, because the artist felt great, talked a lot and joked. However, the very next day he was gone. Specialists, even after the second autopsy, could not determine the diagnosis. What was it? The result of numerous plastic surgeries? A sluggish but deadly disease? Consequence of severe overwork? An overdose of potent drugs? Jackson has never been afraid to experiment with his health. This carelessness played a cruel joke on him.

Death

Michael Jackson, whose albums sold in millions of copies, did not die immediately. First, the singer fainted on the set in Los Angeles. Then the fainting recurred. This time the artist was in the house that he was filming in the west of Los Angeles in Holmby Hills. Jackson's personal physician, Conrad Murray, told police that he found his patient in bed with a weak pulse on the femoral artery. He was between life and death. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation failed. It took half an hour to find the guard, so that he heeded the requests of the frightened Aesculapius and called emergency services from his phone. For some reason, Murray did not want to use his personal cell phone. Thus, only at 12:21 a call was made to number 911. Information about the tragedy came from an unknown man.

Three minutes later, doctors discovered the lifeless body of the artist. Attempts to bring him back to life continued for another hour. They were unsuccessful. Michael Jackson died at 2:26 p.m. at the University of California Medical Center. Date of death - June 25, 2009. Legend of world show business, king popular music, a wonderful singer, a unique dancer, an unsurpassed showman, died without having made the last tour in his life.

Expert opinion

Michael Jackson was physically exhausted. The cause of death could be the most unexpected. On examination, he was found to have many scars, including from an operation to stop skin cancer. In addition, they found several broken ribs and bruises, traces of heart injections. The singer had only pills in his stomach. When enough tall(178 cm) its weight was only 51 kilograms. It is strange that this man even found the strength to sing and dance.

Experts immediately had several assumptions. They cited physical exhaustion, overuse of painkillers, the effects of plastic surgery. The examination of the body was continued by the coroners. They found no signs of violence, but they did not reveal the cause of death either. Michael Jackson's doctor disappeared, and he certainly could tell a lot about the state of his ward before the tragedy. The toxicology tests took about six weeks. However, the experts did not come to a consensus. Three main versions have been put forward.

Version number 1: potent means

Michael Jackson, a biography whose personal life was constantly covered in the press, took shocking doses of painkillers. He was not used to drugs. A person who sought to change himself beyond recognition drowned out the pain by all possible means. With age, the artist developed problems with the spine, and he became addicted to drugs. Lawyer for the Jackson family, Brian Oxman, argues that there can be no other causes of death for the actor. He bitterly states that the people surrounding the singer did not interfere with his destructive addiction. Did Michael Jackson use drugs? Experts say no. However, his system was overloaded with potent substances, which eventually caused his heart to stop.

Version number 2: destructive plastic

Michael Jackson, whose albums broke all records of popularity, more than once went under the knife in order to improve his own appearance. From some sources it is known that during the next rhinoplasty, the artist became infected with one of the varieties of staphylococcus aureus. After that, the virus began to gradually destroy his body. In addition, the artist's repeatedly deformed nose became much less functional - the nasal passages narrowed, which caused oxygen deficiency. This could lead to chronic hypoxia, which is able to provoke cardiac arrest. Doctors have come up with a special term for this phenomenon - apnea. Death comes in a dream when a person does not control breathing. By themselves plastic surgery are not dangerous, but their consequences can greatly undermine the health of the patient. Surgical intervention under anesthesia, taking drugs during the rehabilitation period bring negative results. Michael Jackson suffered because of his fearlessness - he believed that he could change himself beyond recognition without any consequences for health and well-being.

Version number 3: inflated expectations

Michael Jackson, last years whose lives were not easy, took on very serious obligations. For example, he was supposed to perform on a huge stage in London in July 2009. The artist experienced monstrous overload and colossal pressure. The impossible was expected from him - a complete recovery without interruption from exhausting rehearsals. In preparation for the anniversary celebration, the singer worked almost without rest. The insane work schedule killed him.

Version number 4: beautiful care

In fact, the whole world was waiting for a miracle. It was expected that a weak and sick person would suddenly perk up, make a frantic leap forward and give the audience another incredible show - with trapeze flights, moonwalk and crazy energy. At first it was stated that the artist would give 10 concerts, then 50 at all, but it is clear that he would not have survived even one. But how grandiose would be the death of an artist on stage in front of an audience of millions! Before performing at the London arena, the singer did not live only 18 days. The tour was called "farewell" long before the start. Michael Jackson was clearly dying. Among his diseases were called emphysema, gastric bleeding, vitiligo, skin cancer ... The death of an extravagant artist could be a continuation of a grandiose life-long show. This would be the King's farewell to the spectator in love with him. It's a pity that it didn't happen.

The funeral

The world has parted ways legendary singer July 7, 2009 The public farewell took place at the Staples Center stadium. 17,500 tickets were raffled off online. The excitement was such that the price of them reached $ 10,000. Thousands of fans gathered to honor the memory of the remarkable artist, as well as the most famous people of our time - actors, singers, showmen. The event was more like another show with world celebrities than a funeral ceremony. The singer's sister, Janet, tried to bring a note of sincerity into the pathos atmosphere. She spoke about how terrible the loss of her brother was for her. The surprise for the public was that Michael Jackson's daughter, Perris, took the stage. An eleven-year-old girl told the audience that she misses her father very much. The body of the world celebrity was buried in a bronze coffin with gold plating. It rests in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Will

The posthumous desire of the artist was unequivocal. Back in 2002, he made a will in which he indicated that he was dividing his fortune between his mother, three children (including Michael Jackson's daughter) and charitable structures. Father - Joseph Jackson - is not mentioned in the will. The singer's assets at the time of his death amounted to 1 billion 360 million dollars. The most valuable investment is considered to be a share in the music catalog, estimated at $331 million. It contains compositions of the best artists of the 20th century. In addition, Jackson took care of the future of his children. He secretly recorded two hundred songs and transferred ownership of them to a special fund. Lenders can't get to him. And the artist has done a lot of debts. According to the most conservative estimates, their amount reaches 331 million dollars.

It is difficult to overestimate the legacy that Michael Jackson left behind. The date of the death of the world legend will forever remain in the memory of fans.

12.10.2011 11:09

In the United States, the trial continues in the case of the death of Michael Jackson, whose personal doctor is accused of manslaughter. Prosecutors, who only two weeks ago showed the public photos of the dead king of pop, went even further at the last meeting, and put on display a picture from the autopsy. The photo, which is published, in particular, by The Smoking Gun website, shows the naked body of the singer lying on a white sheet. Jackson's genitals are covered by a black rectangle in the photo.

The photograph was shown as evidence during the testimony of prosecution witness Christopher Rogers, the pathologist who performed the autopsy. The doctor explained to the jury that Jackson was in good physical shape for his 50 years, but his body showed signs of numerous injections, says The Daily Mail. His heart appeared healthy to the pathologist.

Christopher Rogers: “I don't know exactly what happened that evening. I can only guess. It is most likely that Dr. Murray overdosed his patient. It is less likely that Michael Jackson, under the influence of sedatives, woke up when the doctor went to the bathroom and injected himself with a lethal dose. And he only had 2 minutes to do it. The dose given could not have worked so quickly.”

Dr. Rogers also told the court and jury that he found no evidence of Jackson drinking or injecting the anesthetic Propofol into his vein - no evidence of suicide was found!

A "liquid of uncertain origin" was found in the stomach of the deceased, but it did not contain any active medical or chemical preparations. Why the coroners failed to establish the origin of the liquid, Rogers did not explain.

Thus, the singer's doctor Conrad Murray, who is accused of manslaughter of the musician, remains under suspicion.

The prosecution witness also noted that Murray did not have the necessary medical equipment to inject Jackson with a safe amount of the drug. "The doctor could easily misjudge and give too much propofol," Rogers explained.

The court also heard an audio recording of Murray's interrogation by detectives, in which the doctor admitted for the first time that he had given Michael Jackson propofol almost every day for two months. According to the doctor, the singer begged for sleeping pills because he suffered from insomnia, and he needed rest to rehearse and prepare for his upcoming return to the stage. At the same time, on the recording, Murray says that on the night of Jackson's death he went to the toilet for two minutes, and upon returning he found that his patient was no longer breathing.

If the court finds Murray guilty, he can be sentenced to four years in prison and lose his license to medical practice. Conrad Murray himself claims that he is innocent of manslaughter, although he admits that he gave Jackson propofol. "I loved Jackson. He was my friend. I wanted to help him," Murray explained earlier.

Next, I give all kinds of photo-tricks of the fans in search of the same navel, not finding which, many of them came to the conclusion that in the photographs presented in court it was not the body of Michael Jackson at all, but a masterfully made dummy, perhaps the very one that they were going to use in documentary, which was supposed to accurately reconstruct the autopsy of the body of the king of pop, but it seems that it did not appear on the screens ().

I searched on the Internet and found a photo of the same dummy that was mentioned above - how similar it is to what is shown in the photographs presented in the Court - judge for yourself:

It is noteworthy that on the right leg of the dummy body, an imitation of the scar allegedly left on the leg of Michael Jackson after a spider bite that happened to him a few years before his death is accurately reproduced. This story even then received publicity, and the photo of the bite - along with Michael Jackson's legs, of course - got on the Internet and has remained so to this day:

Throwing all the jokes aside, I’ll add again from myself: I don’t know where Michael Jackson’s navel disappeared (maybe it, along with the relief lines of the abdomen, was simply photoshopped along with the genitals for some purpose), and I also don’t know photos of the real body the King of Pop were presented in the Court or a dummy, but I really don’t want to believe that this is the real body of the real King of Pop, perhaps because I still hope and believe that he is still alive.

And finally, I have already mentioned above that as soon as the fans contrive, no matter what methods they resort to, just to see God in their idol. This time they found his face in the negative of a photograph of his body.

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Jackson himself wanted his funeral to be remembered as an enchanting spectacle. Tens of thousands of fans came to the Staples Center to see off their idol on his last journey. Hundreds of thousands more people around the world watched what was happening on large screens hung on the main streets. A funeral ceremony was held, at which stars and family members of the artist performed.

P.S

Mystery around the funeral of the king of pop

Many were sure that after the farewell ceremony at the Staples Center, Jackson's family would bury Jackson at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Because of the police cordons, people could not trace where the coffin was taken. But Jackson was not buried in Forest Lawn, local paparazzi are sure. There are several versions here:

1 Michael was buried in secret place to prevent fans from making a year-round pilgrimage to the grave.

2 The body was interred before the ceremony, but the tomb was empty.

3 Relatives decided to secretly bury Jackson's body at his Neverland ranch: after all, California authorities prohibit burials outside cemeteries without special permission.

Guinness book

Michael records

Michael Jackson has been listed in the Guinness Book of Records several times. For example, as the most generous sponsor in the world of pop music. He also got the title of "The most successful performer of all time" and "The youngest vocalist who led the American national music chart" (after all, Jackson appeared on the American charts at 11 years old). He is also the "First musician in the world to sell 100 million copies of his albums outside the US" and the owner of the "Most Successful Video of All Time" for the "Thriller" video. Jackson went on to become the "First Musician in the World to Earn Over $100 Million in a Year" and "The Highest Paid Performing Person of All Time".

VIEW FROM THE 6TH FLOOR

AGAINST

Dancing on the bones

Honestly, the death of my age-mate Michael Jackson did not really hurt me - after all, I have different tastes and I listen to different music. Well, the well-known escapades of the pop idol with a change in appearance (plastic surgery, repeated skin lightening, etc.), as well as noisy scandals with a touch of pedophilia that flew from the States, caused nothing but bewilderment.

But I was strongly hooked by the protracted procedure of parting with Jackson. Before our eyes, the sacrament of death and the sad funeral ritual turned into a noisy bazaar show, into a fairground booth, simply into kitsch.

If, as stated, Jackson recently converted to Islam, then why was he not buried according to the Muslim rite, that is, on the day of his death before sunset? If the farewell organizers followed Christian canons, then even then the funeral should have taken place no later than on the third day after death. The answer - they say, it took time to conduct medical research into the causes of cardiac arrest - does not work: in the end, a simple autopsy and histological samples are enough. No, it's just that the two weeks that dragged on with the ceremony were needed precisely to whip up hysteria among the fans, to increase sales of CDs and posters, and, in fact, to organize the show.

And it happened! With all the cheap (not in terms of money) attributes - the sale of tickets for the ceremony (!), the lottery (!!!), finally, with a golden coffin ...

The very almost three-hour farewell ceremony with the pop idol, which was broadcast live by the MTV channel, generally became an apotheosis - not a memorial service, but ritual songs and dances of pop stars on the bones of the king who left them. and even touching farewell speech youngest daughter Jackson, against this background, seemed like a kind of successful directorial find ...

Basically everything is for sale. And the death of an idol - too ...

Sergey PONOMAREV

Jackson said goodbye properly

A person brought up in European culture, farewell to Jackson - yes, slightly shocking. Why are people on stage singing, dancing, and even - horror! - smile? After all, at the funeral it is supposed to sob, mourn and be killed. We have yes. They dont have. Not always.

Michael Jackson even whitened his skin, but remained black cultural traditions, which cannot be erased by anything. And American Negroes have been singing, playing jazz and dancing at funerals for two hundred years. (They also make fun in church - remember the movie "Coming to America".)

And this is not cynicism, not indifference and not fun in the genre of "they buried the mother-in-law, tore two button accordions." It's just a different way of experiencing grief, rooted as far back as African ritual traditions. An ideology that is completely unusual for us: “The deceased is in heaven, and we must pacify him”, “Amuse the spirit of the deceased”, “Rejoice in death and mourn the birth”.

It is no coincidence that the coffin with the body of Jackson was brought into the hall to the singing of the gospel choir (We are going to see the King - “We are going to see the King”). The main aim of Negro church hymns in the gospel genre is not to drag them into despondency, but, on the contrary, to pull them out of it. Set to hope.

You will say: but the Jackson family was crying on stage. Yes. Well, you can’t drown out such grief with music alone. But they did everything right. Michael's spirit is at peace. For sure.

Elena DUDA

We offer you a transcript of what happened at the Staples Center, as well as a story about what happened next. Read also the columns of our columnists Denis Korsakov (Michael Jackson has finally become a legend) and Anna Balueva (Michael, why did you do this?)

Dear readers! The transcript should be read from bottom to top.

04:04 Many were surprised to learn that a close friend of the singer, Diana Ross didn't come to say goodbye. Although she was expected - as well as the one who refused to visit the Staples Center Liz Taylor. Both women meant a lot to Michael - he once wanted to marry Liz, and he bequeathed his children to Diana in general - in case his mother, Katherine, could not look after them. Diana delivered an appeal that was read from the stage.

I feel like I should take a break and be quiet - that's the right thing for me. And although I'm not here to say goodbye, my heart is there. Michael was a special, beloved, cherished part of my world for me. The part that I can't explain. Michael wanted me to be there, next to his children. I'll be there - as soon as they call me when they need me. Thanks to Michael's parents for giving me and the world their son. Sending my love and condolences to the entire Jackson family.

03:36 Many stars attended the farewell, but did not take the stage. An actress was seen in the hall Kim Kardashian, Larry King, P Diddy, Wesley Snipes and even Rihanna's boyfriend, Chris Brown. Some of the stars present, as well as those who watched the broadcast on TV, unsubscribed in their microblogs on Twitter.

Kim Kardashian: Michael's children are so brave - standing on a huge stage, not every adult can say some words ... I said a farewell word at my father's funeral - it was the most difficult test in my life.

P Diddy: I'm at Michael's funeral. God rest his soul. Terribly sad.

Serena Williams: Today we thank Michael for his love, for the music, for being a genius. I'm still in shock. Please listen to your favorite Jackson songs. I think "Thriller" is a great composition. Remember the time is a classic piece. Life is short, but music will never die. The public was sometimes harsh with Michael, but I would ask you to try to understand him and stop judging.

Paris Hilton: I watched the funeral on TV, wiping away tears. It was so touching. Michael, everyone loves you!

Paula Abdul: I remember MD, and the fact that he was a real legend during his lifetime. He will live forever in memory ... I need a little time to get over his death.

Larry King: Surprised that MD's body was there, but it was really touching. Al Sharpton delivered a life-affirming speech, in a terribly dramatic tone and content. It was very exciting to watch Usher and Brooke Shields perform on stage. I hope the noise around this subsides soon. Give Michael some rest from this.

03:20 The Michael Jackson family left Los Angeles for Beverly Hills. The family headed to the Wilshire Hotel to pay tribute to Michael in a quiet, private setting.

01:10 It became known how the king of pop was seen off in other countries. AT australia The main event took place in Melbourne, at 3:00 am local time. Large screens broadcast what was happening at the Staples Center. AT Japan about a hundred fans gathered outside the Tower Records store to watch the action in Los Angeles on the big screen. In Peru, fans simply gathered on the street and shouted the name of the singer.

AT Hong Kong fans laid flowers at the wax statue of the singer at the local Madame Tussauds museum. Shopping centers at one in the afternoon, the mourning ceremony was broadcast on televisions in the halls. On the Philippines the organizers of the longest TV show Eat Bulaga held dance competition in honor of Jack.

AT Sweden fans held commemorative events by candlelight. AT Norway, or rather in Oslo, fans of the artist were offered a special "commemorative" menu in sports bars. In Belgium, a radio station organized a competition - they sent a video with their "moonwalk" to the site, dedicating their dance to Michael.

01:00 The authorities of Los Angeles are asking the singer's fans to chip in to offset the city's expenses for the event. The overtime work of the cops, the janitors, and the cost of decorating the Staples Center must be paid for somehow. You need "only" 4,000,000 dollars. By the way, the fears about the stampede and murder did not materialize. Either due to well-placed cordons, or due to the fact that the fans were warned - "no ticket - do not come", there were much fewer people than planned.

appeared on the web copy of artist's death certificate. By the way, it is still not clear where Michael will be buried. Many doubt that this will happen in Fores Lawn, as previously announced. Let's see...

00:30 Fans around the world pay tribute to the singer. Those who watched the broadcast on large screens on the main streets sing Jackson's songs, cry, hug. Surprisingly, many brought tape cassettes with them - as proof that they grew up on these recordings.

There is no one at the American embassy in Moscow. Three fans are freezing in drizzling rain 300 meters before reaching the embassy. Russian fans built a real memorial - with photographs of the artist, candles, flowers. Near the building, militiamen walk like a wolf, peering intently at the passing cars. Apparently, such a dislike for those wishing to honor the memory of an idol is connected with the visit to Russia of US President Barack Obama and his wife with their children.

MOSCOW FANS RELEASE THOUSANDS OF WHITE BALLOONS INTO THE SKY

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In Moscow, fans of Jackson released white balloons in his honor. Jackson himself wanted his funeral to be remembered as an enchanting spectacle. Tens of thousands of fans came to the Staples Center to see their idol on his last journey. Mila Strizh

23:50 Family friend, Pastor Smith:

There will never be another Michael Jackson. He was often parodied, but no one was able to create anything like it. We should look in the mirror and think about our uniqueness and try to change something, starting with today. His music unites and brings us closer. Michael's family asked me to end this ceremony with a little prayer. I want you to celebrate Michael's life once again by holding your neighbor's hand. Thank you for the music, for this man who showed us how to live. Thank you for helping to send a message of love to the whole world. Let's stop judging people by their accent, by the color of their skin. Let's try to treat each other with the same love as Michael did. We pray that this moment will not be forgotten. This is not a show, but a reminder that we can change. Thank you, we are praying.

23:44 The singer's daughter 11 year old Paris:

From birth, I wanted to say - daddy was the most the best father which you can only imagine. I just want to say - I love you, very much ...

The singer's sisters, La Toya and Janet, pick up the sobbing girl and take her off the stage.

The singer's brothers carry away the coffin with the body.

MICHAEL JACKSON'S DAUGHTER CRYS DURING HIS SPEECH

23:40 Members of Michael Jackson's family are on stage. Jesse Jackson thanks everyone who came to see Michael on his last journey. Another brother Marlon can't find the words. Breaking into sobs, he says:

Michael, a part of you will live forever, in me. In all of us. I appreciate all the times we spent together. When we came home, our grandmother fed us and we watched TV shows. Then we went to the studio. I also remember going to the record store. And some old man bought all the records with such a strange hairstyle, and I told him - Michael, what are you doing here? He was so surprised that I recognized him. I told him - your pair of shoes betrayed you. He always wore the same shoes wherever he went. We won't be able to understand what he went through, how much pain he felt. (applause). Michael was the voice that will resound in heaven. And he's waiting for us there. I remember when we said goodbye, and I said that I love you, he answered - and I love you more. Michael, you have finished your work on earth, the Lord has called you. Thank you for all the smiles, for all that you have done for everyone. I only have one request - I want you to hug my brother Randy (Marlon can no longer speak, the whole family hugs and comforts him)

23:30 Choreographer Michael, Danny Ortega:

We've been here recently... I was approached by the Jackson family to help organize this event. When we became a team, we realized that we should conduct it properly. We worked with him long years. We've seen what's to come triumphant return Michael. Here in this room everyone was doing ... The fans always talked about this moment, and for him it was the most favorite part of the show. He will always live in our hearts.

We are playing the song the world all participants in the ceremony. Even the family of the artist rises to the stage. Everyone sings in unison - We are the world, we are the children...

23:17 Smokey Robinson:

I wrote this song, and it even seems to me that I sang it ... Two years later, a 10-year-old boy appears, and I go to his house. And there are 5 young guys - they dance, sing ... A few days later they recorded my song. I heard her. And I thought - yes, this guy cannot be 10 years old ... Someone had someone, a song about experiences, someone wants to return someone .. (audience laughs). I approached the boy, I wanted to see the metric. I couldn't understand how such a little boy had so much soul. And I could not imagine that I would stand on this stage ... You don’t think that the day will come when there will be no friend. But he will be with us forever. He has affected our lives, all of us. One of the most important moments of my life is that I knew this family, that I lived at a time when I can see this person. I believe in God so much that this is not the end. Life goes on even when everything is done. So, my brother is now in a place where he will live forever. I love you my brother.

Performs the winner of the British "Star Factory", 12-year-old Shahin Jafargoli.

23:08 Rises onto the stage Asher with the song Gone to soon. He is wearing a black coat with a yellow rose pinned to it. Usher comes down from the stage and walks in the coffin. He stops, leans on him... Indeed, the composition "Gone Too Early" fits this event like no other. Can't hold back the sobs, cutting off the song. The whole family of Michael rises to meet him, hugs. Asher kneels in front of Jackson's mom, kisses her hands. The performance of eight-year-old Michael, still in the Jacksons 5, is broadcast on the screens.

22:53 Martin Luther King III, son of a great politician:

My father said - in life you need to decide, find your calling. After that, go ahead. Father always challenged us to be the very best. If you clean the streets, then the way Beethoven wrote his music or Shakespeare his verses. You need to clean the streets so that everyone says that you are the greatest. On June 25th, the Earth stopped and we realized that a great artist who did a good job had died.

Colleagues from MTV report that US President Barack Obama, who is currently in Russia, is also watching the broadcast from the funeral ceremony.

22:34 Rises onto the stage John Mayer, performs a song dedicated to Michael on the guitar. human nature. Behind him rises ex girlfriend Michaela, star of the Blue Lagoon Brooke Shields.

I reminisced about the times we used to hang out together. We were photographed by the press, and then under the photo they wrote something all the time - "weird couple" or something like that. But for us it was the most natural and innocent. I was 13 when we met, and from that moment on our friendship grew. He knew he could rely on me, and I knew that we would definitely have fun. And maybe because we both understood - how it should be - under cameras since childhood, I teased him and said - you know, I started when I was 11 months old, and how old were you, 5 years old? It so happened that we matured early, but together we were like little children. We never performed together, never danced on the same stage, although he once tried to teach me the "moonwalk", but after several attempts he washed his hands. But what we did often - we laughed. And they competed - who would make someone laugh first ...

He enjoyed listening to the stories in my life, he had a great sense of humor. When he began to wear a glove, I asked him: - "Friend, what are you doing? I would like you to hold my hand with your bare hand!" He liked to be teased, teased. To the outside world, he was a genius. And for those who knew him personally, he is a man who never got tired of loving life. It was often said about him that he was a king, and the Michael that I knew - rather, he was the Little Prince. He saw everything with his heart. His family - Catherine, Joe, as well as his children - I pray for you ... Michael's favorite song was Charlie Chaplin's - Smile. There were such words - smile, even if your heart hurts. Look up - maybe he is somewhere there, sitting on a moon. And let's smile at him. (cries, leaves the stage, hugs Michael's mother. Neither sisters nor father approached the actress, they say they can't stand her)

Michael's brother speaking Jermain, with the very song Smile that Michael loved so much.

22:30 Kobe Bruant, "LA Lakers":

No one has ever given so much on stage as Michael. He, like us, beat many records by recording gold records. He gave so much to everyone. And will be with us forever.

Magic Johnson: We met a hundred years ago. During the speech, I saw a genius. He held the whole hall in his hands, he is the greatest artist. Once he called me, saying - I want to talk to you so that you can take part in the filming of the video Remember the time. I had to make sure it was him. But I was afraid of him, he was my idol. I went to "test the ground". His cook came and asked what I would eat. I asked for chicken. In the meantime, we started talking about this and that. And then the cook brought me a well-prepared chicken, and for him - a bucket of wings "KFS" (popular fast food - ed.) I thought how is that? That was all he was! We had a great time - sitting on the floor, eating chicken from this bucket ... Today we celebrate his life. I want to thank him for opening so many doors for African Americans... Children were everything to him. How lucky Michael is that his mom will be watching over them now. Well, of course they will have a lot of relatives - they fall into good hands. We pray for you...

The Jackson brothers go to hug Johnson and Brian. Singer Jennifer Hudson enters the stage, performing the song I ll be there. Preacher Al Sharpton comes out and escalates the situation in a special "persuasive" voice.

22:20 Singer Stevie Wonder enters the stage and sits down at the piano:

Yes, I did not expect this... Apparently, the Lord needs Michael more than we do. Michael, I love you very much, I have told you this more than once.

Begins to play Never Dreamed You d leave in summer, written in 1971.

STEVIE Wander says goodbye to michael jackson

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Stevie Wonder at farewell to Michael Jackson.

22:00 Motown label founder Berry Gordy, who took a chance and released the "Jacksons" record, which soared to first place in the charts:

Michael was 10 years old when his brothers came to our Motown studio. His performance was not like that of a little boy. He sang with such feeling that we knew right away that he was special. They sang the song "Who s lovin you" by Smokey Robinson with such a feeling that he experienced it (Smokey is shown sitting in the audience). ... When I saw his "moonwalk", I realized: this is magic. He went into orbit and did not return. It all ended very early.

When Michael made strange decisions, those were sad times. But he lived very bright life. At the age of 10, he had a passion - to become the best artist in the world. He became the king of pop music. Michael loved all the moments of his life - to create new things, everyone and everything, especially his fans. Backstage, he was very timid, but when he went on stage, he turned into a different person. Worked until the very end. The title "King of Pop" is not too cool for him. He is the greatest artist of all times and peoples.

Hall applauds standing. The singer's brothers are sitting in the front row - in identical suits, black glasses. Everyone on right hand- a white glove... The most important moments in Michael's stage life are shown on the screen - frames from clips from the awards ceremony. Meanwhile, people have gathered in a huge crowd around the Staples Center, but the police are carefully monitoring the order.

21:45 Michael's sister Queen Latifah:

I have loved him all my life. I remember my brother and I bought a record of "Dancing Machine" and tried with my brother to imitate his movements ... He was the greatest star on this planet (audience erupts in applause). In a moment we learned that Michael was no more. Nothing can convey our emotions, we have lost something huge. We remember that he was a great gift for us. It came as a gift from our creator. And despite all the difficulties of life, he knew what family love was and he existed. Whether we knew who he was or not, he pleased our eyes, adjusted his hat, played with an eyebrow and struck a pose. And we rejoiced, we laughed. And in Tokyo, and under the Eiffel Tower, in London and Alabama - we miss Michael Jackson.

Rises onto the stage Lionell Richie with yellow and red roses pinned to the tailcoat, performs Jesus Is Love.

21:40 First spoke close friend Jackson family, pastor Lucius Smith:

He was our brother, friend. He will always be part of humanity. We are here, where until recently Jackson rehearsed his last show. We remember these times, we are grateful to him for the love that he gave us. It is very difficult for us today, but the truth is that he has not left. As long as we remember him, he will always be with us. His heart was very kind. He wanted to give love to the planet, to share his soul, and maybe he wanted to be loved in return. Michael wanted to heal our world. And the Jackson family, and all those who mourn for Michael - and let this moment be a moment of love and music. God bless you.

Stepping out in a lovely black dress Mariah Carey and sings Michael's "I ll be there" with Trey Lawrence singing along. In the background is a black and white childhood photograph of Michael with an "African" hairstyle.

21:30 The coffin with the body of the singer was brought onto the stage, to the singing of the gospel choir. A special white platform was prepared for him, where wreaths from the mourners were already standing. Staples Center is packed to capacity and resembles a huge black cauldron illuminated by millions of lights. People take pictures of the scene, each other - for eternal memory. The gigantic hall is surprisingly quiet. In the center of the stadium there is a huge photo of a smiling singer and an inscription in English: "Michael Jackson. The King of Pop. We remember, we love. 1958-2009." Police have already counted about 250,000 people outside the Staples Center.

FAREWELL TO MICHAEL JACKSON. START

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Farewell ceremony with Michael Jackson: at the beginning of the show, the hall froze. Jackson himself wanted his funeral to be remembered as an enchanting spectacle. Tens of thousands of fans came to the Staples Center to see their idol on his last journey. Zhanna DZUGOVA

21:30 According to preliminary estimates, there are about 50,000 people around the Center. The whole city is blocked by cars that tend to drive closer. In the meantime, news appears on Western sites, one way or another connected with Michael Jackson. For example, it is reported that The singer's 11-year-old daughter, Paris, believes that "dad flew away with the angels," which she told a family friend, Mark Lester.

21:02 The coffin with the body was brought to the Staples Center. Before letting the car with the coffin through the police cordon, it was searched. The LA authorities are concerned about security, so they are taking unprecedented measures to prevent any terrorist attacks from happening. So far, it seems that there are almost as many police officers as there are visitors. The screens hung along the perimeter of the Center broadcast photos of Jackson in all periods of his life - from childhood to the rehearsals of the show This is it, which, unfortunately, never took place.

20:40 Western sites report that the body of Michael Jackson is definitely in a coffin and is now approaching the building where the farewell will take place. Before that, there were rumors that the singer was secretly buried two days ago. But the "source" said that this is a lie. The ex-girlfriend of the singer, actress has already arrived at the Staples Center Brooke Shields, and famous basketball player Magic Johnson. One fan who couldn't bear the stress is already being carried away by the police. The cortege enters the territory of the Center.

20:33 A gilded coffin strewn with burgundy roses is loaded into a truck. Around the coffin are relatives and close friends. A fairly large crowd of people has gathered at the Center where the body will now be taken. People stand with posters, get acquainted, discuss the sad news. It is safe to say that people from all over the world came to see off the artist - Jackson's popularity was so great. Not surprisingly, some admirers of talent came dressed as their idol. Some copied Michael "to zero" - red shirts, masks on their faces, strands of black hair poking out from under the hat. Many of them are dancing, trying to portray the famous "moonwalk" of Michael.

20:00 Hello, dear readers! Today we, together with the whole world, see off the king of pop music on his last journey. Michael Jackson was one of the most popular artists, whose hits have exploded on the charts for many years. His influence on the contemporary stage is invaluable. All night long we will monitor what is happening at the Staples Center, where the "funeral show" will take place, and promptly tell you about it. The broadcast is hosted by Elena Lapteva.