King Of Pop Dies At 50
Pop giant Michael Jackson, who took to the stage as a child star and set the world dancing to the thumping rhythms of his music in the 1970s, died on Thursday, online website reported. He was 50.The website reported that Jackson suffered a heart attack just after 12:00 pm (1900 GMT) local time and paramedics were unable to revive him.
Jackson's manager Tohme E. Tohme was not immediately available for comment when contacted by media. Officials at UCLA Medical Center where Jackson was treated also could not be reached for comment.
Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Devin Gales would not confirm Jackson's identity but said paramedics went to an address corresponding to the star's home at 12:21 pm (1921 GMT) and the person was taken to UCLA Medical Center.
An unidentified family member earlier told TMZ -- the first outlet to report that Jackson had suffered a cardiac arrest -- that the star was in "really bad shape."
Michael's father Joe Jackson told E! Online he was aware of the emergency but did not know further details.
"I am in Las Vegas, but yes, people in Los Angeles called me and are with Michael and tell me he was taken to the hospital," he said. "I am not sure what's wrong. I am waiting to hear back from them."
The reports came as Jackson prepared to make a keenly anticipated concert comeback in London, his first series of shows in more than a decade and the first since his 2005 acquittal on child molestation charges.
However those concerts -- billed as the "final curtain" -- had been thrown into doubt after Jackson pushed back the opening dates last month.
Organizers of the concerts had stressed the delay was not linked to Jackson's health.
Promoters and producers AEG Live said the rescheduling was done because of the "sheer magnitude" of the show and the desire for fans attending the opening nights to get the same experience planned for all 50 shows.
In a press conference from the United States broadcast over the Internet, AEG Live president Randy Phillips was asked about Jackson's health and said: "I would trade my body for his tomorrow. He's in fantastic shape."
While Jackson reigned as the "King of Pop" in the 1980s, his once-stellar career had been overshadowed by his colorful public behavior, his startling physical transformation and multiple allegations of child abuse.
Jackson lived as a virtual recluse following his 2005 acquittal on charges including child molestation and plotting to kidnap his young accuser.
Despite his acquittal, the trial was a body blow from which the pop music superstar struggled to recover.
Four years later, Jackson is still worshipped by fans for revolutionizing music, dance and music videos at the peak of his success.
The attention however paid to him in recent years has been less flattering, focusing on apparent cosmetic surgery -- which he denies -- his baby dangling antics and a decade of swirling child abuse allegations.
Fans mourn Michael Jackson's death
The death of Michael Jackson sends shockwaves around the world.Celebrities, stars and fans of Jackson around the globe were overwhelmed by sorrow and shock Thursday as they sought to absorb the news of the sudden death of pop icon Michael Jackson.
Pop diva Madonna revealed she was left in tears over the death of Michael Jackson, saying the music world had lost "one of the greats".
“I can't stop crying over the sad news” the singer told celebrity website.
”I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever! My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. God bless.”
Britney Spears has joined the chorus of musicians paying tribute to Michael Jackson.
The pop star, who just finished the UK leg of her 'Circus' world tour, said that "he was a wonderful man and will be greatly missed".
"I'm absolutely devastated at this news," bestselling record producer and musician Quincy Jones said.
As crowds of people began to gather at the hospital where Jackson had been rushed for treatment, the biggest and greatest of the entertainment world were struggling to take in news of his death.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzegger issued a statement lamenting the loss of "one of the most influential and iconic figures in the music industry."
Schwarzenegger noted that there were "serious questions" about Jackson's personal life, but the governor said he and his wife Maria Shriver joined "all Californians in expressing our shock and sadness over his death."
"Our hearts go out the Jackson family, Michael's children and to his fans worldwide," the statement said.
Michael Jackson cause of death
loneliness and confusionSource : Examiner.com
In the end, which was today, Michael Jackson finally got the peace and respect he sought all his life. Unfortunately, it cost him his life.
While we await the official cause of death for the King of Pop, there’s no doubt that he spent most of his life – all of his adult life – alone and confused. He had handlers but few friends. He couldn’t walk into a store or go for a drink like most people can. It seemed like everyone he met wanted something from him. Indeed, how do you become friends with one of the most famous people in the world?
Had he been truly okay with who he was and how he looked, he would not have tried so hard to look like something he was not. Putting on a show is one thing, but when Michael Jackson put on the makeup and the costumes, he wasn’t just playing a role. He was searching for who he really was – and it’s doubtful he ever found that.
Allegedly, he was in debt to the tune of half a billion dollars at the time of his death. That’s right: $500 million. It will all get sorted out at some point and soon we’ll know as much as the law allows, which may not be much.
You can’t help but feel sorry for him, at least to some degree. It seems like all he wanted was to discover who he really was and live it, but in the end, it seems like that didn’t happen. He tried so hard to remain a boy that it wound up costing him more than if he just gave into nature and lived as the man (or woman) that he really was. The word ‘tragic’ comes to mind, just as with the sudden and untimely deaths of James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. All died before they were 50. You could say the Michael Jackson was the old man of the group.
Michael Jackson is deadSource : Los Angeles Time
Pop star Michael Jackson was pronounced dead today after paramedics found him in a coma at his Bel-Air mansion, city and law enforcement sources told The Times.
Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Steve Ruda told The Times that paramedics responded to a 911 call from the home. When they arrived, Jackson was not breathing.
The paramedics performed CPR and took Jackson to UCLA Medical Center, Ruda said. Hundreds of reporters gathered at the hospital awaiting word on his condition. The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said family members rushed to Jackson’s bedside, where he was in a deep coma.
The circumstances of Jackson’s death remain unclear. Law enforcement sources said that Los Angeles Police Department robbery-homicide detectives have opened an investigation into the death, though they stressed that there is no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
The detectives plan to interview relatives, friends and Jackson’s doctors to try to figure out what happened. The L.A. County coroner’s office will determine a cause of death. A Los Angeles Fire Department source told The Times that Jackson was in full cardiac arrest when rescue units arrived.
A doctor was in the house performing CPR on Jackson, said the source who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Paramedics were called to a home in the 100 block of Carolwood Drive off Sunset Boulevard.
Jackson rented the Bel-Air home -- described as a French chateau built in 2002 with seven bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, 12 fireplaces and a theater -- for $100,000 a month. The home is about a six-minute drive from UCLA Medical Center. Jackson has three children -- sons Prince Michael 7, and Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., 12, and daughter Paris Michael Katherine, 11.
Jackson, 50, died as he was attempting a comeback after years of tabloid headlines, most notably his trial and acquittal on child molestation charges.
In May, The Times reported that Jackson had rented the Bel-Air residence and was rehearsing for a series of 50 sold-out shows in London's O2 Arena. Jackson had won the backing of two billionaires to get the so-called "King of Pop" back on stage.
His backers envisioned the shows at AEG's O2 as an audition for a career rebirth that could have ultimately encompassed a three-year world tour, a new album, movies, a Graceland-like museum, musical revues in Las Vegas and Macau, and even a "Thriller" casino. Such a rebound could have wiped out Jackson's massive debt.
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