Multiple reports: Michael Jackson has died at 50

[Illidan]

(CNN) -- Entertainer Michael Jackson has died after being taken to a hospital on Thursday after suffering cardiac arrest, according to multiple reports including the Los Angeles Times and the Associated Press. CNN has not confirmed his death.

Jackson had been in a coma at the hospital, sources told CNN after paramedics revived him at his home.

Brian Oxman, a Jackson family attorney, said he was told by brother Randy Jackson that Michael Jackson collapsed at his home in west Los Angeles Thursday morning.

Family members were told of the situation and were either at the hospital or en route, Oxman said.

Fire Capt. Steve Ruda told CNN a 911 call came in from a west Los Angeles residence at 12:21 p.m.

Ruda said Jackson was treated and transferred to the UCLA Medical Center.

Asked specifics of the patient's condition, he said he could not discuss them because of federal privacy laws.

The music icon from Gary, Indiana, is known as the "King of Pop."

Jackson is the seventh of nine children in a well-known musical family.

At the medical center, every entrance to the emergency room was blocked by security guards. Even hospital staffers were not permitted to enter. A few people stood inside the waiting area, some of them crying.

Source (http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/25/michael.jackson/index.html)

[S Carver Orne]

I heard about him going to the hospital, but not that he died. Paramdecis said he was not breathing when they arrived and they performed CPR on him. When asked about his condition, Joe Jackson later said it was not good. That's the last I heard.

But if he did die, damn. Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett in one day? And just after Ed McMahon? June is an evil ass month.

[Tonus]

Confirmed, dead at 50.

I can only imagine the range of reactions that will come of it, mostly because of the way he acted in his later years. After he peaked, he became something of a freak show and it seemed that he couldn't help making it worse all of the time. So I expect a mix of solemn remembrances of his peak years as the undisputed star of music, and lots of jokes at his expense (tell you the truth, it's difficult to resist).

At some point in his life he became aware of just how popular he was, and I think that's where it began to unravel. Considering what he accomplished in terms of sales and fan adulation, it's amazing to think that his ego managed to eclipse his actual levels of fame and fortune. Pride goes before the fall, I guess.

[S Carver Orne]

MJ was the King of Pop. Don't worry, he'll be back.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/profmgmiller/1245975065620.jpg

Also, it's now rumored that Jeff Goldblum and Harrison Ford have died while shooting a film in New Zealand - source (http://blogs.tampabay.com/80s/2009/06/more-celeb-death-rumors-now-its-jeff-goldblum-and-harrison-ford.html)

[Ythogtha]

He didn’t die, it’s all a cover up. Jackson just went back to the sea to dwell forever with his fellow Deep Ones.

[Edmaster]

And for the first time ever, a nation mourns the death of a child rapist.

Excuse me, *alleged* child rapist.

[Dr. L]

I'm still iffy on the Child rapist status, it could really be either way, but I tended to see Jackson as someone way too childlike in his mindset to commit that kind of crime. So desperate for his lost childhood, he denied reality and slept in bed with little kids, like a sleepover. Inappropriate, yes, but I can't say I know what really happened.

Or he could've just been a disgusting pervert. Either way, I've seen enough news coverage, we get it. Even Fox News... damn...

[S Carver Orne]

I very seriously doubt Michael did anything wrong with those kids. He was an altruistic eccentric suffering with severe Peter Pan syndrome. Joe Jackson stole his childhood, and he never knew how to deal with that. The parents of those kids are manipulating con-artists and I'd personally sock them in the testiballs.

[Grunthos]

He was a complete fruitcake. Probably wasn't his 'fault,' but it's undeniable that there were only about 5 cards in his entire deck.

This was a case of money power (he was in more debt than some countries) and fame insulating somebody from help they really, really needed.

I never liked his music much, but it's a shame he died as he did.

[Illidan]

Linky Link (http://cinemassacre.blip.tv/file/2290189/)

[Demented]

They reported that do to his debt they are unable to have a proper funeral for him, instead the ones in charge of his estate have sold off his body. His body being mostly plastic he will be melted down and made into Lego's that way little boys can play with him.




yeah I know that was completely wrong

[Grunthos]

It's also not original.

[Tonus]

I suppose we should've seen it coming, but...

Michael Jackson isn't the biological father of any of "his" children. Debbie Rowe was artificially inseminated, so they're not even technically her children. The mother of the third and youngest child is not known, and would not have known that her child was going to be sent to Michael Jackson. Jackson did not provide sperm for any of the children.

Why did I use the term "sent to" instead of "adopted by?" Because Jackson neglected to file adoption papers for any of them, assuming that no one would contest his... ownership, or whatever term fits. Now his parents have custody of the children, and according to California law, Rowe can ask for custody of the two that she carried to term, which would provide her with some hefty monthly payments courtesy of Jackson's estate.

Not surprisingly, Jackson's parents have no intention of giving the children up without a fight, and due to the circumstances of Rowe's pregnancies, they may be headed towards a massive legal circus that is sure to crowd out more relevant news. Nancy Grace must be positively tingling with anticipation.

[Illidan]

Powerful sedative found in Michael Jackson's home

The powerful sedative Diprivan was found in Michael Jackson's home, a law enforcement official said Friday as the city planned for a massive crowd at the singer's memorial service.

Diprivan is an anesthetic widely used in operating rooms to induce unconsciousness. Also known as Propofol, it's given intravenously and is very unusual to have in a private home.

The law enforcement official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about the matter.

A Los Angeles Police spokesman, Lt. John Romero, declined to discuss the case. "It's an ongoing investigation," he said.

The cause of Jackson's death has not been determined. Autopsy results are not expected for several weeks.

At the downtown Staples Center, where Jackson's memorial will be held Tuesday morning, Assistant Police Chief Earl Paysinger said anywhere from 250,000 to 700,000 people could try to reach the arena, even though only 17,500 tickets will be available.

City Councilwoman Jan Perry urged people to stay home and watch the memorial on TV. There will not be a funeral procession through the city.

Tickets to Jackson's memorial service will be free. They can be obtained by registering at Staplescenter.com. There will be 11,000 tickets for seats inside Staples Center and 6,500 for seats in the adjacent Nokia Theatre, where fans can watch a simulcast. On Saturday night, 8,750 names will be randomly selected to receive two tickets each.

No details about the memorial service itself were released.

Jackson was known to have suffered from severe insomnia. In the weeks before his death, Cherilyn Lee, a registered nurse who was working with the singer, said Jackson pleaded for Diprivan amid the stress of preparing for a massive series of comeback concerts.

Lee said she repeatedly rejected his demands because the drug was unsafe.

Told Friday that Diprivan had been found at Jackson's house, she said, "I did everything I could to warn him against it."

Jackson had trouble sleeping as far back as 1989, said one of his former publicists, Rob Goldstone, who spent a month on the road with Jackson during the "Bad" tour.

"He had very bad nightmares, he found it very difficult to sleep," Goldstone said.

Diprivan, which has a milky appearance, is sometimes nicknamed "milk of amnesia." Last fall, doctors from the Mayo Clinic warned at a conference that in rare cases, Diprivan can trigger an irreversible chain of events leading to heart dysfunction and death.

They said three patients receiving Diprivan to treat severe seizures had suffered cardiac arrest, and two died. The doctors said the clinic stopped using Diprivan to treat such patients because of the danger.

The drug's manufacturer, AstraZeneca PLC, warns that patients using Diprivan should be continuously monitored, and in a tiny number of cases patients using it have suffered cardiac arrest, although it was not clear the drug was to blame.

Authorities are investigating allegations that the 50-year-old Jackson had been consuming painkillers, sedatives and antidepressants. Any criminal charges would depend on whether Jackson had been overly prescribed medications, given drugs inappropriate for his needs, or if doctors knowingly prescribed Jackson medications under an assumed name.

Edward Chernoff, an attorney for Jackson's doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, said Friday through a spokeswoman that he had agreed with investigators not to comment until information is released through official channels. Murray was in Jackson's rented mansion when the singer went into cardiac arrest in his bedroom on June 25.

Murray has spoken to police and authorities say he is not a suspect. In an earlier interview, Chernoff said Murray never gave or prescribed Jackson the painkillers Demerol or OxyContin, and denied reports suggesting that the doctor gave the pop star drugs that contributed to his death.

Chernoff would not discuss what drugs the doctor administered to Jackson, but said they would have been prescribed in response to a specific complaint.

Source (http://new.music.yahoo.com/michael-jackson/news/powerful-sedative-found-in-michael-jacksons-home--61990644)

[Grunthos]

And the Santa Barbara DA couldn't uncover ANY of this..?

Fire that schmoe... he's useless.

[Tonus]

I would rate this (http://www.theneweditor.com/index.php?/archives/9789-Americas-Celebrity-Culture,-Writ-Even-Larger.html) as the best reaction to the media coverage of Jackson's passing...


America's Celebrity Culture, Writ Even Larger (http://www.theneweditor.com/index.php?/archives/9789-Americas-Celebrity-Culture,-Writ-Even-Larger.html)

The Reverend Al Sharpton is calling for a US postage stamp honoring Michael Jackson -- as well as a national day of mourning for the late pop star (http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-sharpton-jackson-stamp,0,2019426.story).

Meanwhile it is being reported that Mr. Jackson will be buried without his brain (http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/2009/07/05/michael-jackson-to-be-buried-without-his-brain-115875-21495043/) -- apparently in a move to stand in solidarity with all of the people who will watch the memorial service live on ABC, NBC, CNN, and MSNBC (http://www.theneweditor.com/index.php?/archives/9787-Americas-Celebrity-Culture,-Writ-Large.html).

Update: Family Sees Image Of Michael Jackson In Tree Stump (http://cbs13.com/local/michael.jackson.tree.2.1072797.html):
Many people in the crowd who gathered to look at the stump Sunday afternoon saw the resemblance, but why would Michael Jackson appear instead of a religious figure -- or even any of the other celebrities who recently passed away?

"Because Michael Jackson was an icon to us," said one neighbor. "To Stockton, Michael Jackson meant more to us than Jesus, to some people. I think they're both about even."In an uncomfirmed report, some neighbors believe the tree stump resembles the people who think it looks like Michael Jackson.

[Illidan]

Michael Jackson's glove was to hide skin problem

Michael Jackson's single white glove was his trademark -- an iconic image for a performer whose career constantly set, then redefined, pop culture trends.

But it also was an early effort to mask a skin condition that he would struggle with for the rest of his life, say some who were close to him.

Actress Cicely Tyson, a friend of Jackson's, said the two shared a fashion designer in the 1980s.

"All of a sudden, he said, 'I'm doing this glove for Michael,' " she said. "Michael was beginning to develop the vitiligo and it started on his hand.

"The glove was to cover the vitiligo; that's how that glove came into being."

The glove design and reason for it were not just hearsay for Tyson, she said.

"I was there when he was creating it," she told CNN's Don Lemon.

More than the black fedora, the white socks and loafers or the red leather jacket, the solitary glove -- made famous in the music video for "Billie Jean" -- became a Jackson trademark. He was dubbed "The Gloved One," by media and a sequined glove he wore during his 1984 Victory tour was expected to fetch more than $60,000 in an upcoming auction, even before his death.

Jackson's dermatologist, Dr. Arnie Klein, told CNN that Jackson suffered from vitiligo, a disease that causes blotches of lightening skin, as well as a form of lupus that led to rashes and flaking of skin on his scalp.

"His was bad because he began to get a speckled look over his body," Klein said. "All over his body -- but on his face and hands, which is hard to treat."

It's a report that rings true to others with the disease.

"I have to wear sleeves and carry an umbrella," said Lee Thomas, who wrote a memoir called "Turning White," which discusses his physical and mental struggles as an African-American man whose skin changes because of vitiligo. "It totally makes sense to me."

Thomas, an Emmy-winning television journalist in Detroit, Michigan, told CNN that he shares a habit with Jackson.

"I got [white spots] on one of my hands, so I used to wear a glove to hold a microphone," he said.

Dr. James Norlund, a dermatologist, never treated Jackson, but said the singer's use of the gloves and lipstick was consistent with the patterns of vitiligo, since the spots frequently first appear on the hands and face, including the lips.

Klein said he treated Jackson's vitiligo with a cream that eventually bleached Jackson's darker pigmentation to even out his skin color. He said it was that treatment -- not a once-rumored desire by Jackson to be white -- that lightened his skin over the years.

"Michael was black," Klein said. "He was very proud of his black heritage."

Regardless of its origins, the glove was never viewed as anything other than fashion by Jackson's fans, some of whom donned gloves to impersonate him.

At Jackson's memorial service Tuesday, actress Brooke Shields, a close friend of Jackson's, remembered the glove in a light moment during an otherwise emotional eulogy.

"When he started wearing the glove, I was like, 'What's up with the glove?' " she said, drawing laughter from the crowd. "I was like, 'If you're going to hold my hand, it better be the nonglove one because sequins really hurt me.' It would dig in.

"He'd just shake his head and he would just smile."

Source (http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/07/09/michael.jackson.glove/index.html)