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Who else is sickened by the amount of time and space which the media have devoted to Michael Jackson? What a shameless exploitation of a death for readers and ratings. And I'd like to know where most of his celebrity "friends" on stage today were when the singer was in legal and financial trouble? What a bunch of camera-hogging hypocrites. It's just wrong, wrong, wrong.
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Amen to that.
right on Nikki !
Hey Nikki how about a story on the excess $$$ Cali & LA has spent on this circus. 4 million is what I last heard. Arent we in the middle of a budget crisis?!? Why isnt any news outlet talking about this?!?!
Amen. And for the promotional company to suggest such an event for publicity and not lay out one penny…and of course the family isn’t either. The City of Los Angeles asking for donations? He was certainly a talented man, but there is a line between honoring, and milking for publicity and sales.
It has been enough but the Memorial was well done
Amen.
And why does it have to be on every channel like it’s the 9/11 coverage?
Maybe the celebrity friends can help pay for the funeral:
http://mayor.lacity.org/PressRoom/PressReleases/LACITYP_005598
It’s sign that our pop culture bubble has burst.
Network & Cable News programming died today.
The cable news nets have taken MJ from Thriller to filler.
You are so right about this. I’m sick of it. So very sick of it. All of his “friends” just took and gave nothing.
Are you new to the planet Nikki? What did you think would happen? Fame and celebrity are shallow institutions so how else should the most famous celebrity be remembered? The more interesting angle on this story isn’t the predictable “look at how phony everyone is”, it’s the fact that maybe a lot of people actually feel sad about his life and loss.
This thing was revolting!
Although Smokey Robinson & Berry Gordy gave nice, touching eulogies, the rest was disgusting & so over the top.
And I just her Cynthia McFadden on ABC say it was so nice & respectful.
ARGGGGHHH!
And forcing Paris to speak was child abuse, continuing the sad family legacy!
They wouldn’t dedicate the space if no one was watching.
couldn’t agree w/ you more!
blood sucking vampires. all of them.
Looks like NAMBLA runs the media.
I was just thinking the exact same thing!
the funny thing about your rant, is that your doing the same thing as the “media”… talk about hypocrite…
Money talks…
Agreed. Hopefully once he’s buried this will all be behind us. How quickly the lemmings forget.
Wow. You are bitter.
Nikki-
Give me a break. Some of those “celeb friends” at the memorial were supportive of MJ through his trials and tribulations…your a gossip columnist so I highly doubt you know the inner circle as much as you may claim you do.
Could not agree more. Acknowledging his importance in the entertainment world, this kind of coverage for a “singer” is obscene.
His demise has served as a grand distraction for the theft going on by the Federal Reserve, Congress and the deluded altruists in Sacramento. Psychologists call it ‘localizing the pain’ of broad disillusionment. It frequently happens right before the patient dies – or he finally wakes from his paralysis and realizes that his own needs of survival come first and foremost before the supposed ‘needs’ of the world. There will, in the altruist mind, always be someone more deserving than ‘you’. The rejection of this pathetically limited thinking is what, heretofore, has separated the American standard from the Old World thoughts of limitation. Mr. Jackson’s brilliance effectively froze a generation of dreamers in place, disabling their potential to become something real, while they lived vicariously through the performer – compounding their failures with the denial of his many unapologetic and inappropriate affairs. Let’s move on – as people in entertainment and as Americans – from the days of Pop culture, and return to a day of personal, domestic and political responsibility. The time is now. Now.
While the media coverage has been atrocious, I did find today’s memorial (minus Al Sharpton and Sheila Jackson Lee) to have been a great send off.
Hopefully after today we can leave the coverage to TMZ.
Nikki,
You’re wrong on this. Mike’s death is one of those moments that bind us all together. For me it’s been a reminder of our collective humanity, not just as Americans but as citizens of the world. And as an black person – I’ve never been prouder. The king is dead – long live the king. “Off The Wall” forever!
You hit the nail on the head Nikki. All this over acting today was just shameless.
Brooke Shield’s hasn’t seen MJ since 1991, and acted like they were BFF till the end.
Usher was just looking for an Academy Award.
John Mayer seemed the only one who wanted to honor the musician though he had nothing to do with MJ in life.
I wonder once it is revealed that MJ died of a crazy anesthia drug overdose will he be so revered.
He died a junkie w/ 3 kids in debt. Let this go already media elite.
The only thing worse than all the media coverage… all the people whining about the amount of media coverage. Get over it. That’s the world we live in these days, where anyone (including hypocrites) can twitter and have blogs about industry gossip.
the coverage for the memorial today better be the end of it.
i’m stuck watching david spade doing stand-up on comedy central as every other freakin’ channel is covering staples center.
that’s the real tragedy right there.
good call, nikki.
the jackson brothers in the ‘white glove’ tribute really threw me over the edge. leeches.
I LOVE YOU, I READ YOU ALL THE TIME. BUT YOU ARE BEING A LITTLE TASTELESS TO SAY THIS RIGHT NOW. CLEARLY TEN DAYS AGO YOU MADE A POINT OF TELLING US IN NOT SO MANY WORDS HOW YOU “WEREN’T GOING TO COVER THIS CIRCUS.” NOW YOU ARE COMING OFF COMPLETELY RUDE.
Even more disgusting is the gushing and lack of objectivity on CNN. Analysts comparing MJ to Mozart, calling him “bigger than Sinatra, Elvis and The Beatles combined”, declaring him a “Civil Rights figure”, and none of it unchallenged, in fact met with agreement from Soledad O’Brien. Only Anderson Cooper seemed uncomfortable and willing to occasionally challenge the shameless agenda being pushed by CNN’s own analysts. No mention of the civil settlements to his victims, no mention of his drug addiction. Instead non-stop babble about how Michael Jackson is the most figure of the last century.
Journalism is dead.
Thank you.
yes – i am completely over hte rectification of saint michael. and my biggest, biggest beef is that the city of LA is funding the security, traffic control, etc. to a MINIMUM estimate of $4million. the Jackson’s chose Satples Center for their venue, this is their expense. Offensive for a city that cancelled summer school.
The spotlight on LA will bring money to LA. Plain and sadly simple the economics of MJ’s death are a big plus for LA. Imagine if he had passed in London. Here, in LA, people now are flocking here, and while not all millionaires they are spending money. Enough? Turn the channel (PBS didn’t cover) or change the radio. Land of the free and the freaks. No one will have the career he had, not in our lifetimes.
sounds like you’re either jealous or just as big of a prick as the congressman from NY. When you’re bigger than Elvis, this is acceptable. Think about it Nikki, how many people in the world have touched so many people in so many different ways? There isn’t too many that have had an impact like he has which to me justifies this media non-sense. Do I like it or care, hell no but I am not ignorant towards it like you clearly are. Do you think I’m going to enjoy my runs around downtown today? Do you see me bitching and complaining like a lil’ 2 year old girl? Do you ever stop to think that some people might be tired of the biased bull shit and other random crap you post on your site? Fucking women!
It’s ridiculous. As my good friend @kyle_newman just posted on twitter, “how cool would it be if MJ just got up, started dancing and kicked off his tour as a zombie…and this was just one BIG publicity stunt”
The bad news is that the MJ story dwarfs a U.S.A./Russia summit meeting. The good news is that it pushes John and Kate off of the covers.
Is it really ’shameless exploitation’ or just another slow news day in media land (which BTW is your turf, too)? And it’s Hollywood, babe, hypocrisy is the name of celebrity is just part of the game.
I think you are wrong, wrong, wrong. Michael Jackson is dead and this is the 24 hour news cycle. People are craving information and they are providing it.
Michael’s children will appreciate the media send off when they are old enough to comprehend who their father really was.
What the hell could Berry Gordy or Brooke Shields do about his legal and financial trouble? And what makes you think that any help they might have offered him would be disclosed as publicly as their tributes to him? It’s not very smart of you to be sick of the media fascination on the day of his memorial service, that’s for sure. Did you think the news outlets would be covering a talent agency merger instead? If this continues tomorrow, then your whining might have some relevance.
Thank god somebody has the balls to say this! Before he died people avoided him like the plague, but it is amazing how dieing is a “cure-all”.
True, but there are many people the genuinely miss MJ and enjoyed having a community to share the experience with. I’m glad the ceremony went the way it did. I’m only saddened that LA felt they should close out the fans. Reminiscent of the police state in moonwalker.
Doing my best to ignore it as much as I possibly can. I am not sorry this freak is dead.
Yup – gross. His popularity is being horribly overstated by the media, as evidenced by the fact that about 10 people showed up outside Staples – so much for the much touted ‘up to a million’. The dude stopped being relevant 20 years ago. They should have held the funeral after ‘Bad’
Oh shut up. I’m so sick of people complaining about the coverage. It will go away soon. Just quit whining. Jesus.
if there were a “like” button, I’d click it. Repeatedly.
Are you really surprised by this? Exploitation is as American as apple pie.The media want to use Michael Jackson’s death for rating purposes, celebrities want to use it for camera time, and his father wants to promote his record company.Welcome to the world, enjoy it for what it’s worth.
I’m sickened by the fact that I suffered through 90 minutes without a single appearance from Emmanuel Lewis.
I agree that the media coverage has been self-serving, but watching the memorial actual made me remember how talented the guy was. Although I had thought that he was a freak at best and a molester at worst, I think the memorial will leave me with a more favorable view of him. As a parent, the daughter’s short statement at the end broke my heart.
Not to mention he diddled kids.
No one gave two s#^s about this guy the last 15 years and suddenly everyone wants to feel like they’re a part of something big b/c he died. Everyone conveniently ignores the parts of his life that they dont like. Sure he had an impact on culture and music, but how can you separate the crazy kid-diddler from the musician? His legacy has been that of “great musician goes bat-s$t insane” and now everyone wants to ignore it. Everyone’s talking about how he had an impact on their childhood. Why dont you go ask all those kids who “slept over” at Neverland how he impacted THEIR childhood.
Shut up, Nikki.
I agree totally, Nikki.
It’s a travesty on so many levels. All this for a pedophile. And the fact that the network anchors would debase themselves by convering this is unbelivable.
If this happened in the 60’s, would Walter Cronkite be standing in front of the Staples Center? Something tells me no.
oh stfu nikki, seriously.
I am in total agreement here.
I was sad (and shocked) when he died but you would have thought God Himself had expired today based on the spectacle at Staples. It less a memorial than it was a concert – and it felt very innapropriate. When Al Sharpton started screaming about how it was Michael Jackson that helped races come together and made it possible for us to elect Obama, I had to turn it off.
I only hope today brings much-needed closure to his adoring fans and family.
Nikki beat it. You need to look at the Woman in the Mirror and moonwalk an apology for your horrible comment moments after that tribute.
Shut up you stupid whore. You are doing the same thing. Burn in hell.
Wow, so heartless.
Gee I can only imagine the types of things that would have been said about Elvis back then if the internet existed.
I’ve only seen a couple of minutes here and there of the memorial, but a few moments I found interesting:
1) Al Sharpton telling us that Michael Jackson “taught us how to love”.
2) Martin Luther King’s daughter relating a story where MJ called her family “American Royalty”. Self promoting whenever possible.
3) Rep. Shiela Jackson Lee, from the Congressional Black Caucus rehabbing MJ’s legacy and relating how MJ taugh us to look at the “man in the mirror”. Bad example, in my opinion.
4) Jesse Jackson got on stage at the end of the memorial. He’s the Don King of poverty pimps. He’s so desperate to rehab his own image after his Obama comments on Fox.
Definitely four million dollars worth…
Shut up, Nikki!
Cold Nikki, real cold.
I followed your blog with respect. not so sure anymore. There’s a time and a place. Right now, wasn’t it.
As to those that wanted Journalism at a memorial. Hello?! When has a memorial EVER focused on the negatives of anyone’s life. it’s shouldn’t. And it doesn’t happen.
Elvis died in a similar. Wasn’t he hooked on prescription drugs too?
I’ll admit, the media is going a little overboard but the people who have a problem with MJ are, dare I say, white people.
Thank God, Nikki.. I thought I was the only one who felt the coverage of MJ was way over the top and just pathetic. He was good in the 70-80’s but hasn’t done squat since then.
Does there have to be wall to wall coverage? Is it that sad and pathetic people care more about someone who died, than what’s really going on in our country?
I watched USA network all morning long in protest to the funeral coverage.
I agree, it has been overkill. Paul Newman gave millions and millions to charity and his family kept it dignified and private. MJ reportedly didn’t want his family in his affairs, and this big hoopla with them taking over would have embarrassed him. It’s all about the money, baby.
All I could think of watching portions of the memorial is that MJ spent his entire life trying to escape his blackness–never more prominent when you see his kids among all the black relations. And now Sharpton and Jackson are trying to make MJ into another Martin Luther King. There was no reason for all the networks plus cable to air this.
And for all the hysteria about millions showing up in LA for the memorial, barely 1000 were outside the Staples Center.
I wasn’t a fan, but I’m no hater. I just can’t figure out how he went from “the self-proclaimed King of Pop” to just “the King of Pop”? Is he the “King of Pop” just because his publicists said he was so many times?
Can’t agree more – enough already.
bet u most of those ppl who spoke hadnt spoken to mj in 20 years
Totally agree, Nikki.
Funny but terribly (deliciously) bitter video that comedian Jon Lajoie made last week about the same thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVACUjHn6yU
Here here, Ms. Fink. I having a feeling this isn’t the last of it either. There’s going to be the tribute albums, the one year memorial, and the nonstop coverage for the next decade of his kids. It’s sad that we eat it up so easily.
ah, poor nikki…..
bitter and tactless aren’t we?
you’ll never admit that you also had the jehri curl hairdo with tight pants and sparkle glove in the 80’s like everyone else, you’re not above it. i’m sure that you secretly had his poster on your wall…
i guess we’ll make sure to remember that sentiment when you go teets up one day and all we have to give in remembrance is this blog….
don’t be bitter that stevie wonder won’t be singing for you and give props to the guy as they are surely due….
if you truly are ‘above’ the overhyped media, than do it with some grace instead of misplaced snarky attitude.
C’mon people, he’s not even dead. When are you all going to catch on? I saw him getting coffee in Toluca Lake just this morning, which leads me to believe that, like Elvis and Tupac, he’s pulling a Houdini. Gets him out of the limelight and frees him to enjoy his retirement. Good for him!
Well at least it’s over and we can get on with our lives.
I didn’t watch a minute of the memorial service, I’ve avoided as many articles as possible on the subject so as not to drive up the popularity of MJ articles, and I am getting sick and tired of hearing his music in every restaurant or mall I walk in to.
I never liked “it,” since I’m not really sure what Michael Jackson was in the end… he was more artificial than real.. doped up all the time, and a shadow of his former stardom.
Good riddance.
if only we united like this over the death of real humanitarians. yea ok mourn the guy but the wall to wall coverage the last 10 days is sickening and unnecessary. If you only were this “united” when Bush was in power and over waterboarding or the banks/CEO’s sucking up all our money or when Mother Teresa died…or about hunger, and poverty…MJ was a great musician but there are other people and events deserving more airtime and your undivided attention and concern.
Yes, Nikki–and well said, Vince.
The overwrought distortion is just outrageous. Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr. he was not. Frankly, he wasn’t even Stevie Wonder or Prince.
Wow…you are truly cold hearted. That memorial service was touching, real, and perfect. Your cynicism at this VERY moment is telling. Pathetic.
HERE’S A BRILLIANT LETTER FROM A FRIEND AT DISNEY THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US SHOULD SEND TO OUR CRIMINALLY STUPID “MAYOR” WHO DARED TO ASK US TO PAY FOR THIS VULGAR PAGEANT:
Mr. Mayor -
Welcome back.
With all due respect, suggesting that LA taxpayers donate to the event that is going on right now at Staples Center is both insulting to your constituents and an embarrassment to your office. AEG – operators of the Staples Center – stand to make a tremendous amount of money on this event as well as on ancillary sales surrounding the profiteering of Mr. Jackson’s death. The suggestion that the City of Los Angeles is making money due to an influx of mourners filling hotels and restaurants is ludicrous – participants are far below the anticipated numbers, and the City would only reap their 10% tax on any spend.
As a homeowner who is taxed to death and watching her lawn die and checking off the list as services are cut daily, I’m stunned at the suggestion that I pay for this delightful event and the services it’s draining from our human and financial resources.
Thank you for your consideration and best of luck with your new term.
Good to have you focused locally.
Yes, yes, yes, completely agree this is wrong! AND to think we are in a city of financial turmoil where people are receiving i.o.u. as payments and Jan Perry, the councilperson responsible for the area pushes this spectacle through. Jan Perry has gone on record as saying she “love it” if the Jackson family would help pay the costs.
Shame on Perry and the Mayor for allowing this. If the Jackson family wanted a public memorial than pay for it or charge for the tickets to compensate the City of Los Angeles. The LAKERS who provide revenue to our city paid for their own parade….
I’m sad about Michael Jackson and what happened to him. Not just his death the other day, but what he morphed into years ago.
Yes, he was the first “BLACK” singer to get rotation on MTV. He broke down walls for other black artist. But… it was the head of his record company Walter Yetnikoff(spelling?) threatning to yank his other rock acts videos off if they didn’t play Michael that got him on MTV.
Not enough is said about that.
Totally agree.
an “Orgy of Excess”…. yes I borrowed that quote, but it’s soo appropriate.
Hello, what got the man to the Staples Center in a coffin.. DRUGS… let us not forget that.
I want to throw up, both from the media elevating him and demonizing him. He just doesn’t warrant wall-to-wall coverage with no commercials or breaks to other news whatsoever.
Can’t we talk about Afghanistan? Or anything else, really?
Wow Nikki, God forbid we celebrate a man who helped bridge the racial divide, who donated more to charity than any other pop star in the history of music, who sold more than any other entertainer we have seen and who was found innocent by a jury of mostly white people. Let’s just continue to write captions for people like Sacha Barren Cohen and Judd Apatow because they are what’s really important. How dare you take some higher ground with you and your little WME cartoons. You sound insane and offensive!!
I agree. Thanks for saying it! When I turned on ESPN News to escape the coverage and they were showing it too, I knew it had gone too far….
I don’t think there’s really anything wrong with the retrospectives and tributes. It’s human nature to avoid thinking or speaking ill of the dead. In light of the nature of Jackson’s fairly rabid global fan base it should come as no surprise that memorials to him would be extravagant and possibly bombastic. That said, the non-stop saturation coverage is a bit much. It’s as unnecessary as the extensive Swine Flu coverage was when that story first broke. A better balance could have and perhaps should have been struck.
No need to let it ruffle your feathers, though, Nikki dear. Simmer down a bit. It’ll all be over soon.
Sick to death of the coverage and disgusted that AEG and the Jackson paid not one penny for it and the city just kept referring to Los Angeles as “a world class city and a world class event”.
Not one journalist is talking about that.
Let’s move on now so I can forget we paid for it.
I never in my life thought I’d agree with Donny Deutsch–he’s on MSNBC right now– but he just said he thought this whole circus revealed how the country had lost its way. It’s absolutely disgusting. All the networks (except PBS) should be ashamed of themselves!
Hey Nikki-
So you wanna be startin’ somethin?
You are contributing to the misinformation being spread by hysterics out there. The actual cost to the city has been exaggerated and is closer to a million dollars. Meanwhile, tens of thousands is being spent on hotel rooms, food, car rentals, plane fare etc.
Is it reasonable to say 20,000 people flew in for this? Is it reasonable to say they spent about $1000 each on the above items?
The tax on hotel rooms is 14%
The tax on restaurants, etc is 9 3/4%
Let’s say the overall tax is an average 12%.
SO, that’s about $120 per person.
120 times the 20K people is just under $2.5 million in additional revenue. That’s just the out-of-towners. I am sure money is being spent in other ways by tens of thousands of people in town.
So the idea that the city is “losing money” in all of this is absurd.
Instead of being so critical, why not acknowledge the fact that for many (me not so much–i just realized I don’t have one MJ song in a library of over 10000 songs) MJ was a monumental source of inspiration. A city is not just roads and buildings. A city is a community and for a large number of people in this community this is a day of mourning. Great cities should provide an outlet for their people to come together. Instead of damning this, I see it as L.A. doing the right thing as a world class city. (And making a little money in the process!)
As for media coverage, I suppose it will be covered as long as it makes financial sense for them to do so.
As far as the editorial slant. Let’s face it, he was undoubtedly an unusual guy. But his contribution to the world of entertainment is without peer, particularly from the early 80’s thru the early 90’s.
So, if you are sick of it all, turn off the tv and do something more productive with your time.
Nikki-
I thought you weren’t going to talk about MJ. You are being hypocritical. Let those who choose to mourn for him do so. You are part of the media so attempting to be above it all is laughable. You are just as much a part of the machine as the rest of them. Its over now so just let people grieve. No need to be rude.
I have been saying this since I learned of this death last week! I will not argue that the man in his own right touch many people (no pun intended) and that his music is the stuff of legend!! But, It’s all to much, and the fact that the nearly bankrupt State of California is footing the bill!! (i.e.. The TAXPAYERS!/You and Me) is completely out of line. Further embarrassing is the Mayor had the audacity to ask the public to chip in!!! Unbelievable! They should have charged $$ to attend his service if that was the case, because lets face it this is all about the $$, ratings, appearances, and networking anyway! What a Joke! The only real thing about any of this was dear Paris Jackson and the nanoseconds of emotion she displayed, and the sad part about it all is that the media exploited the only true innocent emotion over and over again. Its sick!! But predictable this is Michael Jackson were talking about here!
MJ created his legal and financial troubles. If anything, address his parasitic family rather than the questionable “celebrities” who showed up at this odious spectacle. They’re going to be milking this for a long time. Or address the unfathomable and ongoing fiscal irresponsibility of government for fleecing taxpayers for this circus. How long until the dvd’s and posters are shilled to the international moron community? Most people are revolted by and totally uninterested in this spectacle. The nattering talking MSM heads need to fill air time and make it seem more relevant than it is.
Your radio silence on this was welcome. Articles about MJ decrying articles about MJ are ironic. It’s beneath you to try to provoke page views because of a quiet week. If anything, do an obit on Farrah who suffered and died like nobody should, and who was a surprisingly interesting woman whose passing got sidelined by the MJ menagerie.
Nothing funnier than the post above, from someone who says she’s black, stating she’s “never been prouder.” Honey…he hated his skin color. He tried to look white with extensive plastic surgery and skin bleaching. And let’s face it: most of his friends were white celebrities…particularly if they were young boys. Six months ago if you said, “Michael Jackson,” the common response would have been, “washed-up pedophile.”
Today? Resurrected genius, finally generating some much needed revenue again. Sickening.
you are absolutely right –
he made two great albums and walked backwards.
Most disgusting of all was Deepak Chopra, his son Gotham and daughter Mallika. They are the epitome of phony hollywood “friends” by giving away Michael’s confidences, outing the Nanny, and speaking of all the “enablers” around him, without considering himself one to be as well, despite his best efforts or “intentions”. His comments were vile, disgusting and went against his own teachings in his best selling books. Additionally, Chopra is an MD and last I checked, had an OBLIGATION to report anyone to the AMA that might be in violation of patient/doctor ethics laws. Mallika, the daughter, then writes a HuffingtonPost blog about the “bloodsuckers” of hollywood. (Just a month earlier the families other “friend” and cause du jour was Laura Ling, a journalist detained in NK….the Chopras are nothing but bunch of parasites!)
Michael Jackson’s death is bigger than 99% of the news you’ve ever covered. Ooh, did Charlize Theron get an agent? Did a studio head step down just as you “toldjus” he would? Did some movie break a Wednesday box office record?
Come on, be real. Michael Jackson has had a long illustrious career and has reached millions through song, dance, and charitable contributions. He is and was a legend, so his passing is a big deal.
Don’t remember you being so irritated when Heath Ledger died…
Food for thought: if Brittany Spears had died during her crazy-streak, would there be this much adulation?
Keep in mind that she was never accused of child-rape, never mutilated her own face, and wasn’t quoted to be an anti-Semite*.
*http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4466038.stm
I second third and fourth that. It’s all too much. I stopped watching on day 2
Just how big is the carbon footprint in the land of the PC?
And who is paying for it?
Why are people whining about the media coverage?,bet every one who is whining some time in their life has bought a mj single or has been awed by his talent.
How is it a shameless exploitation of readers and ratings when he is one of the most famous artists in the history of entertainment?
The media did not feed us this,There is a genuine interest in this man’s career everyone has been talking about it because of WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE HAS ACHIEVED…Not because of the press throwing it at us!
Too much bitterness… in this world.
You took the words right out of my mouth Nikki. Thank you.
I could not agree more. Nikki has not made a single posting since his death and after 10 days, this is what has been on the minds of all people who think this has gone too far. While MJ was an icon whose music “defined pop music”, I can’t understand why this need to drag on for 10 days. Please let it go!
I agree completely Nikki! Get over it people! It’s not like he was your best friend. And guess what, your CDs will not magically stop playing just because he’s dead. People die, that’s how it works. Move on.
Jealous that you were not invited?
The memorial was beautiful. Very well put together & extremely fitting for one of the world’s greatest musicians.
Kinda torn on this one. On the one hand DHD, trafficking in truly insignificant crap like B.O. numbers races and “Toldja”s about executive musical chairs, really isn’t the best vehicle for decrying the overblown nature of some of the reaction to MJ’s death. You deal in and profit from a kind of trivia that only a Hollywood-obsessed culture would value. And, like him and his music or not, the guy was an international megastar and — laugh if you want — ambassador for international peace and understanding who leaves no obvious equivalent heir to that claim (Tom Cruise? Ha.). On the other hand, some of the near-deification is certainly hard to take. But your exasperation seems sort of small-minded, reflexively cynical, and surprisingly un-self-aware. Let it go. A LOT of people cared deeply about the man and his music. It’s legitimately a big story with global reach. And I say all this as someone whose Facebook page betrays a deep concern for, many would say single-minded obsession with, “serious” issues of politics and justice.
Can’t get enough of it. Give me more. I love it. Good, bad or ugly, everyone gets what they deserve. And MJ deserves this. And more.
Also, I guarantee you, anyone who has a problem with the coverage on MJ, never saw him in concert. That man was the greatest performer who ever lived.
Michael Jackson’s passing has exposed a gapping hole in our global consciousness. It has marked a passing of time for those of us who grew up with Michael’s music, and that’s partly its significance. We realize how different things were when we first sang “We Are the World” and really believed we could be the change the world needed. Instead, his death reminds us of how the potential of the world has somehow escaped us. We look at what we’ve become and are dissapointed at what we see. Maybe if we had all paid a little more attention to what Michael’s art attempted to illustrate to us, America and the world would be in a better place right now.
Amen. Defending Michael Jackson’s right to keep his children, stating he was innocent until proven guilty, were both very unpopular positions to take when he was in trouble a few years ago. I’m used to having my positions be unpopular, but that was the most lonely position of all.
People might be surprised to know that Pat Buchanan was sticking up for his right to keep his kids!
Anyway, talk about “fair weather friends”…makes me sick.
@ P Black
Apparently, computers are allowed in mental institutions. Now go take your meds, loonie.
Funny how Jackson fans are all dumb fringe wackos.
I haven’t seen it yet. But when I rode past the Motown museum there was a crowd of mourners.
In the back of the museum the paved over backyard was empty and solemn, fitting for someone who just died. Next door to the museum is James Coles’ funeral home. Back in the day Grand Blvd thrived and I’m sure MJ’s spirit will return to this place that made him what he was, the greatest performer of our generation. No one will replace him and I hope he continues to make the world happy through his music and Dvd’s.
Like Elvis, John Lennon, etc, MJ was given his due.
The circus isn’t over though. Diane Sawyer is covering family secrets tonight and when the indictments come down for the pharmacists, doctors etc hopefully they will give them the same coverage for doing in a great talent. Remember he was a dad, a son, an uncle and a great entertainer. Give us the money Nikki; please don’t sink down to the media’s drivel.
arguing about how much, if any, public money should be used is a legitimate issue. attacking mourners at a funeral though seems a bit tasteless and cruel.
Through his music Michael gave the world energy, spirit and love. What do most of the complainers on this blog give the world?
As I previously posted, just keep the playing field even! One horrific act never out weighs another but lets report TRUTH! Has the media ever painted Elvis as the drug abuser AND the thief of urban music styles he was? Or spoke about the age of Lisa Marie when they got married? Or what about Jerry Lee Lewis? Any articles about him marrying his minor cousin? Woody Allen maybe? Oh at least Stanley Kubrick…right? CUT THE CRAP GUYS! You hate it when its not someone you want to see glorified. Like it or not, all of you hacks added together won’t equal 1/10th of the talent MJ was blessed with in his PINKY FINGER! All of your assistants, blackberry’s, schedules, high powered lunches and shitty specs! Look at the numbers, they don’t lie! Haters in LIFE and now in DEATH. Be ashamed of yourselves. YOU SHOULD BE!
People whining about the coverage so much,why are u blogging about it then?
MJ was one of the most famous performers in the history of entertainment-How do u know nikki who was there for him or not?
There will never be another like him ever,I am not really even a fan but if u where to ask me a year ago who would the media fuss over the most if him or her passed away I would say Mj.
The media arnt pushing it,it happens to be a entertainment phenomenon where there is a genuine interest and sadness not generated by companies or media…just because you don’t care doesn’t give u negative people the right to be mean and rude,judging by the crowds,facebook quotes and music playing…you negatives are out of luck…..
You’re wrongheaded on this one. Let people who want to mourn, mourn. Purporting to be above it all just makes you seem all the sadder for not getting it.
I agree with a previous poster that the hyperbole being offered up by network “analysts” has gotten ridiculous, with absolutely no sense of proportion, balance or even a basic regard for the facts.
At one point on The Today Show, a guy from Essence magazine declared that the recording of “We Are The World”, with it’s all-star gathering of musicians, was “unprecedented in musical history” and that Michael Jackson was the “driving force” behind Live Aid. These statements were unchallenged and taken as fact.
In reality, “We Are The World” was an American reaction to Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas”, the original all-star charity record that was organized by Bob Geldof the previous year and featured an all star line-up that included U2, Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, The Police, Duran Duran among others. And it was Bob Geldof who was the organizer and driving force behind Live Aid. To say otherwise is ignorance or dishonesty.
And please, this idea that Michael Jackson was a civil rights figure?! Somebody find me 10 examples from the last 3 years where anybody in the black community called or referred to Michael Jackson as a civil rights figure. Talk about revisionist history. You would have been laughed out of the room if you had made that statement a year ago.
and while all this hoopla has been going on about MJ, soldiers have been dying/getting killed in combat.
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen
Don’t worry. When you die, no one will give a flying shit. And if you’re lucky, you might get a two line obit in the paper.
Michael deserves all the love he is getting from around the world.
When you, your children & your children’s great grand children are all worthless dust, people will still be talking about Michael Jackson.
He was the Mozart of our time. The racists who troll this site frequently to disparage anyone of color mentioned (as rare as that is) to feel better about their own failures will simply have to accept that fact.
Quite frankly, Michael Jackson had more talent in his stool than you sycophants will ever have even if you somehow live a million years.
Nikki, you just went down several notches in breaking your promise to not dwell on the “circus” as you yourself labeled it. I sincerely hope your assessment of MJ’s financial state & the future of his legacy, if it ever comes, regains your usual journalistic integrity.
As for his friends, family etc re: his troubles, the extension of help can only be successful when it’s accepted. Do you know whether either occurred?
I don’t hear you bitching about all the continuous and unnecessary Obama coverage. Why not? He doesn’t need to be talked about after every thing he does or in my eyes isn’t doing.
I love you ! You are so on target. Will you please come to my next dinner party ?
Shame on AEG for using this whole “memorial” to recoup their losses of the now canceled European tour. Shame on the city of Los Angeles for even agreeing to hold this thing in the first place (which we’ll pay for!!) And shame on the media for acting like a bunch of love-struck 16 year-old girls in their ridiculous, rambling wall-to-wall coverage. I actually really loved Michael Jackson as a kid, during his Thriller days. But those days have long past, and to exalt him to this level is both pathetic and misguided. I agree that this is more about the attention-starved celebs who are still here, than any sort of authentic tribute to Michael Jackson himself. Shameless, shameless.
Agreed. Just bury him already.
I’m not thinking of Michael Jackson as a saint right now. I’m not thinking of the hypocrisy of Brooke Shields. I’m not angry no one mentioned the multi-million dollar settlements to MJ’s victims.
But then, I didn’t watch the memorial.
If a tree falls in the forest, no one hears it unless they turn on the TV.
A-FUCKING-MEN!!!
Finally….someone in the media has the cajones to say what many of us have been thinking.
MJ was a cash cow when alive; he will be a cash cow when dead. And money is what moves this town Nikki. ONLY MONEY COUNTS.
Well said Nikki!!!! It’s all about how much more money “they” can make of his death. Everyone is starting to come out of their “holes” and see how “they” can benefit from all of this. What a shame.
Totally agree, Nikki. All this media coverage for a junkie pedo.
Thank you Nikki, for saying how many of us feel.
Michael Jackson’s family is turning his life and death into mythology, by which they will continue to make a fortune for years to come.
Just watch. He will be even bigger in death than he was in life.
Did not watch. It was two hours and 50 minutes worth of song and babble that should have lasted only 90 minutes at the most. All you need is somebody to lead the memorial. A few people giving readings, somebody reading from the gospel, three or four eulogies, Al Sharpton preaches, a song of rememberance, and then a closing prayer followed by a closing song. BTW, according to FOX News, the Lakers paid for the memorial.
He was the best at what he did, let him have his due. When any of you can reach the level of success MJ has, then criticize.
Wow, you people are the very definition of the phrase “hard, cold bitches”.. Being glad that someone is dead is despicable no matter who they are. And clearly those of you who say that it’s hypocritical for people to change their opinion when someone dies.. well, I can only assume that you live in a very dark and scary world where no actual human beings live because here on planet Earth, this happens daily because people forgive and forget.
Nikki, I hope that people are more forgiving of your mistakes when that sad day comes and you are no longer with us. I cry ‘foul’ with you using a complaint about Michael’s service to get what looks to me like a pretty good amount of traffic.
I thought todays service was a beautiful way to pay tribute to a man who gave this world a lot. And honestly, if you’re mad because the service was all over tv, try reading a book, going to a movie or going out and interacting with other human beings – it might make you a better one yourself.
Cheers, Nikki! What can you say? Warped!
LOL @ the guy calling Michael Jackson “the Mozart of our time”.
The local government of Los Angeles should be recalled for repeat gross violations of fiduciary duty.
Meanwhile, the hyperbole from these Jackson mutants is staggering.
Why do black people always have to make everything a black issue? You are the racists. Moreover, Jackson wasn’t even black. He turned himself white, ordered white kids, and even appointed white people as executors of his will. Get over it. Nobody cares about his race – except for black people who are obsessed with it.
He was a fantastic performer but he was not bigger than Elvis, Sinatra, the Beatles. LOL. Those people were first movers and seminal. Jackson didn’t invent pop but he did wonderful things with it. Madonna is more inventive and iconic than he was, and she is outlasting everyone. Save the sexist shrieking. It’s totally true.
The media makes it seem like people care more about Jackson than they do. People stopped being interested years ago. Whatever interest lingers is for the murder mystery style of his passing still unfolding, and from a minority of weirdo celebrity worshippers.
No one said they were “glad” he died.
If you don’t like the content on this site, don’t come here. PLEASE. There are a bazillion fan sites online where you can unleash the insanity and commiserate together.
Stop the hysteria, get some meaning in your life and stop living through this guy. He sang and danced a long time ago, he didn’t cure cancer. Move on.
Just finished watching the memorial,very touching,for people complaining about the length of coverage..he’s only been dead for ten days!
What?would you think they would organize a memorial in less than that,america spawns super stardom and fake celebs all the time and they get coverage all the time,mj was the most famous and above all of them.
Nikki how you could be mean on the day of a family’s grief is just tasteless as is all the other posters on this site-who gives a fxxx if some stupid exec got fired!!!???
How could u honestly expect everyone to stop talking about his life and death after a few days?Cmon…
Nikki, you are a low-class idiot and so is every one who agrees with you. How much money do you suppose Hollywood made off of Michael? How much tax money do you suppose the city of L.A. made over the years off of Michael? And what about the industry leeches and parasites who sucked money off of each and every thing he did? Yeah, what was paid out today for his memorial was a mere PITTANCE compared to how much this industry made while exploiting him. He was OWED everything he got today, and more.
I’m glad all you whiners and racists got stuck watching today’s tribute. May you all choke it. And the best part is…there was nothing you could do about it. Does it hurt? Good. Bring more of it on.
Long live Michael Jackson!
Micheal Jackson, was a silence-buying, boy didling PEDOPHILE, along with his amazing musical accomplishment. Pedophile trumps musician, so…
FUCK Micheal Jackson, FUCK political correctness, and if you’re one of his apologists, FUCK YOU TOO.
lol. So true. OMG listening to Sharpton you’d think there was no Jesse Owens or Negro baseball league or a Bill Russell or even MLK. Sharpton trying to re-write history much like he always does. And sorry what a joke seeing Brooke Shields up there. She hadn’t spoken to Jackson in something like 12 yrs. Those fool brothers who did everything but shame him publicaly/ Brava to Liz Taylor coming out and saying she wasn’t going to take part in that shizz. All these morons on television talking about Jackson when they hadn’t seen or heard from him for years. It’s sickening. The only real emotion of the day was from Paris, an 11 yr old who Lord help her what will come of her life with those crazy Jackson’s
Right on Nikki, dont let the wacko jacko fans stop your thoughts.
doesnt MJ’s victims have a voice?
The only people Michael Jackson has truly touched are thirteen year old boys. In the meantime, this slavish and idiotic heradling of a drug addicted pedo in debt to the tune of hundreds of millions while living in a $100,000 a month rented mansion in Holmby Hills is a farce.
Two words for all the Michael Jackson sycophants: Jesus Juice.
The day before the Michael Jackson extravaganza, I saw pics in the British press of a pedophile executed in Yemen. Hands tied behind his back and facedown on a red cloth in a sandbox with a soldier aiming his rifle into the back of his head.
The sight of millions of Americans weeping and gnashing their teeth for a pill-popping pedophile couldn’t have provided a more stark contrast.
(As far as those people ranting at any skeptic to this folly that Michael has “touched so many people”…I can think of a couple little millionaires he touched as well).
This was nothing compared to the Princess Diana coverage 10 years ago and she didn’t even do anything for a living! She was a tragic memeber of the British Royal family. The fact that Mother Theresa died two days after her didn’t help ease the saturation of coverage. It increased since Mother Theresa commented on the Princess’ passing just days before she herself passed.
We are still discussing Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley and even Anna Nicole Smith and decades later we will be still be discussing Michael Jackson.
There is no such thing as “enough”. Get used to it.
nikki – this is the world we live in…deal babe! afterall, you do the exact same thing…only it’s journalism for you…RIP MJ…and elvis, the oxyclean man and farrah….our lives aren’t our own anymore…and we don’t even f*ing twitter! it’s just the way it is now and the world is a little better for having MJ’s songs in it….don’t tell me your foot doesn’t tap to his beats….and he was found not guilty–was he not?…for what it’s worth….let’s just celebrate his life and not stick our nose up to it…..life is too damn short…celebrate and enjoy the legacy!
signed a mom!
There are 17,500 who were at the Staples Center and close to 1 billion viewers worldwide who disagree with you.
You are wrong! He is the last superstar to ever exist, an icon who changed pop culture for better, who deserves all of the attention he is receiving. MJ was a sensational artist who made groundbreaking and timeless music. The media is celebrating his career; people are interested in Michael’s fascinating life and want to read and see about the mysteries surrounding his death. What’s wrong with that? Besides, it has been a slow news week. You’re a heartless cynic.
It is too much. My girlfriend got a CNN alert while she was at work that said “Michael Jackson’s casket is being moved”. I need to alert CNN that my bowels just moved.
In life he was a monument to waste. He wasted his talent, he wasted his money, he wasted his legacy and in the end, he wasted himself.
Now,in death, his “people” are wasting my money. This needs to stop.
Lay off the snark today Nikki. Sometimes you need to take a break from yourself.
I disagree 100% with you about today’s MJ memorial.
And many people tried to help MJ with finances, but since he was an adult he chose who to listen to. And actually, from what I’ve read many of the people surrounding him leading up the London concert and avoiding foreclosure of Neverland were getting him back on track.
MJ was treated as ours from the beginning to end — we all shared in the end today and hopefully we are better people for taking some honesty from that event and reconsidering if we’re hurting or helping others. And maybe we should ask for forgiveness for having been so quick to judge MJ. We’re all so tainted by tabloid that we make crude judgments about many celebrities without real information.
Save the snark for people who really deserve it in this town.
Dont worry Nikki, when you drop dead no one will give a damn, feel better now ?
Thank You! I thought I was the only one sick of it. I love how Rev. Sharpton and J. Jackson just seem to surface whenever they can blow their hole. Gawd somebody please shut those two up, use Michaels glitter glove to stuff in their mouths.
Christ, Nikki. Just stop talking. Seriously. Why do you always expect the worst of people?
And by the way haters, plenty of people loved MJ ’til the end and saw him for the fragile, vulnerable and eccentric soul that he was rather than the “freak” and criminal you wanted him to be. Just because you don’t care doesn’t mean the rest of us aren’t grieving. Have some class.
To all those that tout MJ’s pedophilia, how ’bout those mother’s pimpin’ their children out and claiming MJ ‘messed’ with their child. Did they return any monies after they admitted they lied about said ‘molestation.’ Did one of those alleged victims return any money? Can anyone answer that? Make sure you include this part of your ‘exploitation’ definition.
MICHAEL, THE KING IS DECEASED.
AND I WISH THE MEDIA CIRCUS WOULD CEASE!
STOP THIS BLASPHEMY I IMPLORE,
YOU BLOOD-SUCKING WHORES.
AND LET THE POOR MAN REST IN PEACE!
You dumb ass you don’t pay 22 million dollars to a childs parents if you didn’t ply the child with porno and stuff after telling their parents that MJ went down on them do you? After they explain what going down means, right!
Hell no you don’t as he is child molester and a human freak who after Billiejean went no wear.
Rest in freak peace you freak mJ.
This is what all the ignorant white people don’t get is that we as black americans are conflicted by michael. He represents what racism has done to black americans. We look for you guys for validation. we straighten our hair, we have to assimilate to get ahead. And here is a guy who was the dream for African-Americans, he broke barriers and all he wanted to do was be white and accepted by white people. You guys for some reason think that means that he is not black but that is not true. He’s black and suffered from such racial hatred that he could have anything in this world and all he wanted was to be white. That is sad, that is what racism has done. That is a intra-racial problem that YOU GUYS WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND. that makes us cry for him but we won’t disown him because no matter how hard he may have tried, no matter how much surgery he may have had, he will never be white…ever. He will always be remembered for his greatness and for the sadness of what self hate can make you do.
So for us he did break barriers, for us he did get black people on MTV. You guys sit in your ivory towers and don’t even remember that we were not allowed on MTV. And he did it. But sadly, he could have all this greatness but still not be afforded the premiums tied to white skin so he went out and got it. It’s happening in different African countries as we speak. It’s happening in the south. Skin bleaching and passing is as black as sweet potato pie. You guys just don’t get it because you don’t know many of us passed work.
I don’t think it’s the memorial ceremony per se that Nikki’s critiquing (although I personally found a lot of that in iffy taste, it’s what a lot of people apparently wanted, so be it, although it’s not fair to stick the people of LA & its government with the bills), it’s all the other incessant coverage that’s gone on since we learned of the death both before the memorial ceremony and sadly after it.
This evening all 3 broadcast networks ran more MJ coverage in primetime instead of either scripted stuff or even crap reality shows.
After this afternoon’s ceremony we should be done folks. What was run after the ceremony which was carried on too many outlets was either redundant of the memorial or just plain salacious. Enough.
Seriously it needs to stop. The trials/legal stuff a channel like TruTV can tackle, the gossipy stuff to TMZ/E!/TV Guide network. People looking for entertainment want that back now thanks and this story is done.
It would also be nice if the national news would try to get back to covering real hard news like the fact that as of April of this year America has 33.8 million people on food stamps, a record high number which I’m sure is also a record high sum of money taxpayers are spending to support their neighbors (and they’re projecting that when the May 2009 data is available it will be 35 million Americans on food stamps).
Of course the media now are terminally lazy and won’t give you that kind of coverage of dozens of important stories like the food stamp story, but I’ll settle for no more than 60 seconds per evening news telecast updating us on the settlement of MJ’s estate etc.
For those of you who want to grieve, fine, go ahead, but return the majority of the airwaves/bandwidth to the rest of us so we can get on with the business of living already. We’ll gladly catch you up on real news when you’re ready to rejoin us.
I laughed, I cried, I was at the movies for an escape.
Look, let’s be real… MJ died a long time ago. What was left was a shell of a person. Man? Boy? I’m not sure even he knew. He was at best guilty of horrible judgement and at worst molestation. Many have opinions about that, but no one really knows.
What we do know is that he was amazingly talented; I mean really incredible. Maybe there was an unconscious opening of racial doors that I as a Caucasian can’t fully comprehend. But more importantly as a human I think we should all understand that since he was a small child he was treated like a workhorse… Trained to do tricks and sing for his supper. He was exploited by his family, by record companies and by a public and country that values stardom
and celebrity more than children or psychological well being.
His death was unexpected, but if we are honest with ourselves it couldn’t really be a shock. We had watched him slowly kill himself for years but humored the whacko aspect if it entertained either by music or spectacle. The memorial service was more touching than I expected save the politicos who spoke.
I hope to hear little more about this as the days continue, but I do hope that the caged animal that MJ clearly felt he was can stop his pacing… I hope AEG and the Jackson family do the right thing and pay back the city for the expense of the tribute, but clearly doing the right thing isn’t the protagonist in this story.
Gov. Sanford is the luckiest news cycle SOB ever… And we all should think twice when we think it’s “cool” to bring our kids to sn audition and hope they become stars. Just love ‘em and give them a normal childhood. Betcha MJ would’ve traded for that anyday…
It’s mind blowing how all these so called “friends” can’t wait to sell photographs now to the tabloids of those children. When that little girl got up to speak anyone catch Janet imploring her to “speak up!” ? The only real emotion from any of them when that little girl was breaking down was LaToya in the background. The fake pull and grab from Janet was such bs. Same with the group hug. They’re not fooling anyone. They don’t even know those children. He kept his kids away from his family for a reason. You know any parents that insist their children call them by their first names like Joseph and Katherine? Hello
Whoever said this is nothing compared to Princess Di’s coverage from ‘97 is dead on. Of course MJ will never be as big as Presley, Lennon, or Garland.
Say what you want.
He was bigger than Elvis. Bigger than the Beatles. Bigger than Sinatra.
There was not and will not ever be a bigger celebrity in our lifetime. Part due to the way of the world, media,talent, etc. -but fact be told. He crossed all lines like nobody ever did. Good, bad and ugly, he truly was the King of Pop.
Thanks Nikki! Exactly what the rest of us are thinking too. Make that Million of us.
And they say we have good taste..sheesh!
I think the press should take a hard look at how they destroy lives and then rebuild them for their own greed. That said, His death is the end of an era for all of us. He was a true star with a body of work that many artists today will never have. Celebrating that is not wrong at all. He has brought together generations, natioanlities…fans…true fans. There are very few stars today, maybe none, who can sell out a stadium, let alone 50 nights in a row. Very few movies stars who will ALWAYS open a movie. We should celebrate those that do…for the good of the industry! It may have been over the top but he deserves every praise anyone had to shower on him. I’d rather watch that on tv than the garbage that we all see, reatlity tv, shootings, etc. by the way you only write about gossip…why is that different than this???
“…THE POOR MAN REST IN PEACE…” Comment by Poetknowit
jokes aside, thats probably the most symbolic & poignat set of words posted this whole thread.
alot to ponder on what fame really brings within its train. riches? comfort? fame? friends? friendship? peace? joy? passion? lust? hope? rest? stress? anxiety? poverty of riches? poverty of spirit or mental well-being?
…to MJ for the positive qualities & joys you brought to humankind, and to the fallen U.S.A. troops who enable America’s citizens to be all they can be with their precious lives, may you all rest in peace & may God shine His mercy, forgiveness, & love on your precious souls. I hope all are in a better place then this vale of tears….this ash and moisture, we call reality.
peace & hope
You got it right on Nikki.
I’ve heard of vicarious living through celebrity before, but watching folks watch this on TV at my office looked like people were hoping to die vicariously too. Very sad to see some elements of our society behave this way.
You really dropped the ball on this one Nikki. MJ was the biggest star of his generation. Of course it’s important. Wake up.
Any time a Jackson story is aired, the channel is immediately changed.
The only two people I believed were Paris (poor kids are going to be exp;oited by the family now) and Marlon who mentioned his long deceased twin.
IMO the city should have told the family upfront that if they wanted to use the Staples Center they should rent it; and pay for ALL expenses involved.
For that matter , if Michael was “broke” why is there such a large estate to settle? Was he unable to pay these bills, or simply unwilling; believing that he should not have to pay for things due to his celebrity status? (Keep in mind that there have been stories of Michael and his family not paying debts for over 20 years.
Thank You Nikki for having the courage to say this where all others are silent for fear of being accused of racism by the vocational victims like Sharpton, Jesse, etc.
Way to go Nikki!!!
Michael Jackson was totally deserving of the coverage. even with his eccentric life (or perhaps partially because of it)he is the biggest star in the world. There was so much coverage because people wanted to see it. i wanted to see it. my friends wanted to see it. we are in mourning because a man that made so many people happy is no longer with us.
it’s a big deal.
I am embarrassed by, and for, the talking heads who gushed indiscriminately 24/7, on cue. (I feel a diabetic coma coming on.)
Michael Jackson was talented. More importantly he was a pedophile and junkie who loved his fix more than he loved his children and in effect, abandoned them. He left a mountain of debt and creditors who trusted him to do the right thing. He ditched friends and animals left and right. He left 3 confused children who don’t even know where they came from and are wanted by everyone but their putative mother. What a fine mess.
And why do I suspect that his daughter, Paris’s little moment was scripted? That is MJ’s legacy. You can’t believe anything you see or hear.
If a person is not a Michael Jackson supporter and fan and prefers some other type of music, well, then consider the sources of the message board here.
MJ IS the Biggest Star of his generations and others who are into his music style. I am an original Jackson 5 fan and I consider it a privilege to have been an eyewitness to 2 of their concerts when they first started out. I am from the LA area and so I saw them first at the Hollywood Bowl and The Commodores with Lionel Richie as their warm-up act. The second time was at The Forum in Inglewood with Randy and Janet just starting out. I had one of the best seats in the house and so amazing for sure.
Some people prefer classical music. Some people are into the Broadway type music. Some love Country/Western style and others love Rap/Hip Hop. It is all a matter of choice and preference.
There are website blogs that have administrators/moderators who are not into Michael Jackson or his genre of music. To each his/her own.
Rest in peace, Michael. The millions and millions of worldwide, international fans all across the globe know greatness and they all knew it with Michael Jackson and you can include me in that group!
Okay, the media coverage is over the top, but this is a family grieving. Just because they didn’t get along all the time, doesn’t mean they were putting on a show for media. Do you get along with your family all the time, probably not. Would you be devastated if your sister or brother or father’s passed away? I think you know the answer. And just because Brook hasn’t seen him since 91, doesn’t mean she didn’t love him. If your childhood friend died suddenly, would you grieve? Just think about it, before being so judgment. It’s sad to think so many people love to spread hate.
If I had a “friend” or family member who went steadily downhill for years with drug and money problems, before ultimately dying from the same, I sure as hell would be ashamed to go around bragging about our relationship. I also wouldn’t be cheesily and overdramatically performing his songs on a televised funeral to resuscitate my dead or dying career. But then, I’m not Usher or Jermanine Jackson. Thank God.
Anderson Cooper and the rest of the media elites should also be ashamed because they’re indulging in some new form of necrophilia. I hope Gloria Vanderbilt gets coverage akin to this current freakshow upon her death.
Whether you’re a fan of his music or not, ALL you cry baby whiners need to shut the fuck up about the cost of MJ’s funeral.
Michael payed millions upon millions in taxes to the state of CA over his lifetime—more money than any of you misers can fathom.
So quit being such a bunch of little bitches and if you don’t want to see the news coverage then don’t. It’s simple.
The King family has a lot in common with the Jacksons: All self promoters living off the legacy of a dead relative, because they have nothing to contribute themselves.
Nikki,
That’s a cruel and insensitve thing to say. The weird thing is that you’re usually right on the money and you’re usually on the right side – that’s why I read your page every day.
Say what you will, the guy made a huge impact on the entertainment industry and he inspired millions of people for decades. The whole world watched his memorial service. Your comment makes you sound like a snarky, jaded bitch to the billions of people who disagree with you. Sometimes its okay to keep your mouth shut.
For the record, Frank, Marliyn, Elvis, and Michael Jackson are worth more than Anna Nicole Smith because they did something. Anna was famous because she married an old man for his money and the media went ape over her greed.
Also, Michael Jackson isn’t the last superstar. Try telling that to Michael Jordan or anyone else number one in their profession. Believe me, when Michael Jordan dies, there will be nonstop coverage for days due to his records and his popularity.
Get over it, he was one of the biggest icons of our time…let it be.
Because this is the realm of yin/yang, there will always be a jaded view of what amounted to be a beautiful memorial service, for a one-of-a-kind persona.
The totality of MJ coverage is simple supply and demand.
As for the jealousy that fuels the bitterness towards MJ and what he represents, that’s also the “yang” of reaching the heights he did. There is no way around it.
If he could have *accepted* this truth of existence–that you can’t have the fame, without the misfortune–perhaps he would have risen above the need to escape through drugs.
But then again, it’s impossible to realize these truths from this side of the psyche. Just like the others before him, MJ finally sees Truth with his third eye, after death … on the other side.
Gee, you’d think somebody important died or somethin’…
Comment by ben — July 8, 2009 @ 3:31 pm
Emm..did you slept on the same bed with MJ? Must be..you are so protective of him.
He is lucky to have died so early cause no more talks about his weird behaviour of sleeping with young boys.
Wait..shift it back.
Lucky for all the millions of boys, one less scary pedophile alive!
There..I have said what many millions dare not say but knows for sure! Now go eat your shorts!
Amen to that
Such interesting from so many “academy award winners” and famous peons. It’s like a group of hedges trying to spew venom on top of California Pinetree.
He was not a king, or a prince. He was not an angel. He was a performer with serious personal issues. His face was the result of years of self mutilation. My nieces were told that he was “sick” and are barred from watching stories about him.
If he were a true civil rights icon he would not have spent years lightening his skin.
You know, if a black person does something big, they get criticized. But if a white person does something, they do not get criticized. Unfortnatly, racism is alive and well, even in the most liberal city and even in the entertaiment industry.
I’ll leave it at that..
Jacksons transformation into a mutilated, bleached, perverted, unrecognizable entity is a perfect metaphor for the American Media. We are in serious trouble. Thank God for talk radio and Fox news.
Rest In Peace
Jacksons transformation into a mutilated, bleached, perverted, unrecognizable entity is a perfect metaphor for the American Media. We are in serious trouble. Thank God for talk radio and Fox news.
Comment by Rocky — July 9, 2009 @ 8:05 am
Fox News? Whose only coverage of republican white supremacist James Von Brunn’s rampage & killing of an African American guard @ the Holocaust museum on the day of the shooting was to note his service in World War 2?
Then when Shepard Smith called the man what he was, a racist who made Janet Napolitano’s report on right wing extremism valid, he was nearly fired amid death threats!
You are living proof why the corrupt, racist, sexist white supremacist oligarchy that has brought this country to ruin is coming to an end.
Comment by Anonymous — July 9, 2009 @ 1:17 pm
You just made Rocky’s head spin, trust me, he has no clue what you’re talking about.
Anonymous, You poor, sad, pathetic, angry, liberal
Read beyond the headline or listen beyond the sound bite. Fox covered the shooting extensively on every one of their programs. You lose credibility when you say the only thing they mentioned was his service in WWII. Just like all good left wing liberals you are angry, disingenuous and uninformed. You can’t fathom that your view of the world might be wrong. Von Brunn was no more a Republican than you, Reverend Wright, or Bill Ayers. You remember them. Von Brunn hated America just like you and your aforementioned friends.
Comment by Move on, period — July 9, 2009 @ 7:08 am
Jackson was White. Didn’t you see his videos ‘Black or White’ You’re not alone’ and interviews before his death? You call that skin black? Which planet you’ve been living in?
I’ll leave it at that!
It’s pretty hard to put Michael in either category of black or white. When he was alive he ostracized himself and every race on the planet criticized him for his looks. Only NOW does the black community “claim” him.
Stop playing the race card already, it’s getting stale. Racism is those poor kids being force out of the pool; or of peole denied a chance at a job or a home because of the color of their skin.
Racism is NOT about a guy who’s gotten dozens of awards, and made a ton of money; only to blow it with an out of control lifestyle.
His fans can watch the next tribute concert; and then wait for award season where he’ll get another dozen posthumous honors. Then all should move on, and hopefully we’ll be spared the sight of his mutilated face and the rantings of his miserable money grubbing father.
In regards to the memorial service alone, not the feeding frenzy into his personal life, 31 million people tuned in. During the day, during the week. How many more people like me would have tuned in if they didn’t have to work? Two or three times more? 100 million? 200? Sorry to take you away from the soaps that would have been running in the same time frame.
The Jacksons and AEG did a masterful rehabilitating Michael Jackson’s image.
Although there has been a lot of coverage, it doesn’t seem to have risen (or fallen) to that of Anna Nicole Smith. Thank god.
I’m sure much more will come out; much of it unflattering. The fact that he was a major drug addict and basically killed himself. So for the Jacksons to say that “he was killed” (as La Toya and Joe are postulating) is really denying the facts. Clear co-dependent behavior.
In the end, MJ will be remembered for his great music–much of which still holds up even after 25+ years. And he will be remembered for the bizarre behavior and the association with young boys. The good AND the bad.