Ten Most Important Moments Of The Michael Jackson Memorial Mess

@Baroness: I agree.. Especially since there were no actual tears, from her or Marlon, it was all very artificial looking.. I'm sure the words were genuine, but the actions seemed really fake.

@angelbuff:
Wearing sunglasses at funerals is now a common and accepted modern tradition, the purpose being to hide red and tearful eyes from others.

Neodymium

@SelbyNoser:
It wasn't planned, I believe she wanted to and they allowed her to.

Neodymium

@Occula: I know this is awfully late, but really? I was eleven when my mom died, and I did a reading at her funeral. Voluntarily. Sobbed like an infant the whole time, but I chose to do it. What I can't imagine a child that age putting herself through is the disgusting speculation, criticism, and suspicion being directed at her just because she wanted to say a few words about her father's death, but surely she didn't realize people could be such assholes.

@ ithabeleng metesunyane: Um dude, you stole that quote from idontlikeyouinthatway.com. And it wasn't really funny in the first place.

ZafirMalkoth

@gawkimo: IT'S LIKE YOU ARE INSIDE MY HEAD, THINKING MY THOUGHTS.

@Pope John Peeps II: Yeah, and MJ was a professional dancer doing exactly what he was paid to do. Except he didn't risk his life daily doing so. And made a HELL of a lot more money to jump around and walk backwards. Maybe you should go away.

I guess I'm one of the few who thought it was an amazing, appropriate and moving ceremony which was put together in a very short time. However, I was disturbed by the following: The Jackson family's exploitation of Paris - it's a trait that's obviously in the blood. Prince Michael's seeming callousness and lack of respect, or is this typical behavior for a 12 year old boy at a funeral? Blanket's holding of the MJ doll. These poor kids.

AstridAmphilochus

It was interminable (like the Twilight Zone episode where Dennis Weaver lives the same dream over and over and is desperate to wake up). Though there was much to crititize in the memorial/celebration/coronation
of a pedophile, I still found most of YOUR critique to be baseless.

The rolling out of the casket, friends and associates telling humorous stories (I loved Magic's "chicken" story), women in oversized hats and ministers saying wildly inappropriate things are events that occur at nearly ALL black funerals (at least at every one I've attended in my 40+ years). I realize you white folks are the self-appointed experts in ALL things, but at least allow us to be DEAD in the manner in which we choose, okay?

If you wish to spotlight the truly inappropriate, try John Mayer's appearance. While Sharpton and Representative Lee try to convince us that MJ single-handedly paved the way for every black socio-political advancement, how strange to turn the stage over to a white guy who has bemoaned the fact that whites cannot use the "n" word. Remember John Boy's proud claim that he'd like to say it "about a thousand times a day?" (Great little act of client placement there, Ken Sunshine!)

BestofBrooklyn

godDAM... a bunch of thin-skinned hoo-hahs up in here, all clutchin' they pearls. Sorry I mussed the doilies on your fainting couch.

@off-kilter: Edit - "why didn't..."

off-kilter

@inflammatorywrit: I felt very sad seeing this as well, a kid who's lost her daddy.

From what I saw, she wanted to speak, and members of the family tried to dissuade her, but she said again that she wanted to speak. And considering that millions of people were watching the exchange, I'd do the same thing, of saying "OK" but being right there and worried about her collapsing.

That said - who didn't anyone tell Prince to get rid of the gum?!? Maybe it was a coping mechanism, but really...

off-kilter

Ironically enough, the only person on the dais with enough heart and soul to look out onto the assembled quagmire was the tragically bereft daughter Paris--everyone else up there had all the humanity of a fly with the eyes shaded thusly.

Not only did the apple not fall far from tree, it rotted in its toxic shadow...

only good parts were stevie singing and paris at the end.

the rest was meh.

a lot of you are a bunch of bitter people btw, so cynical. you waste a lot of energy being so miserable, cheer up and stop trying to be so "anti-everything" and "ironic."

sdotbailey

@pinkthing: I didn't get the sense that it was coerced or planned at all. First off, they struggled with the mike to get it at her height. If it were pre-planned, it would have been set up already.

I thought that his daughter wanted to speak, and it's natural. It was the most human part of the ceremony, and as others said, showed that everyone else lost an icon/celebrity. She and her brothers lost their dad. So many millions of people are sharing in the grief, but they're utterly alone in feeling this immense loss.

MeiTai

@Truculent: ha! Now you've reminded me of Jay Leno back when he still had flashes of the old stuff, he noted the bizarre "Jackson Family Honors" TV Special on NBC was counter-programming CBS Olympic ski coverage; "It was good night if you liked to see people go downhill fast"

[www.imdb.com]
[www.nytimes.com]

It was interminable (like the Twilight Zone episode where Dennis Weaver lives the same dream over and over and is desperate to wake up). Though there was much to crititize in the memorial/celebration/coronation
of a pedophile, I still found most of YOUR critique to be baseless.

The rolling out of the casket, friends and associates telling humorous stories (I loved Magic's "chicken" story), and ministers getting carried away and saying wildly inappropriate things are events that occur at nearly ALL black funerals (at least every one I've attended in my 40+ years). I realize you white folks are the self-appointed experts in ALL things, but at least allow us to be DEAD in the manner in which we choose, okay?

If you wish to spotlight the truly inappropriate, try topping your list with the appearance of John Mayer. While Sharpton and Sheila Jackson Lee try to convince us that MJ is single-handedly responsible for every black socio-political advancement, how strange to turn the stage over to a white guy who has bemoaned the fact that whites cannot use the "n" word. Remember John Boy's proud claim that he'd like to say it "about a thousand times a day?" (Great little act of client placement there, Ken Sunshine!)

BestofBrooklyn

I feel for Michael's precious kids, despite being insulated by their father's fame, he tried to ensure that they be free to just be children. After sitting and watching countless strangers (to them) offer their loving reminiscences of the polarizing and eccentric figure they knew simply as Daddy, it seemed perfectly acceptable that Paris wanted her turn to share her personal thoughts on her beloved father. Many claim that Michael meant the world to them, but, only those children can truly say that and mean it. God Bless them all....

ValenciaFloyd

@pinkthing: Why would they tell Paris she had to speak? Why not the eldest boy? Why not all three of them? I really think she wanted to. If someone had tried to make me do something I didn't want to do when I was 11 and in an emotionally vulnerable state, I would've thrown a fit.

leytpr4

I am not a Jackson worshipper but I still disagree with pretty much this entire post. Usually love your snarky television recaps. Here, however, where you saw awkwardness, strangeness and opportunities for snark, I just saw a celebrity funeral; more "normal" then I expected and familiar in the invocation of black baptist church funeral traditions I've experienced. Your mocking of it here just makes you come off as an asshole. I will miss your recaps in the upcoming seasons of Real Housewives of [fill in city here].

DelannaJobonee

@Alexis Brown: I am not sure if there is a dispute as to the original meaning of the song being about MJ going to see God. I think the issue is that it has a double entendre of the people going to see the King (of Pop) that is somewhat irritating to some.

TriedandTrue

@valet_of_the_dolls:

Not really. I just don't understand everyone else's fascination with the subject.

@It's twue! It's twue!: I agree, Blanket seems to have very similar eyes to MJ.

As much as their genetic parentage does interest me, the children's love for him settles it in my mind that he was a loving father to them. For whatever that's worth.

My goodness I'm getting soppy in my old age.

@czecher: They hid his "encouragement" belt, and the search kept him occupied all night.

@lobstr: I'm being all uncharacteristically sincere about my MJ-sadness at the moment (although I did not watch this terrifying memorial-with-casket-present shebang), but that, sir/madam, was FUNN-AY.

@Baroness: The girl was smiling during the "We Are The World" thing, if you look carefully. Also: it was pure exhibitionism on the part of the Jackson family to do this. (And what's with the sunglasses?) Elizabeth Taylor stayed out of this circus of idiots. Her statement suggested that she didn't feel it was an appropriate way to mourn the loss of her friend. That's classy. This was like a shitty Superbowl halftime show. People getting sentimental about seeing MJ's daughter on this are probably the same people rusji8ng out to buy "Off The Wall" for the umpteenth time. The Jacksons must be thrilled.

PS: Every one of these people close to MJ watched him commit suicide little by little over the years. They did nothing while he injected himself with surgical grade painkillers? True friends my ass. These people were voyeurs and vultures. That's what's sad about watching that girl on stage surrounded by these jerks.

gawkimo

@jane-eyre-head: No we are now beginning the long goodbye to the Michael Jackson death story. . . story.

gawkimo

@Alexis Brown: "Jesus Touched Me" is also a metaphor, but it makes me giggle.

gawkimo

@Colonel Mustard: Most memorials aren't circuses broadcast to billions of people worldwide.

gawkimo

As usher learned sunglasses dont help."He's gone" he began to sing, sharing with us "usheresq" feelings that left him tone deaf.
Hopefully,US house rep send us a white dressed delivery vehicle which ,albeit fakes feelings, taught us how to be fantastic, in speech.
To close,a little girl with a french name said a few about the best dad ever and, by the way, sent us over the edge.

Mohamed Ndiaye-Kingué

@seyswho: But, but . . . he was ROBBED of his CHILDHOOD!

gawkimo

@the fung: That's funny.

gawkimo

@pinkthing: I agree. Even if this 11 year old wanted to go up there, it was voyeurism and everyone knows it. And considering how MJ tried to keep his kids out of the public eye, it disrespected his wishes, I'm sure. That family is nuts and all they see right now is dollar signs.

gawkimo

As a dude, I cried at the end cuz it was really emotional and surprising to hear Paris speak for the first time.

However, I thought the memorial was going a little downhill when Smokey Robinson's speech sounded like a stand-up routine when he showed up for the second time.

Robbie Yang

I can't say for sure, but I think that girl was faking the crying. Aside from the change their lives are taking as a result of it, I don't think those kids really care whether that guy is dead or not.

Also, it was totally weird how all those Jacksons were grabbing at the microphone all at once when she spoke. I guess Janet won that weird power struggle among them by having adjusted it last.

...uhm...anyone noticed his oldest son ? He was chewing on his bubblegum in a ihateallthis way. Its not the last we´ve seen from him.

Jus´sayin.

TimMighty

@Steverino Begins: I had this conversation with my husband! I reckon MJ would have been totally bummed that he wasn't at LEAST being fired out of a cannon! Those elephants should have been so much more involved.

I wonder if he would have liked to be in an open coffin, like James Brown? MJ kissed his cold corpse right on the lips when he went to the viewing.

Although, it's been two weeks, and his brain is still in a different location, so maybe not a good idea. I tend to chuck out the yoghurt if it's been in the fridge for a few days, let alone the bodies...

Coffin humour anyone?

bluemoonday

@leytpr4: She's only eleven. If her family told her she needed to get up there and speak, I'm sure she would have done it, esp. if she wanted to please all her aunts & uncles & grandparents. I thought it was actually kind of horrifying. A child mourning the loss of the only parent she's ever known is probably not in a state to be paraded around like that.

pinkthing

Hey Rich,

Can I safely assume you've never been to a black funeral before? This service was long, sometime tedious and often depressing -- as funerals tend to be -- but it wasn't nearly as strange as it could have been. I usually like your snarky insights, but I think you approached it in dick mode and never moved your switch once.

badass-boi

@Rickyneck: Those aren't heroes. Those are professional soldiers doing exactly what they get paid to do. Go away. Nobody wants you here.

@jane-eyre-head: Did you mean 24 days?

@Spirit Fingers: Everything else will be forgotten. Little Paris weeping for her lost father is what everyone will remember. It brought the whole spectacle down to earth.

@joeyjoey73: she always has, and she only seems to get better as she ages. plus i don't see any signs of plastic surgery. genes like that are one in a million.

spotted-dog

@Alexis Brown: Yeah, that was definitely creepy. It was like she was talking about a pet instead of her father.

scouts honor

@crackbabyjesus: I thought Blanket had a very strong resemblance to Michael. They all did around the eyes.

@crackbabyjesus: Those kids were not as pale as we were lead to believe. I thought they could definitely pass for racially mixed.

@ddukbokki:

Does it really matter whether she is biological or not? Do you go around asking that question of your neighbors' kids? If you do, well, that says a lot about you

JudyPaceFace

@Trulymadlyme:

I think it's incorrect to believe that Paris was somehow coerced into speaking. It's commong in the African American community for close relatives to speak at a funeral. I found it touching.

JudyPaceFace

This is all sad... but I find it hard to believe that every news agency and most every channel is locked on to the "spectacke" being aired today... we have real heroes returning from war that gets NO coverage... come on folks... let's demand our NEWS folks focus on the real heroes in our Country... let's hold up better role models for our children and grandchildren!

@Adiphyte: thank you for the agree-to-disagree, and sure. There's no "right" on this all, just differing perspective and opinion. I appreciate you being kind about it.

@Borromeo: The families may lack credibility. Their children? The scuttled, settled-out-of-court, forced to testify about private, terrible issues and bravely going forward with same, given-alcohol, believed by social workers and shrinks children? The exploitated at the hands of a trusted adult, encouraged by dysfunctional, exploited and exploiting families children, who came forward under much oppression to discuss their abuse? Keep me up nights with heartbreak. This was not a good day for them.

All this guy did was dance backwards. BFD. Heroes don't diddle kiddies.

And you, emotionally stunted, self-mutilated, criminally sex-acting, jew-hating, drug-addicted scarecrow. I'm going to miss you the most.

Normal types don't make great art - see John Mayer.

MJ was one of the all time greats and there is no arguing it.
He was bigger than The Beatles and Elvis, those are the facts.

Its all a damn shame.

Ps. Magic Johnson is a criminal, Berry Gordy is a genius, Congresswoman Lee is a moron, Stevie was incredible, and Slash or Eddie Van Halen would have been preferable to the boring white dude from Gap ads.

PPs. The families that accused MJ of molesting their kids have less credibility than the Palins

Borromeo

@Alexis Brown: SERIES IDEA!
Creepy Offsping Eulogizin' with the Stars!

@ithabeleng metesunyane: and @everyone else in this thread: Don't ever change. I love us.

@rubyruby: Agreed, I didn't think the gesture and comment were being coercive. I stroke and mess with my daughter's hair regularly. I saw it as Janet just loving on her and she told her to speak up so she could be heard on a mic they were just tweaking. Janet is the only sane one in the bunch after all.

Charlotte Rae's Web

Just putting it into perspective.

@Steverino Begins: Out of all the reasons to crucify this family, letting the girl speak a few sentences about her dead father at a memorial is really no big deal.

You want to see a creepy kid speech for a dead father? Check out Bindi Irwin.

@Baroness: While I understand your skepticism, eleven year olds just aren't. that. good. Before she spoke, she seemed somewhat fidgety...like she needed to say something, do something. Even Marlon thought that Janet was going to say something next and because of that there was a confused scuffle to get Paris behind the mike. Plus, that girl has been out of the public eye for her entire life, you don't think that one (possibly rehearsed sentence) was called for? She doesn't owe the media or us anything, but sometimes people feel the need to make their feelings known. People are criticizing the Jacksons for not pulling her off sooner, but again, it really felt like it was her decision to speak. Maybe I'm just the optimist for the day, but I didn't see fakeness.

@tigolbitties: Read the comment "King=Jesus/God" again. He (MJ) is going to see the King (God).

Common gospel metaphor.

Bob Dylan is better.

Everyone's forgetting moments 11 and 12: Mimi's rack: [images.mirror.co.uk]

weekly

And so the gag orders expire, and the memoirs can be published. The first will come out in a month or two from now. One wouldn't want to be crass. What intrigued me was the religious aspect. The Jackson's raised their kids to be fervent Joe Blows -- er, Jehovah's Witnesses -- and what transpired mostly fit in with that. No formal prayers, just some singing and reminicences. In my limited understanding, JW's don't believe in heaven or hell; more like a Disney-fied reworking of Earth, where all believers will get together, and have picnics and things. This is all to come. Meanwhile, the departed are just that, gone. When my JW friend died, I was weirded out not only by the absence of body or coffin, but also by the fact that no one knew or cared where it was. So what was with the gold-plated coffin? I'm sure it was just for show.

ZacharySkunk

@deltasierra: Really? There's some shit to be uncovered in that family for sure, but they're also a showbiz fam. Did you really think Michael Jackson was going to be buried quietly? He's a worldwide superstar. I actually think he would have been completely underwhelmed by the procedings and would have wanted himself fired out of a canon or something.

Also, saying two sentences to the millions of her dad's fans is no big deal.

@Kitten_Witawip: "Aw, Aunt Rebbie, do we hafta hear you sing 'Centipede' again?"

@SikeChick19: All these people discussing it - including you, I guess.

@It's twue! It's twue!: Im a little late, but yeah...WHAT THE FUCK. Who was that guy? He looked...odd.

onehotmess

@hilikusopus:

the worst part is that someone fired his fat ass so he's gonna spend all day surfing gawker bugging the rest of us!!!

@Baroness: A bit overanalyzed. Her dad died. She wanted to say something. She broke down. End of story.

bboston88

The Jacksons just found a way to seem even creepier. You just know they were about to devour that little orphaned girl.
Also, La Toya's hat, wow.. but Magic Johnson has been looking the same for 20 years. Must be all the plugging.

anyonecanwhistle

Emotionally disturbed 12 year olds having a microphone jammed down their throats at the goading of adults. Yup... definitely a Jackson production.

CamelToe

@Lulupasternak: I agree that the children are his, biologically or not. I just think that it is possible he is the biological parent. The two boys seem to resemble Michael more than Paris. Until something comes out that is definitive- one way or the other- I guess we don't really know. May MJ find the peace that eluded him on Earth. That is all.

crackbabyjesus

To above commenter.. Show respect for a serial child rapist? Show some respect for his victims.

610Dean

@Ken Green: I have been waiting for a Señor Wences reference on Gawker for ages. God bless you.
[www3.telus.net]

Ok, usually I think you guys analyze pop culture events really well, but this time you guys came off as just dicks. Like seriously, its a memorial for someone who died. Show some respect for God's sake.

Imran J. Khan

I was weirded out by Prince chewing gum throughout the whole thing and poor Blanket clutching at that MJ doll. Seems the adults were so self-obsessed that they failed to check on what the children were doing. But I nit-pick. It could have been worse and now it's over. Please make CNN stop.

Vida

@pnelope18: Yes. Absolutely.

PandoraSpocks

I still want to know abou janet's secret baby who would be about 26 now. Any idea? Do these kids a favor and release them from the cult of opportunists.

Queen of the Passive Aggressives

@Occula: Thank you. This is the most manipulative family the world has ever seen.

deltasierra

@Royalpeach: And vulgar and self-indulgent on the part of the family and their many, many hangers-on.

deltasierra

@Adiphyte: I agree, Adiphyte. It even looks like some of her uncles bent down to talk to her before she approached the mic and she sort of nodded. I took that as a nod of "yes, I want to do this." I don't know the girl and I can't read her mind, but I don't think this was as staged as Baroness thinks. I think she wanted to say goodbye to her dad and acknowledge the love of his many fans and join in on that love publicly. Bindi Irwin did something similar at Steve Irwin's memorial. No one thought that was "gross."

leytpr4

@pointandlaugh: Since they didn't let him speak, Joe stood in the back holding up a sign that read, "This Memorial Service Available on Blue-Ray. Contact my record company (we are launching SOON!!) for order info."

OrneryBabe

@Ken Green: I had a boss with a black mother and a white (Jewish) father. She didn't look black. Her sister did, but was very fair-skinned. So who knows?

cassiemajestic

@inflammatorywrit: this whole thing was pretty grotesque, but his daughter, his poor daughter. and i don't think aunt janet was trying to "fix" her hair. i think she was stroking it to comfort her. i do the same thing to my niece when she's upset. shit. poor kids.

rubyruby

@czecher: Hunh. Probably a police suggestion. Didn't want to have to deal with people storming the stage and swarming him to death.

deltasierra

@MattyMcboy: I think, more than anything else, this tells you what Michael thought about his family in re business matters. I think he loved his mother and recognized she would be a caring mother-figure in his absence but he knew better than to give them control of the money.

@valet_of_the_dolls:

Who cares?

@forwardmotion: It was very interesting MJ's will dictated that his 79 year-old mother get custody of the kids, instead of Janet or one of his siblings. There's a story there somewhere.

OrneryBabe

@choinski: Ha!

OrneryBabe

@are friends electric?: Agreed. Marlon thought Janet wanted to speak next until she said it was Paris who wanted to talk. The impression I got was that the Jackson siblings were all going to say a few words, and that Janet would speak after Marlon. Once Paris started to break down, it looked like the adults quickly agreed to end it then and there.

Frankly, I think they would've made the oldest boy speak if they were going to plan this.

MartaD

@crackbabyjesus: She's his kid, but not biologically.

Lulupasternak

@seyswho: Well, somebody named Chandler knows, and got paid to forget.

Lulupasternak

@uncivily obedient: If only they'd done what Ray Charles' family did--have him sitting up.

Lulupasternak

@Baroness: Yeah, Michael wanted his children to go to his mother. If not her, he bypassed all those multitudes standing around his daughter, fixing her hair and microphone, for Diana Ross.

Seeing how he kept his children out of the spotlight and how the family has no issue with shoving his daughter into it, Diana might have been the best choice.

I agree her grief was real and the Jacksons exploited the hell out of that. Waiting until the end and having the family grabbing at her was insane. Joe Jackson will have the moment immortalized on a mug, available on HSN next week.
Can they treat their departed brother's children with some dignity?

Peggy:Beautiful, like a Llama!

@crackbabyjesus: I would say the same thing regarding skintone and facial features about Rashida Jones, daughter of Quincy Jones...

As such, I wouldn't have trouble believing that the kids could be biologically his.

@SikeChick19: They were sired by his plastic surgeon, according to Debbie Rowe.

@Soho:

"It's a valid question." I wonder how many times people of mixed race have heard that. Unless you have some kind of personal or legal stake in the parentage of those kids, it's not really a valid question. Why is it so important to people whether those kids look like him or not?

What do you think South Park will do with this? I'm both eager and scared.

pseudopsych

This is so sad, I want to curl up with my Blanket and sleep forever.

As I was sitting in our local IRS office today, I had to endure this pedophalatic fest. I can't help wondering what is on the minds of all the special kids he knew and "loved".

@jane-eyre-head: Not until we know where's the body's at.

SnarkTard

@firedmyass: Obviously your dizzying intelligence is wasted on us. So piss off.

I was astonished that Joe didn't plug his DVD

pointandlaugh

@Soho:

hint: Those kids aren't bilogically his.

Antonella

What about that freaky guy that came out and sang the first line of we are the world? The lizard head man. Do you think he used the same cosmetic surgeon as michael?

Was it sad? Yes.

Was I sad? Not entirely.

A talented musical icon and performer he may have been, but all I see is a tragic figure and a celebrated pedophile. It will only be after all this furor has died down that people will see Michael Jackson's darker side, I think.

Antonella

@Baroness: +1. I don't know if you're correct, but it's a valid argument/angle.

@Adiphyte: Did Michael appear to have been pushed to keep performing as a child? No.

@smilehat: yes if you see my comment i mention how the king is supposed to refer to jesus. methinks the choir could have picked a better send-off song - was my point.

tigolbitties

@hilikusopus:

1) or did it make TOO much sense?

2) your enormous lack of comprehension blocked my view

3) OH SNAP! you sure put me in MY place (which if i were a cupcake, said "place" would be mashed around your mouth while you wept)

Stay astute, girl!

@firedmyass: 1) That made no sense. 2) Why can't you see how funny that was? 3) You're just angry because somebody apparently "fired your ass." My condolences.

@MattyMcboy:

It's okay about the "dear heart thing". The truth is I don't know what the right answer is. It seems tacky to charge admission to a funeral. Yet, I don't want people to lose their jobs either. And who knows if the family has 4 million? Maybe janet? But her records haven't been doing so well since the Super Bowl thing.

Maybe they could have asked the family to say that it was their decision to have it be private. Then they could have televised a memorial at another time.

Maybe they should ask all of his rich friends (Usher, Mariah etc.) to donate 500k a piece.

Adiphyte

@seyswho: Exactly, when someone is found innocent, it is for legal purposes. It doesn't mean that everybody has to pull a sheet over their eyes and pretend the sun is in the sky in middle of the night.

uncivily obedient

@inflammatorywrit: I'd like to think that were true. But I have a hard time picturing Michael Jackson as a solid parental figure, what with the danging babies and other oddities. That being said, I have no clue what their relationship was like, nor do I really desire to.

@DorothyBarker: The money is coming out of a special fund for fires, earthquakes, and civil emergencies(aka riots?). None of those ever happen in LA, right?

The city and state should have denied any permits unless they received full payment in advance. This spectacle/infomercial will be exhibit 1 when California is denied any help in its crisis.

@Spirit Fingers: I also cosign on your statement.

Adiphyte

@Adiphyte: The city was forced into a place where they had to accept a public funeral. The backlash and claims of race baiting would have been horrific.

I apologize if I came off as condescending, it wasn't my intent.

@Baroness: I think the family would have chosen the oldest boy to speak, not the girl.

Kitten_Witawip

@Spirit Fingers: Agreed, and well said.

@forwardmotion: How about Reby? Isn't she raising Janet's secret kid?

Kitten_Witawip

@Baroness:

"Hit all her lines"? The child could barely get two words out because her voice kept dissolving into sobs. She's evidently an amazing actress.

Baloney, Baroness.

snugbug

@stew: Okay, we can agree to disagree. I'm not going to make this chain any longer. All I am saying is that the other kids didn't speak--because they didn't *want* to.

Whatever, we will find out some version of the truth when the kids write their tell alls.

Adiphyte

@Madge: Because they are a family of professional performers and know that the audience would want to hear what she said.

Kitten_Witawip

@firedmyass: One appletini.

@seyswho: The trial was over whether his creepy behavior crossed the lines into illegality. Even if he was innocent the stuff that he admitted to made him a creep. I know, he was victimized by his own success that came so early that he could never be normal, but an unwitting creep is still a creep.

@onehotmess:

@SikeChick19:

Let what go? Its a valid question, albeit an uncomfortable one. Ive never seen her before anyways.

I think it was pretty much well-done up until that strange kid appeared and began to sing, rather awfully, a young Michael Jackson favorite. (That was a little weird) and that We Are the World thing sung and led by the back-up dancers. (That was a little awkward). BUT they only had a week or so to prepare, and for that small amount of time, I think it went over pretty well.

And the song the choir sang about "going to see the King" is an old gospel song about going to see Jesus. I've heard it sung at both sad and jubilant times. I'm not sure who speculated that it was about Michael as "Jesus".

And even if prepared, I think Paris wanted to make a statement about her father. Yes, this was media-driven. Yes, it was about celebrating the good and disregarding the bad, but that's what a memorial is. And I'm thankful that for once in their lives, it looks like those kids were just kids, even in grieving with their family. And to a skewed eye, all the hands around her while she spoke could have looked solicitous, but perhaps it was just the nervous stroking one tends to do in grief. Whenever I've attended a funeral there is usually a lot of superfluous stroking/comforting/coalescing that goes on. It ended rather abruptly, and the whole thing actually had a lot less fanfare than I would have expected, but then again it was a funeral/memorial, not an award show. So that may have been pretty apt.

Spirit Fingers

@uncivily obedient: He's rooming with Elvis in a villa in St. Tropez.

@DorothyBarker: They should set up a fund, either through LA county, or through the Jacksons (if they're handed the bill). If they asked fans to donate $1, I'm sure they'd recoup the losses or come close. They should have charged for the memorial tickets, really.

Who the hell thought it was a good idea to let that child speak?!?!?! That was horrible to watch.

I didn't see the service, just those clips, and that was really, really disgusting. Michael would be proud.

@Baroness: Hmm, I don't agree with you, but it's an interesting question and delicately and honestly phrased, which is more than can be said for most of the coverage of MJ.

I think Janet's "speak up, honey" is what gave it that theatrical edge. But I don't think it was rehearsed in a creepy way. God I hope not or that kid will have a tougher life than we think. To me, it seemed like such a real moment because she seemed so overwhelmed and didn't know what to say. God, when you're 12 and your dad is lying dead in front of you, what do you say?

I think you're questioning the moment because the Jacksons have manipulated the media over the years. But really, are they so phony if they've allowed their son to have Neverland, to basically act out all his subconscious desires, practically dressing up as a woman at awards shows? I wouldn't say they're good at "reigning in the message"! That's what's so fascinating about them, is that they're a trainwreck that is mostly out of control, it's not being deliberately scripted (usually). There's a realness to them beneath all the plastic cheekbones.

@lobstr: I think I love you.

Leah Marie

@Tiny Iota:

we are all the man in the mirror

@itmustbeken:

they probably didn't televise it so Michael's handlers can charge for it on pay preview

This family is so full of crazy narcissism...I would love to see the 'after party' where they all try to one up each other on todays performance and upcoming projects.

@firedmyass:

Say....that's cool.

This family @ithabeleng metesunyane: I would have so Tivo'd that....darn. Dare to dream!!

@Truculent: I think your last statement is human. If it wasn't celebrities to distract us it would be drinking, drugging, banjo playing on the front porch.

Don't tell me you watch the stock exchange for fun?

Adiphyte

@Adiphyte: She's a kid, and kids do what's expected of them. Whether it was her idea or not we will never know but it's gross. It was a moneyshot, and her participation in it makes me sick.

@MattyMcboy: What should they do when people that are cared for by many die? If the state can't afford it, they should have said, "we can't do it. Have a private funeral." I hope Madonna is saving the cash right now for her funeral, because you know many more people will show up for that.

And no need to be condescending, dear heart.

Adiphyte

@Adiphyte: "if you don't like the Jackson's fine. But don't start controversy where there is none. For all we know, Paris is a showboat who loves being the center of attention."

Weirdly, you've said what I felt quite restrained from saying. That Paris seemed like a child actress playing a role. And in a family of entertainers, it's not far off that it might be attractive for her- every little girl thinks of it. Nothing wrong with that.

The idea that I could start controversy -startin' something!- by writing my impressions honestly is very flattering, thank you.

@ithabeleng metesunyane:

ohhhhhhh!... you are a delight! How much do you cost?

@SikeChick19: Agreed. How many times do we have to read "Wait a minute! Those kids dont look like him!!111!!".
Jeeeeesus.

onehotmess

@Gnip-Gnop: Hell's valets.

@DannyNoonan: haaa

Many people say that we should be paying attention to something else, wars, the economy, poverty. Yet, they come to a popculture site and make these comments. I'd like to ask what these people are doing here if it is not to be entertained? It takes a lot to troll message boards so that you can snark about how we should pay attention to the important things.

Sometimes we don't want to dwell on the negatives of living, sometimes we do want some glib entertainment. And when one of those entertainer's dies, it does mean something to someone. I've heard so many stories of fans that have been "saved" by their favorite artist. And while I can't really imagine that, I let those people be. Different strokes for different folks.

If people really feel outraged that our soldiers aren't being honored in this way or our teachers, then get a petition going, write letters to your local politicians, start protesting.

Oh yea, I forgot, many Americans like to sit at home and gripe about stuff and do nothing.

Adiphyte

@Baroness: I agree with you, but we're the minority.

And yet, I also accept that this family does not know how to have an offstage moment. There is no privacy in the Jackson world. There is simply performance. So they grieve as they live, it's all onstage, all exploited for the camera.

Fucked up dynasty. Hope something helps.

THANK YOU, RICHARD. If I read one more FB status update about how sad Ursher was during the service, I will scream. That alien looking bitch as about as genuine as the Berberry bag I bought off Ebay. And the touching the casket? COME THE EFF ON.

But Paris' little moment made me cry.

@Dances with cookies: Got it. Sorry- just thought you were all kinds of evil if you were going up against that girl. Personally, I couldn't stand my father but if you said something against him at his funeral, I would have to smack you. That said, am I the only one who thinks those kids could be his? Yes, she looks pretty caucasian, but so does that dude from Prison Break, and he's of mixed descent. Maybe she just tans really easily??

crackbabyjesus

@Adiphyte: Dear Heart, outside of a president, no government official's funeral or memorial costs this kind of cash. Look at it this way: 80 teachers or police officers or firemen could lose their jobs because of this. And I assure you the people of CA with their insane constitution and propositions (like prop 13) are just as culpable as the politicians are in the financial mess that their state is in.

@joeyjoey73: Compared the ghost of Christmas past encased in gold beneath her, it was a study in contrast, that's for sure. Also: I liked what she said. It seemed like something a person would say about their best childhood friend, not like something Brooke Shields would say about Michael Jackson. She's not a great actress, but this was up there with Blue Lagoon for me.

ampersandparade

@Mando323: The real question is, how did they keep Joe off the stage?

czecher

@Baroness: I'm with you Baroness, and I will say that it's awfully interesting that the family has NO control over the business side of the estate what so ever. My partner, estate attorney himself, was amazed that yes he left all that money to the family trust, but that control over everything rests in the hands of others. I wonder how quick the paychecks and lifestyles for most of the family is going to change? At the very least get rid of the nation of Islam bodygaurds, jesus.

@Baroness: I just dont think that you can make an 11 year old do that. If she really didnt want to, she would have looked apprehensive about it and she didn't. She made sure to finish her sentence and everything.

if you don't like the Jackson's fine. But don't start controversy where there is none. For all we know, Paris is a showboat who loves being the center of attention.

Adiphyte

@inflammatorywrit: Won't lie. This part made me cry. Mostly because I found it was the only sincere thing. Everything else was for show. There is no amount of singing and dancing and celebrity-infused faux grieving that makes it as real as this little girl losing her father, well, her only real parent.

thatnewgirl

@Atilla the Bun: thx for helping me put my finger on it. i thought creepy and genuine at the same, and had trouble reconciling the two.

spotted-dog

@Ken Green: and Brangelina! Do we still care about Speidi? I lost track

Truculent

@SikeChick19: Yes, Sike, that's what I was doing- being a vicious critic of her performance. Thanks for reading. I don't know why the child was shoved onto the world stage there in the first place. But you'd rather wag a finger at me for wondering why the poor girl was being exploited like her daddy was by that family.

If you think an 11 year old somehow demanded to get on that stage and speak, rather than the Jackson family arranging it and telling her it was her duty..fine. They got the maximum press emotional jackpot from doing so. Go on being "baffled" at horrid people like myself questioning the propriety, go on acting as if I were criticizing the child herself rather than the circus that put her in the spotlight, the crazy cycle of exploiting family repeating itself with that tacky clan.

I said Good day, Miss.

@Royalpeach: Maybe so, but it was excessive and out of proportion to reality. Good singer and dancer, yeah. Absolutely. Entertained lots of people? Yup. And while millions watched and wept, untold thousands of other human beings died unnoticed. To quote Charles Dickens:

"It may well be that, in the eyes of heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man's child." (Ghost of Christmas Present to Scrooge).

We worship celebrities and drown ourselves in entertainment to block out the reality of the world. Little sad, don't you think?

Truculent

I am bored of the Jackson story, but our country is not alone in mourning his death. People around the world were watching the memorial today. Which means, above everything else, humans love being entertained. And this guy was a walking circus of music, choreography, and scandal. There are real heroes who die every day that deserve to be immortalized more than Michael Jackson, but they never moonwalked or captured our imagination the same way. There's no denying the irony in the outpouring of grief for such a bizarre dude. But mostly, I think, people were just sad at what had become of such a sensitive and creative soul over the last 20 years as he sank into mental illness. And now I would like this story to go away. But I know we're stuck with it for a another month or so.

i know this is not the right venue but damn, brooke shields is looking good these days.

joeyjoey73

@blakeley:

@DorothyBarker: This is sad. When important members of gov't die, no one says "send the bill to the deceased's friends, family, fans". People wanted to come and pay respects to him. It's not anyone's fault the state is bankrupt, except the politicians.make them pay.

Why couldn't he wait to die while the economy was on an upswing?

Adiphyte

@mattfour: Absolutely agreed. I really don't think Jackson had the mental capacity necessary to sexually molest those kids, but doing things like that when you know that backlash is inevitable is just not smart.

I think it was Brody who said something about "questionable decisions" at the funeral. That's probably the best way to put it.

However, I can't help but think that if the allegations were true, how shitty it must make the kids feel to see this orgy of a funeral, and to see someone like the congresswoman up there completely minimize those "questionable decisions".

@Ken Green:

Yeah, I couldn't believe how they all seemed so concerned about the mike placement. Even while she was speaking Grandma came in to make sure the mike was right in front of her mouth. Poor little thing, I get the impression they wanted her to speak, one of the kids anyway. I hope everyone can just leave the kids alone now.

what a tacky font they used for that cliche in the first pic. i hope that's corrected before it makes it to the poster printing press.

spotted-dog

richard - very, very well written. Thank you.

pnelope18

That was a fucking travesty having that poor fifth grade girl up in front of a billion people being forced to say something about her dead father. There's no way an eleven year old voluntarily does that, especially one who has been forced to wear weird masks in public her whole life. Her world is doubtless already bizarre enough without having to now live out the spectacle of her father's death at the Staples Center. That was the only clip I saw on the interwebs and it was all I had to see to remind myself what a cluster fuck this whole media-whoring event is! Yukky!

Occula

@Truculent:

and Jon and Kate Plus Eight.

Ken Green

@firedmyass:

Why don't you make like Michael Jackson and BEAT IT!!!

@Atilla the Bun: agreed

belladonnamancini

@Mando323:

His pimp hand is not as fast as it used to be.

Ken Green

@DorothyBarker: If I was the mayor of LA (which, fortunately for LA, I'm not), I'd send the Jackson estate the bill. On the train today, I read the estate is expected to clear bankruptcy much faster than originally thought.

There should be plenty to pay for the death orgy.

@ddukbokki: This is the only thing that made any sense.

belladonnamancini

@jane-eyre-head: Yep. Back to the real news --- Sarah Palin

Truculent

@Baroness: I try to find the good in people but in this case I came up empty-handed. I agree with you -- this was an elaborately staged, choreographed performance that is completely symbolic of the hell-on-earth life that Joe Jackson created for his kids. They don't know how to do anything else. Earlier, I asked if anyone was willing to bet $5 that the kids would be sent to the casket to say goodbye to daddy. Two minutes later, voila!

From the guest list to the golden coffin to the Insane Clown Posse stage show, it was obscene in the fullest sense of the word. Most of the world must have watched in dumfounded amazement.

If any good can come of this grief circus, it's that the kids can finally start to live a somewhat normal life, unveiled and disentangled from the distant, absent, animated manikin. Let's hope they can be successfully insulated from the rest of the freaks

Truculent

@DorothyBarker: My partner, an estate attorney, has told me repeatedly, that it's in the county's best interest to bill the estate for this seeing as the estate hasn't been forth coming about reimbursement.. The back lash would be horrific, but seriously a dead broke state was forced into paying for this. And I can assure you no one is filling out sales tax forms for all of the t-shirts being hawked around this event, so bullshit on that theory.

@ithabeleng metesunyane: How droll. How desperately apropos.

When you go fishing, do you catch a tin can, an old boot, a tire AND a book of clichés?

firedmyass

@SikeChick19: Agreed w/ chick. There is such a thing as too cynical. Jeesh! Oh wow, Baroness. You are too smart to have the wool pulled over your eyes. Look at that performance!

There was a time when we believed everything our Tvs told us, and now the pendulum had swung the other way so far, it's like we no longer have heart lest we be too naive. Both extremes are bad.

Adiphyte

@seyswho: You know, everyone is always screaming "He wasn't found guilty!" but we have MJ on tape, during a documentary, saying how much he enjoys having young boys share his bed. Even if nothing sexual happened (which I seriously doubt), that's still pretty damn creepy if you ask me.

@ithabeleng metesunyane: Ha. Yes, that is a hot mess worthy of MJ. This was boring to me.

@crackbabyjesus: No, though they probably seemed that way when I was 11. But I was actually refuting my own point about not knowing what kind of daddy MJ was, not diminishing the grieving child's sentiment.

I doubt they have any idea about most of what went on. That will come later. I just don't think putting them on stage was such a good start. MJ shielded them from the media, and first thing you know his parents are trotting them out.

Dances with cookies

My favorite tweet;

RT @levarburton: Why, today of all days, would Corey Feldman dress up like Michael???

This is just mean spirited. The memorial was beautiful and powerful.

@Baroness:

It always baffles me when people claim to know how others should act at given times. It is very possible that this little girl, knowing everyone and their mother was going to be seeing this (and apparently judging it) chose to practice what she planned to say. Nothing wrong with that. "Real" kids are very different in every way. Maybe she didn't want the world to see her crying. Also, maybe her family huddled around her lovingly because they actually love her and were concerned for her being in such a public spot when her father had done all sorts of crazy things to keep them out of the spotlight.

Or maybe, I'm just not as prone to breaking down the 'performances' of 11-year-olds.

@Colonel Mustard: Exactly. Hell, that was probably the least weird thing about today!

@JungleBuddha: I love you for knowing that

It's sad Jackson died at such a (relatively) young age, with young children. His gaudy, overly scrutinized, circus sideshow of a life was sad. But you know what's really sad? The city of LA is setting up a website to get donations to defray the 4mil cost of cops, logistics, security, etc. The average LAUSD teacher's salary is around 50k. How many of the teachers laid off this year could have kept their jobs if we had eschewed indulging in this mawkish death spectacle?

@are friends electric?: Kids speak at their parents' memorials all the time. I see nothing wrong or creepy or untoward about it. I think it was nice that she had a chance to talk about her father the way she saw him — heaven knows those kids are going to get a whole lot of unsolicited opinions on him shoved down their throats in the days to come.

Wait... Michael Jackson died?

When we ask ourselves when did we know things had really gotten bad, we can point to this poor excuse for a carnival of lost souls.

From shameless attempts to promote one's own business interests (Magic Johnson sit the hell down!), to those responsible for propping that poor child up to the microphone where she was chastised/caressed while trying to put words on the inexpressible grief a child feels at the loss of a parent, this is the saddest display imaginable. Shame on all involved, really...

I'm going to be blasted for this, seen as heartless. But I frankly thought the Paris moment was quite rehearsed.

I'm not saying that the poor girl's grief isn't very real. I'm saying that the way it was expressed, and the actions of the people around her, made it seem a bit like stagecraft. Four adults stroking her at once. She got her message out- she loved her daddy. And I don't doubt it.

But it just seemed elaborately choreographed to me- Janet seen as caring and motherly, a handy exit for her. Real kids when they are upset, they blubber, don't always make sense. Paris hit all her lines, the message was got out, and her being escorted off with elaborate concern. And everyone saying what an emotional moment it was.

I don't buy it. This whole afternoon was an exercise in theatrical expressions of grief- all our death ritual are, this one on a wider scale- but the Paris moment seemed crucial. A vindication of him as a good father, an elaborate public display at how well the Jackson family treat his daughter and heiress- and an emotional "moment" that would be a bulls-eye hook for media outlets. And surely enough, that's what's already happening.

Sorry to go on. I think the poor girl's turn on stage was quite thought out in advance. And I frankly find the Jackson family venal, manipulative, and quite flexible with things like honesty. They still think the public will accept their PR, they still think they're American royalty. Paris's grief was put on display quite deliberately. And I'll not say another word about this.

@contradicto: Thus making this one of the most messed up things I've ever witnessed.

That last clip with all those eager helpers and their hands was very odd.

@tigolbitties:

That song is frequently sung at funerals. King=Jesus/God

@Dances with cookies: OK, I won't say I agree with all of MJ's choices, but it is completely classless to argue with a grieving 11 year-old that her father isn't perfect. My parents sure as hell weren't perfect either, but I guess your parents were, Sir Dances.

crackbabyjesus

@Colander:

You're right! I dont think Jackson really had a gay following anyway.

Richard, good sir, I think you're overstating the "mess" aspect here. Have you heard the HIStory album? THAT was a mess. That video of MJ as a statue worshipped by thousands and the actual statues he floated down the Thames were grand scale messes. All of his trials were messes. Neverland was a mess. This just seemed like a typical celebrity funeral. I was actually surprised how tasteful it was considering all the talk of glass caskets, Body World exhibits, and such.

That Liz Taylor memorial, I mean tribute a few years ago seemed like even more of a mess than this to me. That was the one MJ attended entirely dressed as Liz Taylor, amazingly. I think Roseanne spoke at that one.

@ithabeleng metesunyane: The gays aren't in love with Cali right now. They were probably asked, but politely declined.

Are we done now? Is the 24 hour MJ news orgy finally over?

Paris made to speak? Where do you get your information from? I would surmise that a public memorial of this magnitude and scope wouldn't go off without oddities and no doubt raise questions about what Michael may or not have done. However I think a lot of that should have been laid to rest with his daughter's words. None of the children may be his biologically, but obviously her love for him should speak volumes louder than the endless cynicism around him. In the end we have lost a great entertainer and 3 children have lost to what they know as their father.

AugustaAstydameia

@uncivily obedient: Wait, gold plated?? I'm so disillusioned about Jackson's star status now.

@MrInBetween: I'm kind of mad that after watching this, Al Sharpton came across as one of the saner ones.

@amiableamy: ..free punch & cookies?

How didn't Jermaine singing Smile not make the Top Ten?

whoneedslight

@EleanorRigby: Psalmasay Psalmasa Psalmasuma 4:14 explicitly says "Hoo, hoo." Amen.

@scarletmenace: Huh? Did you read my comment or did you just see that I was mentioning the molestation trial? I was saying that nobody knows one way or the other but there is a lot of controversy surrounding the issue. Why bring it up at all at the man's funeral service? What purpose does it serve except to remind everyone that yeah, the guy might have fondled young kids?

I thought Sharpton's "wun't nothing strange about your daddy" was horrific and laugh-out-loud funny. Until I watched sad Paris speak. Now I kind of love Reverend Al for saying it, even if it is a Big Lie.

Hold tight, kid. Hold tight.

ligmasagbatch

@ithabeleng metesunyane: now THAT i would have watched.

jessica.ann

@are friends electric?: You could see her in the background needing to do...something, anything, while Marlon was talking.

@gawkimo: Yeah, creepy to me because it was the one truly genuine moment and it was set against a backdrop of famewhoring, flash, and total strangers who didn't know the guy.

@SikeChick19: Haha, yeah. I thought this was all common knowledge by now.

@anglematic: That's why I'm so amused. This is a fairly observant Jew who I'd never heard mention MJ before this past week.

Ugh.

@the fung: Ha. Nice.

What about when they paraded around that pubescent boy who was supposedly a "friend" of Jackson? Off message.

@Sproing: "His" kids are actually the biological children of Debbie Rowe, who is white, and some as-of-yet-undetermined guy (rumored to be his dermatologist, who is white).

@contradicto: That's kinda obvious. I mean the gene that made him dark when he was a kid should still be in him, right? It didn't leave when he got (ahem) lighter. So why wouldn't his kids have any really visible trace of African American in them? Unless he figured out a way to extract that gene, which give his money he might have been able to have done.

Ken Green

Maybe Janet can get custody.

forwardmotion

Aww, Aunt Janet. Give her the kids.

o-line

im amazed at the lack of sensitivity some people show.

marfin

You forgot Magic also plugged AEG.

@seyswho: Right, as opposed to the Gawker commenters and other TV watchers who were there and witnessed the molestation first hand?

Whuh?

@leytpr4:

if they had let a bunch of gays plan the memorial service it would have

Why is there no footage of Corey Feldman dressed as MJ, actin' an attention-starved fool on this list?

blamenotmylute

@are friends electric?: It definitely appeared that she wanted to speak, they were moving the mic down for her.

@Ken Green: Right?? Everyone touching her and the mike and crowding in real close...it was like a ten-second kabuki performance of the rest of her life.

Mulatta

@Atilla the Bun: That was the creepiest part, IMO.

gawkimo

@mattchew03: Woof.

the fung

@uncivily obedient: Yeah, I don't think so either. Why else would they go to a friggin' cemetery beforehand?

amiableamy

@ithabeleng metesunyane: Why DIDN'T that happen?

leytpr4

@BEERxTaco: don't you mean Scorpios?

@tigolbitties: also, i know as commenters we hate john mayer for general douch-baggery, but i thought his human nature on guitar was touching:

tigolbitties

@are friends electric?: I got that sense too, but considering that the kids were fiercely off limits while Jackson was alive it was very creepy to watch.

Don't you see, we're all Michael Jackson!

Tiny Iota

@EleanorRigby:
Did you hear that poem? It was completely New Testament.
I mean, okay "Off the Wall" was a great album and all, but had he done anything significant in 25 years, really?
I wonder about some of these people that are so worked up over this, when was the last time they even thought about Michaael Jackson before last week?

anglematic

I thought the most beautiful part of the service was the float shaped like a bottle of demerol carrying Jackson's coffin that was pulled in front of the Staples Center by a hundred five year old boys driving big wheels.

And then the two dozen twelve year olds that busted out of the float, dressed like peter pan, and swirling batons, unleashing a brilliant rendition of man in the mirror while a dozen cannons exploded bubble gum and cotton candy.

@the fung:I have just laughed out loud in my office. Someone had to come in to see if I was OK.

@Soho:

Okay, enough with the speculation about the parentage of Michael Jackson's kids! He was Dad to them and that's all that matters. Let it go!

For the love of god, get those children out of the elder Jacksons' home. Michael may have been the best dad in the whole world, for all I know, but I think we know what kind of father Joe was.

Actually, no, best daddies in the whole world don't abuse prescription drugs. Those kids have a lot of therapy ahead of them.

What a mess.

Dances with cookies

was anyone else bothered that the gospel choir was singing "going to see the King" for michael jackson? i'm not 100% sure, but i think mj was not jeebus... i could be wrong, but if i'm right i think jeebus did not appreciate that!

tigolbitties

@seyswho: Good point. Also, "not guilty" is not interchangeable with "innocent." When someone is found not guilty, it simply means that the prosecution did not prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. And just because there is reasonable doubt about something, doesn't mean that the jurors didn't at least suspect that something wasn't right - they just weren't 100 percent sure.

billybobnyc

Great post, and amazing that you got it up so quickly. And yay, alliteration!

One of my most memorable moments was when I thought this lady was dancing in the nude during J-Hud's performance:

[twitpic.com]

@leytpr4: I agree. I think she wanted to speak, and the memorial was an appropriate venue for her to do so, obviously. I was more talking about what comes next. Those kids will be relentlessly dogged by media from now on. I hope that the family keeps them out of the public as much as possible while they grieve. They're just kids.

@angelbuff: i'm going to guess from the grieving

tigolbitties

Not sure why I care, but I'm choosing to believe that Paris chose to speak. She has to have some cognition of his eccentricity... maybe she wanted to defend him to the world. Poor thing.

@inflammatorywrit: Welcome to the family business...

@Trulymadlyme: I really don't think she would've stood up there, much less said something, had she not wanted to.

leytpr4

@SelbyNoser: Was he dyeing his kids' skin too?

@Soho: They say that none of the children are biologically his.

Just replace all the occurrences "Jackson" in this post with "Palin" and we have ourselves a press confrence!

choinski

what was with the sunglasses?

angelbuff

@Richard Lawson: Churchgiggles.

the fung

@uncivily obedient: Agreed, he's either frozen wilth Walt Disney or living on Onasis' island with Elvis and JFK.

@inflammatorywrit: Is she his biological daughter? Her WASPYness is throwing me off.

I can see the Staples Center from my 15th floor office window. There are approximately 15 helicopters hovering over it right now.

ddukbokki

I can't believe it took Joe this long to get those kids on stage. A whole week and a half. He's losing his touch.

Mando323

His daughter [Paris] has straight hair? Something is off...or maybe im missing something.

@seyswho: OJ just signed her up to speak at his funeral. And because Sheila Jackson Lee is an attention whore, she immediately said, "Hell YES!"

@the fung: "Why do you look for him there? He is risen"

Truculent

@EleanorRigby:
Somewhere Jesus is really regretting his choice to keep his father's nose.

@inflammatorywrit: Concur. That poor child having to stand up there in front of the world like that. Sad.

My mother just said "Amazing. In two thousand years there will be a new religion after him!" Oh, her.

@the fung: Haa. Put your foot in it, girl!

I couldn't believe they made Paris speak! I had to stop watching, the horror was breathtaking.

SelbyNoser

Damn, all those hands on the mike and that little girls trying to/being forced to speak. Sad and creepy. Screepy.

And is Al Sharpton doing a Senor Wensces (sp?) impersonation?

Ken Green

Regarding the congresswoman from Texas: Ya know, I understand the whole "innocent until proven otherwise" deal, and I don't know one way or the other if Jackson molested those kids, but I also think it is naive to automatically believe that just because someone is acquitted of charges that they did not commit the crime. In cases where there is so much doubt, regardless of the conviction (for instance, OJ comes to mind), perhaps it would be better to just not say anything about it at all. Especially not at the guy's funeral, for God's sake.

@uncivily obedient: Seconded.

the fung

Speak up honey. Speak up. And PUT SOME STANK ON IT!!

the fung

For some reason I really doubt that Jackson's body was in that gold plated box.

uncivily obedient

The only part of the whole thing that made him seem really human was when his daughter spoke. The rest of it just brought to mind the saying "all in death is vanity."

@inflammatorywrit: i agree completely, i was about to make a similar comment.

The only thing that made me a little emotional was his daughter. At the end of the day, she's just a little girl who lost her daddy. That's all she sees him as. It's heartbreaking that she has to go through something so difficult in public, as he spent so much time trying to keep her away from it. The rest was kind of a fiasco (what I saw of it).

If anyone understands wierd sexual proclivities, its a member of Congress

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