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[[File:Michael Jackson Star on Hollywood Blvd (cropped).jpg|thumb|220px|[[Michael Jackson|Jackson]]'s star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]], surrounded by barriers and covered with flowers, became a focal point for fans to express grief.]]
The '''death of [[Michael Jackson]]''' occurred after he suffered [[cardiac arrest]] at his home in [[Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, California|Holmby Hills, Los Angeles]], [[California]] on June 25, 2009. He was treated by paramedics at his home, but was pronounced dead at the [[Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center]].<ref name=Donaldson>James, Susan Donaldson. [http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MichaelJackson/story?id=7938918&page=1 Friend Says Michael Jackson Battled Demerol Addiction], [[ABC News]], June 26, 2009.</ref>

His personal physician, Conrad Murray, stated he found Jackson in his room, not breathing but with a faint pulse, and administered [[CPR]] to no avail. While initial reports discussed the possible role of painkillers in Jackson's death,<ref name=Donaldson>James, Susan Donaldson. [http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MichaelJackson/story?id=7938918&page=1 Friend Says Michael Jackson Battled Demerol Addiction], ABC News, June 26, 2009.</ref><ref name=McCartneyJune28>McCartney, Anthony. [http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=7948345 Lawyer for Doctor: Jackson Had Pulse When Found], Associated Press, June 28, 2009.</ref> attention later turned to the medications he reportedly took for [[insomnia]], most notably the anesthetic [[propofol]] (Diprivan).

On August 28, the Los Angeles County Coroner released an official statement saying that Jackson's death was a [[homicide]] caused by the combination of drugs in his system.<ref name=Reuters20090828>{{cite web |title=Jackson death a homicide, criminal charge possible |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSTRE57R4EY20090828 |date=August 28, 2009 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> Before his death, Jackson reportedly had been administered propofol, [[lorazepam]] and [[midazolam]].<ref name='WebMD'>{{cite news | first=Kathleen | last=Doheny | coauthors= Louise Chang, Hector Vila Jr |authorlink= | title=Propofol Linked to Michael Jackson's Death | date=2009-08-24 | publisher=[[WebMD]] | url =http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/news/20090824/propofol-linked-to-michael-jacksons-death | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2009-08-25 | language = }}</ref> Law enforcement officials are conducting a [[manslaughter]] investigation of his personal physician, who has told investigators that he had been trying to wean Jackson off propofol.<ref>{{cite web |title=Coroner rules Jackson’s death a homicide |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32542682/ns/entertainment-music/ |date=2009-08-24 |author=msnbc.com news services |publisher=MSNBC |accessdate=2009-08-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daytondailynews.com/entertainment/music/ap-source-coroner-rules-jacksons-death-homicide-263808.html|title= Michael Jackson Homicide Ruling|accessdate=2009-08-24}}</ref>

His death triggered an outpouring of grief around the world, creating surges of [[Internet traffic]] and causing sales of his music and that of the [[Jackson 5]] to soar.<ref>[http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-michael-jackson-sells,0,1243273.story Sales of Michael Jackson's Music Skyrocket], KTLA News, June 26, 2009.</ref> He had been scheduled to perform the [[This Is It (Michael Jackson concerts)|This Is It]] concert tour to over one million people at [[London]]'s [[The O2 arena (London)|O<sub>2</sub>&nbsp;arena]], from July&nbsp;13, 2009 to March&nbsp;6, 2010.<ref name=Kreps>Kreps, Daniel. [http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/03/12/michael-jacksons-this-is-it-tour-balloons-to-50-show-run-stretching-into-2010/ Michael Jackson’s “This Is It!” Tour Balloons to 50-Show Run Stretching Into 2010], ''Rolling Stone'', March 12, 2009.</ref> His [[Michael Jackson memorial service|memorial]] on July 7, 2009 at the [[Staples Center]] in Los Angeles, where he had rehearsed for the London concerts just two days before his death, was broadcast live around the world, attracting a global audience of up to one billion people.<ref name="vancouversun.com">Bucci, Paul and Wood, Graeme. [http://www.vancouversun.com/Entertainment/Michael+Jackson+billion+people+estimated+watching+gold+plated+casket+memorial+service/1767503/story.html Michael Jackson RIP: One billion people estimated watching for gold-plated casket at memorial service]. ''The Vancouver Sun'', July 7, 2009.</ref>

==Death==
[[File:Michael Jackson June 23, 2009.JPG|left|thumb|180px|Jackson rehearsing at [[Staples Center]] two days before his death.]]
Jackson arrived for rehearsal at [[Staples Center]] around 6:30&nbsp;p.m. on Wednesday, June 24, according to a magician who was there. The singer complained of [[laryngitis]] and did not rehearse until 9&nbsp;p.m. "He looked great and had great energy," the magician added. The rehearsal went past midnight.<ref name=LATimesRehearsal>Lee, Chris, and Ryan, Harriet. [http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-jackson-rehearsal27-2009jun27,0,4699249.story Michael Jackson's last rehearsal: just beaming with gladness], ''The Los Angeles Times'', June 27, 2009.</ref>

Jackson's personal physician, [[Cardiology|cardiologist]] Conrad Murray, said through his attorney that he spent the night at Jackson's rented mansion at the singer's request.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} The next morning Jackson did not come out of his bedroom.<ref name=PeopleJune29>Lang, Anne, and Jones, Oliver. [http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20287787_20288368,00.html Attorney Defends Michael Jackson's Doctor], ''People'', June 29, 2009.</ref> Murray's attorney stated that Murray entered the room in the afternoon and found Jackson in bed and not breathing. There was a weak pulse and his body was still warm.<ref name=McCartneyJune28/> According to his attorney, Murray tried to revive Jackson for five to ten minutes, at which point he realized he needed to call for help. He was hindered because there was no [[landline]] in the house. He believed he could not use his cell phone to call [[9-1-1|911]] because he did not know the exact address. He phoned security but there was no answer. Finally he ran downstairs, yelled for help, and told the chef who was in the kitchen to get security up to the room.<ref name=SitRoomJune29>Chernoff, Ed., ''The Situation Room,'' CNN, June 29, 2009. [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0906/29/sitroom.01.html Transcript]</ref> By the time security called 911 about 30 minutes had passed.<ref name=SitRoomJune29/> The ''[[New York Post]]'' said Jackson's 12-year-old son, Prince Michael Jackson, Jr., was present during the resuscitation attempts, and that the emergency services were contacted only after Jackson's father was told by a security guard that the singer was ill.<ref name=FagenAlpertJune28>Fagen, Cynthia R. and Alpert, Lukas I. [http://www.nypost.com/seven/06282009/news/nationalnews/jacko_sons_tragic_trance_176550.htm?&page=0 JACKO SON'S TRAGIC 'TRANCE'], ''The New York Post'', June 28, 2009.</ref>
[[File:Michael Jackson 911 Call.ogg|thumb|911 call from Jackson's home at 12:21:04&nbsp;p.m.]]

Some statements described Murray using a non-standard CPR technique on Jackson. During the tape of the emergency call, released on June 26, the doctor was described as administering CPR on a bed, not on a hard surface such as a floor, which would be standard practice.<ref name=GumbelJune28>Gumbel, Andrew. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jun/28/michael-jackson-doctor-lawyer Michael Jackson doctor hires lawyer as family hires pathologist], ''The Guardian'', June 28, 2009.</ref><ref name=Telegraph911>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5654048/Michael-Jackson-transcript-of-911-call.html Michael Jackson: transcript of 911 call], ''The Telegraph'', June 26, 2009.</ref> The doctor's attorney said that Murray placed one hand underneath Jackson and used the other hand for chest compression, where the standard practice is to use both hands for compression.<ref name=PeopleJune29/><ref name=ChildsSchlief>Childs, Dan; Schlief, Michelle. [http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MichaelJackson/Story?id=7960413&page=1 Could Better CPR Have Saved Michael Jackson?], [[ABC News]], June 30, 2009.</ref>

A [[Los Angeles Fire Department]] (LAFD) spokesperson said the 911 call came in at 12:21:04&nbsp;p.m. (19:21:04&nbsp;UTC). Paramedics reached Jackson at 12:26&nbsp;p.m. and found that he was not breathing.<ref name=LATimesMobileJune25>Blankstein, Andrew, and Willon, Phil. [http://mobile.latimes.com/inf/infomo?view=page8&feed:a=latimes_1min&feed:c=topstories&feed:i=47712153&nopaging=1 Michael Jackson dead at 50], ''The Los Angeles Times'', June 25, 2009.</ref><ref name=Rayner>Rayner, Gordon and Singh, Anita. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5653140/Michael-Jackson-the-final-days-and-how-TMZ.com-scooped-the-world.html Michael Jackson: the final days and how TMZ.com scooped the world], ''The Telegraph'', June 26, 2009.</ref>
[[File:UCLA Reagan Medical Center.JPG|thumb|200px|Jackson arrived at [[Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center]] at 1:14&nbsp;p.m. local.]]Paramedics performed [[Cardiopulmonary resuscitation|CPR]] for 42 minutes at the house.<ref name=BBCRuda>Ruda, Steve. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8120084.stm Paramedic on Jackson 911 call], ''BBC News'', June 25, 2009.</ref> Murray said he was in contact with doctors at [[UCLA]], who instructed the rescuers to inject [[epinephrine]] (adrenaline) directly into Jackson's heart. Murray stated that Jackson continued to have a pulse when he was taken out of the house and put in the ambulance for the trip to the hospital.<ref name=PeopleJune29/> An LAFD official gave a different account. He said that paramedics found Jackson in "full cardiac arrest", and that they did not observe a change in Jackson's status en route to the hospital.<ref name=JEMSJune26>Eckstein, Marc. [http://connect.jems.com/forum/topics/michael-jackson-ems-response Michael Jackson EMS Response Details Emerge], ''JEMS (Journal of Emergency Medical Services)'', June 26, 2009.</ref>
LAFD transported Jackson to [[Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center]], a couple miles from the house.<ref name=LATimesMobileJune25/> The ambulance arrived at the hospital at approximately 1:14&nbsp;p.m. A team of medical personnel attempted to resuscitate Jackson for more than one hour. They were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at 2:26&nbsp;p.m. (21:26 UTC).<ref name=FoxNewsJune26>McGevna, Allison. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529103,00.html Tape of 911 Call Released as Michael Jackson Autopsy Under Way], Fox News, June 26, 2009.</ref><ref name=HarveyJune26>Harvey, Michael. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6580897.ece Fans mourn artist for whom it didn’t matter if you were black or white], ''The Times'', June 26, 2009.</ref><ref name=Tourtellotte>Tourtellotte, Bob. [http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE55O6AK20090626 King of Pop Michael Jackson is dead: official], Reuters, June 25, 2009.</ref>

===Health===
<!--note that a name redirects to this section-->{{See|Michael Jackson's health and appearance}}
Stacy Brown, a biographer, said Jackson had become "very frail, totally, totally underweight," and that his family had been worried about him. Another biographer, [[J. Randy Taraborrelli]], who had known Jackson 40 years, said Jackson had suffered from an addiction to painkillers off and on for decades.<ref name=Steinhauer>Steinhauer, Jennifer. [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/us/27Jackson.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&em Medication a Focus of Jackson Inquiry], ''The New York Times'', June 26, 2009.</ref>
[[Arnold Klein]], Jackson's [[Dermatology|dermatologist]], confirmed that Jackson misused prescription drugs, and that Klein had diagnosed Jackson with [[vitiligo]] and [[Systemic lupus erythematosus|lupus]]. Yet, Klein said, when he saw Jackson at his office three days before his death, the singer "was in very good physical condition. He was dancing for my patients. He was very mentally aware when we saw him and he was in a very good mood."<ref name=LKLJuly8 />
[[File:Michael Jackson death certificate.jpg|left|thumb|130px|Jackson's death certificate does not list the cause of death.]]
Two sources involved with the investigation told [[CNN]] on July 8 that, when he died, he was [[emaciated]], bald, and extremely pale, with numerous track marks on his arms, and [[collapsed vein]]s, suggesting sustained intravenous drug use. One of the sources said he had never seen anything like it in decades of investigative work.<ref>Kaye, Randi. [http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/07/jackson.drugs/#cnnSTCVideo Sources: Jackson showed signs of IV drug use], Cable News Network (CNN), July 8, 2009.</ref> However the coroner and Jackson's family denied these claims. Assistant chief coroner Ed Winter stated "I don't know where that information came from[...] It is not accurate. Some of it is totally false".<ref>http://ibnlive.in.com/news/jacksons-family-denies-report-he-was-bald-weak/95941-8.html</ref>

''The Sunday Times'' reported on June 28 that Grace Rwaramba, Jackson's children's nanny, told writer [[Daphne Barak]] that Jackson was a drug addict, that she had had to [[Gastric lavage|pump]] his stomach more than once, and that he had stopped looking after himself, becoming dirty and unkempt.<ref name=Barak>[[Daphne Barak|Barak, Daphne]]. [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6591123.ece What nanny who worked for Michael Jackson saw], ''The Sunday Times'', June 28, 2009.<!--the link no longer works, but please don't remove it, as it may be retrievable later--></ref> Rwaramba has since denied having made these claims, saying she does not even know how to pump a stomach.<ref>Goldman, Russell. [http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/MichaelJackson/story?id=7971352&page=1 Nanny: 'I Never Pumped Jackson's Stomach'], ABC News, June 30, 2009.</ref>

==Investigation==
===Autopsies===
Jackson's body was flown by helicopter to the Los Angeles Coroner's offices in [[Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, California|Lincoln Heights]], where on June 26 a three-hour [[autopsy]] was performed on behalf of the [[Los Angeles County Coroner]] by the chief medical examiner, [[Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran]].<ref>Adams, James. [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/a-tortured-stars-last-days/article1199387/ A tortured star's last days], ''The Globe and Mail'', June 27, 2009.</ref> Jackson's [[Jackson family|family]] arranged for a second autopsy, a practice that could yield expedited&mdash;albeit limited&mdash;results.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/jackson-2nd-autopsy-underway-20090628-d0uc.html Jackson: 2nd autopsy 'underway'], ''Sydney Morning Herald'', June 28, 2009; Blankstein, Andrew et al. [http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-michael-jackson28-2009jun28,0,6934324.story Michael Jackson's doctor interviewed by LAPD], ''Los Angeles Times'', June 27, 2009.</ref> After the preliminary autopsy was completed, Craig Harvey, chief investigator for the coroner's office, said there was no evidence of trauma or [[foul play]].<ref name=Steinhauer/>

On August 28, the LA County Coroner made an official statement classifying Jackson's death as a [[homicide]]. The county coroner stated that Jackson died from the combination of drugs in his body, with the most significant drugs being the anesthetic propofol and the anxiolytic [[lorazepam]]. Less significant drugs found in Jackson's body were [[midazolam]], [[diazepam]], [[lidocaine]] and [[ephedrine]]. The coroner is keeping the complete toxicology report private, as requested by the police and district attorney.<ref name="Reuters20090828"/>

The BBC reported on October 1 that the autopsy report revealed that Michael Jackson had a strong heart and was a "fairly healthy" 50-year-old. His weight was in the acceptable range for a man of his height, but he had punctured arms, tattooed lips and eyebrows and suffered from lung damage and some arthritis.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8285841.stm|title=Jackson autopsy details revealed|last=Staff Writer|date=October 1, 2009|publisher=[[BBC]]|accessdate=October 20, 2009}}</ref>

The document shows that Jackson's most serious health problem was his chronically inflamed lungs, but this was not serious enough to be a contributing factor to his death. The post mortem did not uncover any physical problems that may have limited Jackson's ability to perform. "His overall health was fine," said Dr Zeev Kain of the University of California, who reviewed the report for AP but was not involved in the post-mortem examination, "The results are in normal limits."<ref name = "bbc"/>

===Law enforcement agencies===
Although they did not immediately suspect foul play, by the day after Jackson's death the [[Los Angeles Police Department]] (LAPD) began to investigate the unusual and high-profile case.<ref name=Esposito>Esposito, Richard. [http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/MichaelJackson/story?id=7938599&page=1 "Police say Michael Jackson 'heavily addicted' to Oxycontin"]. ''[[ABC News]]'': June 26, 2009.</ref> By August 28, the LAPD had announced that the case would be referred to prosecutors who might file criminal charges.<ref name=Reuters20090828/> Because the LAPD did not secure Jackson's home, and allowed the Jackson family access to it, before returning to remove certain items, the department raised concerns by some observers that the [[chain of custody]] had been broken.<ref name=AC360July1/><ref name=Deutsch>Deutsch, Linda and Thomas Watkins. [http://news.aol.com/article/los-angeles-police-under-scrutiny-in/554866 "LAPD under scrutiny in Jackson death"]. ''[[AOL]] News'': July 3, 2009.</ref> The police maintained that they had followed protocol.<ref name=Deutsch/>

On July 1, the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] (DEA) joined the LAPD in the investigation. Having the authority to investigate issues otherwise protected by [[physician-patient privilege|doctor-patient confidentiality]], the DEA could legally follow the entirety of what appeared to be the complex trail of prescription drugs supplied to Jackson.<ref name=AC360July1>Griffin, Drew. [[Anderson Cooper 360°]], CNN, July 1, 2009. [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0907/01/acd.02.html Transcript]</ref> California Attorney General [[Jerry Brown]] announced that his office was helping the LAPD and DEA to create a statewide database of all medical doctors and prescriptions filled.<ref>Finn, Natalie. "Jackson Doc On the Move Again as Investigation Continues With State Attorney, DEA's Help", ''E!Online'', July 2, 2009.</ref>

The LAPD [[subpoena]]ed medical records from doctors who had treated Jackson. On July 9, [[William J. Bratton|William Bratton]], the Los Angeles Chief of Police, indicated that investigators were focusing on the possibility of [[homicide]] or accidental overdose, but had to wait for the full toxicology reports from the coroner.<ref name=BoneJuly9>Bone, James. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6681404.ece Jackson death may have been 'homicide', says police chief], ''The Times'', July 10, 2009.</ref> The ''Los Angeles Times'' quoted a senior law enforcement source as saying authorities may not pursue charges even if the coroner declares the case a homicide, because Jackson's well-documented drug abuse would make any prosecution difficult. If charges were filed they would most likely relate to improper prescribing by doctors. Nonetheless, the source said prosecutors have not ruled out more serious charges "all the way up to involuntary manslaughter" if it were determined that Jackson's death was caused by [[propofol]] (Diprivan), a powerful [[sedative]] found in his home.<ref name=LATimesJuly19>Leonard, Jack, and Ryan, Harriet. [http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-jackson-legal19-2009jul19,0,6908980.story?page=1 Murder charges in Michael Jackson case are unlikely, source says], ''Los Angeles Times'', July 19, 2009.</ref>

===Drug-use allegations===
The website [[TMZ.com|TMZ]], which broke the news of Jackson's death, wrote that Jackson used a number of aliases to secure prescription drugs, including Omar Arnold and Jack London, and the names of one of his bodyguards and an office manager. One doctor would allegedly call the pharmacy to say that Jackson was coming to get [[Pethidine]], and the pharmacy would fill the prescription with the patient's name blank.<ref>[http://www.tmz.com/2009/07/02/jackson-drug-aliases/ Jackson Drug Aliases], TMZ, July 20, 2009.</ref>

Jackson was said to have used propofol, as well as [[alprazolam]], an [[anxiolytic]], and [[sertraline]], an [[antidepressant]].<ref name=Donaldson/> Other drugs named in connection with him included [[omeprazole]], [[hydrocodone]], [[paroxetine]], [[carisoprodol]], and [[hydromorphone]].<ref name=Crawford>Crawford, Carly. [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25700912-5012748,00.html Michael Jackson injected just before death], ''Herald Sun'', June 28, 2009.</ref> Police found several drugs in his home, including propofol. Some of these drugs had labels made out to Jackson's pseudonyms, while others were unlabeled.<ref name=GloverJuly4/> A 2004 police document prepared for the 2005 ''[[People v. Jackson]]'' child abuse trial alleged that Jackson was taking up to 40 alprazolam pills a night.<ref name=BoneJuly9/>

[[Deepak Chopra]], an [[Internal medicine|internist]], [[Endocrinology|endocrinologist]], and [[Mind–body intervention|mind&ndash;body]] theorist who was a friend of Jackson's for 20 years, expressed concern that, although Jackson presumably had access to a large arsenal of drugs, Jackson appears to have been given no [[naloxone]], a drug used to [[Receptor antagonist|counteract]] the effects of an [[Opiate|opioid]] overdose.<ref name=Posnerp4>Posner, Gerald. [http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-07-02/chopra-michael-jackson-could-have-been-saved/ Deepak Chopra: How Michael Jackson Could Have Been Saved], ''The Daily Beast'', July 2, 2009, p. 4</ref> Chopra also criticized what he saw as "[[enabling]]" by some Hollywood doctors. "We put drug pushers in jail but give licenses to doctors to do the same thing", he said. "I know personally that they write multiple prescriptions and they even use false names ... This cult of drug-pushing doctors, with their co-dependent relationships with addicted celebrities, must be stopped. Let's hope that Michael's unnecessary death is the call for action."<ref name=Posnerp4/>

Eugene Aksenoff, a [[Tokyo]]-based physician who had treated Michael Jackson or his children on a few occasions, expressed concern about Jackson's use of and interest in various drugs. Aksenoff told ''[[The Japan Times]]'' that Jackson asked for [[stimulant]]s so that he could get through some demanding performances. Aksenoff said he refused to prescribe them. He recalled that the singer suffered chronic fatigue, fever, insomnia and other symptoms and took a large amount of drugs. He suspected one of the major factors causing Jackson these symptoms was excessive use of steroids or other skin-whitening medications.<ref name=Aksenoff>Matsutani, Minoru. [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090716f1.html Tokyo doctor refused Jackson stimulants: Late 'King of Pop' asked for drugs in 2007], ''[[The Japan Times]]'', July 16, 2009.</ref>

[[People (magazine)|''People'' magazine]] reported that the Jackson family tried to stage an [[Intervention (counseling)|intervention]] in early 2007, when Michael was living in [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]]. [[Janet Jackson]] and some of her brothers allegedly traveled to his home, but were turned away by security guards who were ordered not to let them in. He was also rumored to have refused calls from his mother. "If you tried to deal with him," one source told CNN, "he would shut you out. You just wouldn't hear from him for long periods." The family denied that they had tried to intervene.<ref name=DukeJuly8/>

====Propofol====
{{Main|Propofol}}
[[File:Propofol.jpg|upright|thumb|100px|An [[ampoule]] of propofol]]
Of all the drugs found in Jackson's home, the one that most concerned investigators was [[propofol]] (Diprivan), a powerful anesthetic administered intravenously in hospitals to prepare patients for surgery.<ref name=APJuly3>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31725355/ns/entertainment-music/ Powerful sedative found in Michael Jackson's home], Associated Press, July 3, 2009.</ref> Nicknamed "milk of [[amnesia]]" because of its creamy appearance, it has been associated with cardiac arrest,<ref name=APJuly3/> but it still may be increasingly [[Off-label use|used off-label]] for anxiolytic, [[analgesic]], and other medically unsubstantiated purposes.<ref name=GloverJuly4/> Several propofol bottles&mdash;some empty, some full&mdash;were found in Jackson's home.<ref name=GloverJuly4>Glover, Scott et al. [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/07/investigation-into-michael-jacksons-death-looks-at-doctors.html Michael Jackson investigation focuses on doctors], ''Los Angeles Times'', July 4, 2009.</ref>

On June 30, Cherilyn Lee, a nurse who had worked as Jackson's nutritionist, said that he had asked her in May to provide propofol to help him sleep, but she refused. He told her he had been given the drug before for persistent [[insomnia]], and that a doctor had said it was safe. Lee said she received a telephone call from an aide to Jackson on June 21 to say that Jackson was ill, although she no longer worked for him. She reported overhearing Jackson complain that one side of his body was hot, the other side cold. She advised the aide to send Jackson to a hospital.<ref name=Elber>Elber, Lynn. [http://www.topix.com/life/2009/06/michael-jackson-bedeviled-by-insomnia-begged-for-sedative-says-nurse-nutritionist AP Exclusive: Michael Jackson, bedeviled by insomnia, begged for drug, says nurse-nutritionist], Associated Press, June 30, 2009.</ref>

Arnold Klein told CNN that Jackson used an anesthesiologist to administer propofol to help him sleep while he was on tour in Germany. CNN said the anesthesiologist would "take him down" at night and "bring him back up" in the morning during the [[HIStory World Tour|HIStory tour]] of 1996 to 1997.<ref name=DukeJuly8>Duke, Alan and Ahmed, Saeed. [http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/09/jackson.wrap/index.html#cnnSTCVideo More associates link Jackson to prescription drugs], CNN, July 8, 2009.</ref>

On August 24, a [[search warrant]] affidavit sworn by a Los Angeles detective was made public.<ref>http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/arts/Murray1.pdf</ref> The affidavit indicated that authorities are considering a potential [[manslaughter]] charge. According to the affidavit, Jackson "was very familiar with" propofol "and referred to it as his 'milk.'"<ref>http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0824091jackson1.html</ref> On August 28, the Los Angeles County Coroner made an official statement that Jackson died from the combination of drugs in his body, with propofol and [[lorazepam]], a [[benzodiazepine]], playing the largest role.<ref name="Reuters20090828"/>

===Medical professionals===
The ''Los Angeles Times'' wrote that the DEA was focusing on at least five doctors who prescribed drugs to Jackson, trying to determine whether they had had a "face to face" relationship with him, and whether they had made legally-required diagnoses.<ref name=GloverJuly4/> [[Fox News Channel]] published a list of nine doctors whom they said were under investigation.<ref name=WinterJuly15>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,532821,00.html At Least Nine Doctors Who Treated Michael Jackson Under Investigation], [[Fox News Channel]], July 15, 2009.</ref> The UK ''Sunday Times'' wrote that the police wanted to question 30 doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, including Arnold Klein.<ref name=HarlowJuly5>[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6638226.ece Police target 30 in hunt for Michael Jackson’s drug suppliers], ''The Sunday Times'', July 5, 2009.</ref> Klein said that he occasionally had given Jackson [[Pethidine]] to sedate him, but had administered nothing stronger, and that he had turned his records over to the medical examiner.<ref name=LKLJuly8>Klein, Arnold. [[Larry King Live]], CNN, July 8, 2009. [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0907/08/lkl.01.html Transcript]</ref>

====Personal physician====
[[File:ArmstrongMedicalClinicHoustonTX.JPG|thumb|Murray practiced out of the Armstrong Clinic in Houston]]
On June 26, police towed away a car used by Conrad Murray, stating that it might contain medication or other evidence. The police released the car five days later.<ref name=AC360July1/> Murray had gotten to know Jackson in 2008, after treating one of Jackson's children in Las Vegas. Jackson summoned him in May 2009 to Los Angeles to help with preparations for the London concerts, then insisted that his concert promoter, [[AEG Live]], hire Murray to accompany Jackson in Great Britain.<ref name=McCartneyJune28/> Murray said through his attorney that he did not prescribe or administer Pethidine or Oxycodone to Jackson, but did not say what, if anything, he did prescribe or administer.<ref name=APJuly3/> Los Angeles police said the doctor spoke to officers immediately after Jackson's death, and during an extensive interview two days later. They stressed that they found "no red flag" and did not suspect foul play.<ref name="GumbelJune28"/>

[[Activism|Activist]] and [[Minister of religion|minister]] [[Jesse Jackson]], a friend of Michael Jackson's family, said that the family was concerned about Murray's role. "They have good reason to be", Jackson said, "he left the scene."<ref name=HarrisJune28>Harris, Paul. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jun/27/michael-jackson-death-autopsy Michael Jackson's family 'ask for second autopsy'], ''The Observer'', June 28, 2009.</ref> Over the next few weeks, law enforcement grew increasingly concerned about the doctor, and on July 22 detectives searched Murray's medical office and storage unit in [[Houston]], removing items such as a computer and two hard drives, contact lists and a hospital suspension notice.<ref name=ItemsTake>[http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/23/jackson.doctor.search/index.html?iref=hpmostpop Items taken from Michael Jackson's doctor's buildings listed], [[CNN]], July 23, 2009.</ref> On the 27th, an anonymous source reported that Murray had administered propofol within 24 hours of Jackson's death.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Ted Rowlands | title = Source: Jackson's doctor gave drug authorities believe killed him |journal = CNN.com |date = July 27 2009 |volume = 167 |issue=1 | page=56-8. accessdate= July 27 2009}}</ref> Murray's lawyers refused to comment on what they called "rumors, innuendo or unnamed sources."<ref name=CNN28July09>CNN. [http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/28/michael.jackson/index.html Police search Jackson doctor's home, office]. ''CNN.com'': July 28, 2009.</ref> The following day, the [[ABC News]] program ''[[Nightline (US news program)|Nightline]]'' reported that investigators had searched Murray's home and office in Las Vegas, and that Murray had become the primary focus of the investigation.<ref name=NightlineJuly28>[http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/MichaelJackson/Story?id=8192476&page=1 Feds Raid Michael Jackson's Doctor Conrad Murray's Home and Office], ''[[Nightline (US news program)|Nightline]]'', July 28, 2009</ref> On August 11, a Las Vegas pharmacy was searched by investigators looking for evidence against Murray, according to an anonymous police source cited by ''The New York Times''.<ref name=NYTimesAug11> Friess, Steve [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/12/us/12jackson.html?_r=1 New Raid in Inquiry on Jackson ], ''[[The New York Times]]'', August 11, 2009</ref> Murray's lawyer advised patience until the toxicology results arrived, noting that "things tend to shake out when all the facts are made known".<ref name=NightlineJuly28/>

===Other concerns===
{{See|Anschutz Entertainment Group|This Is It (Michael Jackson concerts)}}
Jackson's family raised questions about the role of AEG Live, the ''This Is It'' concert promoter, in the last few weeks of Jackson's life. The family wished to see an investigation into the role of the personal advisers and representatives whom the family believed had been put in place for Jackson by the promoter.<ref name=HarrisJune28/> Meanwhile, Jackson's sister [[La Toya Jackson|La Toya]] suspected that Jackson might have been administered an ultimately lethal dose of drugs by "a shadowy entourage" of handlers who had used the drugs to alter and exploit Jackson's moods.<ref name=GrahamJuly12>Graham, Caroline. [http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1199092/La-Toya-Jackson-Michael-murdered--I-felt-start.html La Toya Jackson: Michael was murdered... I felt it from the start], ''Mail on Sunday'', July 12, 2009.</ref>

==Family==
{{See|Jackson family|The Jackson 5}}
[[File:Michael Jackson2 2006.jpg|thumb|left|180px|right|Jackson with his children at Disneyland Paris, June 2006]]
Jackson is survived by his three children, Michael Joseph "Prince" Jackson Jr. (1997); Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson (1998),
born during his marriage to his second wife, [[Debbie Rowe]]; and Prince Michael Jackson II, known as "Blanket", born in 2002 to a [[surrogate mother]]. He is also survived by his brothers, [[Jackie Jackson|Jackie]], [[Tito Jackson|Tito]], [[Jermaine Jackson|Jermaine]], [[Marlon Jackson|Marlon]], [[Randy Jackson (musician)|Randy]]; his sisters [[Rebbie Jackson|Rebbie]], [[La Toya Jackson|La Toya]], and [[Janet Jackson|Janet]]. Michael is also survived by his parents, [[Joseph Jackson (manager)|Joseph]] and [[Katherine Jackson|Katherine]]. Katherine Jackson was granted temporary guardianship of Jackson's children on June 29.<ref name=SteinhauerJune29>Steinhauer, Jennifer. [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/us/30jackson.html?ref=music Jackson’s Children Go to His Mother], ''The New York Times'', June 29.</ref> The Jackson family released a collective statement following the death:

{{cquote|''In one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter. Our beloved son, brother and father of three children has gone so unexpectedly, in such a tragic way and much too soon. It leaves us, his family, speechless and devastated to a point, where communication with the outside world seems almost impossible at times.''<ref>[http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20287787_20288069,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines Jackson Family Issues Personal Statement to Fans], ''People'', June 27, 2009</ref>}}

La Toya Jackson indicated that the family would file a [[lawsuit]] against anyone they believed responsible for Michael's death, as well as push for criminal charges.<ref name=GrahamJuly12/>

==Will and legal affairs==
:''Further information: [[Sony/ATV Music Publishing#Value|Value of Sony/ATV Music Publishing]]''
Jackson's will was filed by attorney [[John Branca]] at the [[Los Angeles County]] courthouse on July 1, 2009. Signed July 7, 2002, it names Branca and accountant John McClain as executors; they were confirmed as such by a Los Angeles judge on July 6, 2009.<ref>Bone, James. [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6652155.ece Jackson's mother removed as administrator of his estate], ''The Times'', July 6, 2009.</ref> All assets are given to the (pre-existing) Michael Jackson Family Trust (amended 22 March 2002),<ref name="JGwill">Garber, Julie. [http://wills.about.com/b/2009/07/06/musings-about-michael-jacksons-estate-plan.htm "Michael Jackson's Will vs. the Michael Jackson Family Trust"], ''about.com'', July 6, 2009.</ref> the details of which have not been made public. The Associated Press reports that, in 2007, Jackson had a net worth of $236.6 million: $567.6 million in assets, which included [[Neverland Ranch]] and his 50% share of [[Sony/ATV Music Publishing]]' catalogue, and debts of $331 million.<ref name=MacAskillJuly1>MacAskill, Ewen. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jul/01/michael-jackson-public-displayed-nerverland Jackson's body to be put on public display at Neverland], ''The Guardian'', July 1, 2009.</ref> The guardianship of his children is given to his mother, Katherine, or if she is unable or unwilling, to singer [[Diana Ross]].<ref>"Michael Jackson's Will Cuts Out Ex-Wife Deborah Rowe", Associated Press, July 1, 2009; Nasaw, Daniel. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jul/01/michael-jackson-will-debbie-row "Jackson's ex-wife cut out of will"], ''The Guardian'', July 1, 2009.</ref> The will states that Jackson's former wife [[Debbie Rowe]] was omitted intentionally.<ref>Gardner, David. [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1196781/How-Michael-Jackson-worth-345m--424k-cash.html "Will Diana Ross care for Michael Jackson's three children?"], ''Daily Mail, July 2, 2009; Anderson Cooper 360, CNN, July 1, 2009.</ref> Jackson's will allocates 20% of his fortune as well as 20% of money made after death to unspecified charities.<ref>http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h761FDvBOwcXie9NR_ppzHuNvqfwD99SM5980</ref>

Media reports suggested that settlement of Jackson's [[Estate (law)|estate]] could last many years.<ref name=BrownLewis>Brown, David and Lewis, Leo. [http://timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6583010.ece Michael Jackson: finances will take years to unwind], ''The Times'', June 27, 2009.</ref> The value of [[Sony/ATV Music Publishing]] is estimated by Ryan Schinman, chief of Platinum Rye, to be US$1.5 billion. Shinman's estimate makes Jackson's share of Sony/ATV worth USD$750 million, from which Jackson would have had an annual income of USD$80 million. Sony Corporation has not commented on whether it intends to buy Jackson's share of Sony/ATV from the Jackson estate. Jackson's creditors could force a [[forced sale|distressed sale]], which would act in Sony's favor since it would lower the sale price, but only if the trust set up by Jackson for his stake in Sony/ATV is revocable. A distressed sale would lower the value of Jackson's estate, and thus might not raise enough to cover the debts owed by the estate.<ref name="ZOMG!">Greenburg, Zack O'Malley. [http://forbes.com/2009/06/26/michael-jackson-beatles-business-media-estate.html Michael Jackson's Estate Sale], ''Forbes'', June 26, 2009.</ref>

==Reaction==
===Media and Internet coverage===
[[File:Reporter and Crowd outside UCLA - MJ Death.jpg|thumb|180px|[[Michael Okwu]] of [[NBC News]] outside UCLA Medical Center]]
The first reports that Jackson had suffered a cardiac arrest, then that he had died, came from [[TMZ.com]], a Los Angeles-based celebrity news website. Doctors at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center pronounced Jackson dead at 2:26&nbsp;pm [[Pacific Time Zone|PDT]] (5:26 p.m. EST), and 18 minutes later at 2:44&nbsp;pm [[Pacific Time Zone|PDT]] (5:44 p.m. EST) TMZ published: "Michael Jackson passed away today at the age of 50."<ref name=Rayner/> The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' website confirmed the report at 2:51&nbsp;pm PDT (5:51 p.m. EDT).<ref name=Rawlinson/>

[[File:Mjackson-apache-load-spike.png|thumb|left|250px|[[Wikipedia]] spikes at 15:00 hrs in Los Angeles (22:00 hrs UTC), June 25.]]
The news spread quickly online, causing websites to slow down and [[Crash (computing)|crash]] from user overload. Both TMZ and the ''Los Angeles Times'' suffered outages.<ref name=Rawlinson>Rawlinson, Linnie and Nick Hunt. [http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/06/26/michael.jackson.internet/index.html Jackson Dies, almost takes Internet With Him], CNN, June 27, 2009.</ref> [[Google]] initially believed that the input from millions of people searching for "Michael Jackson" meant that the search engine was [[Denial-of-service_attack#Distributed_attack|under attack]]. [[Twitter]] reported a crash, as did [[Wikipedia]] at 3:15 p.m. PDT (6:15 p.m. EST).<ref>Shiels, Maggie. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8120324.stm Web slows after Jackson's death], BBC News, June 26, 2009.</ref> The [[Wikimedia Foundation]] reported nearly a million visitors to Jackson's biography within one hour, probably the most visitors in a one-hour period to any article in Wikipedia's history.<ref>Phoebe. [http://wiki.riteme.site/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedia_Signpost/2009-06-29/News_and_notes The King of Pop vs. Wikipedia], ''The Wikipedia Signpost'', June 29, 2009; see {{stats.grok.se|Michael Jackson|year=2009|month=6|text = October 2009 stats}}.</ref> [[AOL Instant Messenger]] collapsed for 40 minutes. AOL called it a "seminal moment in Internet history", adding, "We've never seen anything like it in terms of scope or depth."<ref name=WoodJune27>Wood, Daniel B. [http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0627/p25s09-usgn.html Outpouring over Michael Jackson unlike anything since Princess Di], ''Christian Science Monitor'', June 27, 2009.</ref>

Around 15 percent of Twitter posts&mdash;or 5,000 [[Wiktionary:tweet#Noun|tweets]] per minute&mdash;reportedly mentioned Jackson after the news broke,<ref name=crash>Skok, David, [http://www.vancouversun.com/Entertainment/Internet+stretched+limit+fans+flock+Michael+Jackson+news/1736311/story.html Internet stretched to limit as fans flock for Michael Jackson news], ''The Vancouver Sun'', June 26, 2009.</ref><ref name=Wortham>Wortham, Jenna. [http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/25/michael-jackson-tops-the-charts-on-twitter/ Michael Jackson Tops the Charts on Twitter], ''The New York Times'', June 25, 2009.</ref> compared to the five percent recalled as having mentioned the [[2009 Iranian election|Iranian elections]] or the [[2009 flu pandemic|flu pandemic]] that had made headlines earlier in the year.<ref name=Wortham/> Overall, [[web traffic]] ranged from 11 percent to at least 20 percent higher than normal.<ref name=crash/><ref>Krazit, Tim and McCullagh, Declan. [http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10273854-93.html Debate: Can the Internet handle big breaking news?], ''cnet.com'', June 26, 2009.</ref>

[[MTV]] and [[Black Entertainment Television]] (BET) aired [[Marathon (television)|marathons]] of Jackson's music videos.<ref name=mtvjackson>Stelter, Brian. [http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/the-michael-jackson-channel/?scp=2&sq=MTV&st=cse MTV's Jackson Marathon] ''The New York Times'', June 26, 2009.</ref> Jackson specials aired on multiple television stations around the world. The British [[soap opera]] ''[[EastEnders]]'' added a last-minute scene, in which [[Denise Wicks|one character]] tells [[Patrick Trueman|another]] about the news, to the June 26 episode.<ref>[http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/tv/news/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=148199084&GT1=61503 Jacko news spreads to Eastenders], ''[[MSN|MSN Entertainment]]'', accessed June 28, 2009</ref> Jackson was the topic of every front-page headline in the daily British tabloid ''[[The Sun]]'' for about two weeks following his death.<ref name="SunHeadlines">''[[The Sun]]'', July 8, 2009, pp. 10&ndash;11.</ref> During the same period, the three major U.S. networks' evening newscasts&mdash;[[World News with Charles Gibson|ABC's World News]], [[CBS Evening News]], and [[NBC Nightly News]]&mdash;devoted 34 percent of their broadcast time to him.<ref>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jeff-poor/2009/07/10/jacko-telethon-primetime-broadcast-network-coverage-devotes-one-third-all Jacko Telethon: Primetime Broadcast Network Coverage Devotes One Third of All News to Pop Star's Death], ''newsbusters.org'', July 10, 2009.</ref> Magazines including ''[[Time Magazine|TIME]]'' published commemorative editions.<ref>[http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20287787_20288156,00.html Time Magazine to Publish Special Jackson Issue], ''People'', June 27, 2009.</ref> A scene that had featured Jackson's sister La Toya was cut from the film [[Brüno (film)|''Brüno'']] out of respect toward Jackson's family.<ref>Hill, Catey. [http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/06/26/2009-06-26_scene_with_michael_jackson_and_laytoya_jackson_cut_from_sacha_baron_cohens_bruno.html Scene with Michael Jackson, LaToya Jackson cut from Sacha Baron Cohen's "Bruno"], ''New York Daily News'', June 26, 2009.</ref>

According to an analysis released by the [[Global Language Monitor]], "72 hours after his death, Jackson jumped to the No. 9 spot for the global print and electronic media. For Internet, blogs and social media, Jackson jumped to the No. 2, only trailing the election of Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States. The results showed the growing disparity between the mainstream global media, and what is playing out for news on the Internet, and beyond".<ref>http://www.languagemonitor.com/news/death-of-michael-jackson</ref> Paul JJ Payack, president and chief word analyst of GLM said, “the death of Michael Jackson has resulted in a global media event of the first order”, and added, “the fact that he has broken into the top media of the 21st century is a testament to the global impact of the man and his music.”

Statistics published by the [[Pew Research Center]] suggested that two out of three Americans believed the coverage of Jackson's death was excessive, while three percent felt it was insufficient.<ref>"Most Americans believe Jackson coverage excessive", retrieved 02/07/2009</ref> In the UK, the [[BBC]] received over 700 complaints from viewers who thought the death dominated the news.<ref>Khan, Urmee. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5713187/BBC-gets-over-700-complaints-about-wall-to-wall-coverage.html BBC gets over 700 complaints about 'wall-to-wall' coverage], ''The Daily Telegraph'', July 1, 2009.</ref> American [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] commentator [[Rush Limbaugh]] said the coverage was "a horrible disgrace" and lent his support to activist-ministers Jesse Jackson and [[Al Sharpton]], who were fighting to stem the press's speculation about what caused the death. "We don't know diddlysquat yet", Limbaugh told listeners on June 29.<ref>[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_062909/content/01125107.guest.html El Rushbo Supports Justice Brothers in Case of Media v. Michael Jackson], ''Rushlimbaugh.com'', June 29, 2009.</ref> Other conservatives, including commentator [[Bill O'Reilly (political commentator)|Bill O'Reilly]]<ref>[http://uk.news.yahoo.com/1/20090712/ten-o-reilly-provokes-outrage-with-jacks-c60bd6d.html O'Reilly provokes outrage with Jackson rant], ''[[Yahoo|Yahoo News]]'', accessed 19/08/2009</ref> and Congressman [[Peter T. King]],<ref>[http://www.nypolitics.com/2009/07/06/congressman-peter-king-michael-jackson-is-a-pedophile-child-molester/ Congressman Peter King: Michael Jackson is a “Pedophile” “Child Molester” Video], ''NYPolitics'', accessed 19/08/2009</ref> also disapproved of the media attention Jackson's death received.

===Grief===
[[File:Michael Jackson star6272009.JPG|thumb|150px|Jackson's star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] became a focal point for public grief.]]
Jackson's death triggered a global outpouring of grief. The circumstances and timing of his death were compared to those of [[Elvis Presley]]. Fans gathered outside the UCLA Medical Center, [[Neverland Ranch]], his Holmby Hills home, the Hayvenhurst Jackson family home in Encino, the [[Apollo Theater]] in New York, and at [[Hitsville U.S.A.]], the old [[Motown]] headquarters in Detroit where Jackson's career began, now the Motown Museum. Streets around the hospital were blocked off, and across America people left offices and factories to watch the breaking news on television.<ref name=Coleman>Coleman, Mark. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5645517/Michael-Jackson-is-dead-fans-mourn-outside-hospital.html Michael Jackson is dead: fans mourn outside hospital], ''The Daily Telegraph'', June 26, 2009.</ref> A small crowd, including the city's mayor, gathered outside his childhood home in [[Gary, Indiana|Gary]], where the flag on city hall was flown at [[half staff]] in his honor.<ref>Keagle, Lauri Harvey. [http://nwi.com/articles/2009/06/26/updates/breaking_news/doc4a44cf859eb59619685549.txt Fans paying respects to King of Pop at boyhood home], ''The Times of Northwest Indiana'', June 26, 2009.</ref> Fans also mistakenly gathered around the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] star of [[Michael Jackson (radio commentator)|another Michael Jackson]], a radio commentator, stating that "they didn't care" when told by reporters<ref> [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/06/michael-jackson-7.html Michael Jackson's death: Fans gather at wrong Hollywood star], ''The Los Angeles Times'', June 26, 2009.</ref> (Jackson's own star had been temporarily covered by equipment used for the premiere of the film [[Brüno (film)|''Brüno'']]<ref>Behrens, Zach. [http://laist.com/2009/06/26/crowds_gather_around_michael_jackso.php Crowds Gather Around Michael Jackson's Star After Bruno Premiere], ''Hollywood LAist'', June 26, 2009.</ref>). Coincidentally ''Brüno'' featured a scene involving Jackson's sister, [[La Toya Jackson]]. The scene was soon cut out of the film before the Hollywood premiere in respect to the [[Jackson family]].

Fans around the world (such as in [[Odessa]], [[Ukraine]];<ref>[http://photo.unian.net/eng/themes/13467 Events by themes: In Odessa honoured memory of Michael Jackson], [[UNIAN]] (June 29, 2009)</ref> and [[Brussels]], [[Belgium]]<ref>{{nl}}[http://www.gva.be/nieuws/media-en-cultuur/video/extern-hulde-aan-michael-jackson-in-brussel.aspx Hulde aan Michael Jackson in Brussel], [[Gazet van Antwerpen]] (July 7, 2009)</ref>) held their own memorial gatherings.

[[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Barack Obama]] sent a letter of condolence to the Jackson family,<ref name=GumbelJune28/> and the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] observed a [[moment of silence]].<ref>Gavin, Patrick. [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/24260.html Congress pauses for Michael Jackson], ''The Politico'', June 26, 2009.</ref> Obama later stated that Jackson "will go down in history as one of our greatest entertainers".<ref>http://www.knoxville.com/news/2009/jul/02/no-headline---070209obamajackson/</ref><ref>http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/07/02/1985306.aspx</ref>

Former South African President [[Nelson Mandela]] issued a message through his foundation saying Jackson's loss would be felt worldwide. Mandela's statement about Jackson were read out at star's public memorial service in Los Angeles, "We became fond of him and he became a close member of our family. We had great admiration for his talent and that he was able to triumph over tragedy on some many occasion in his life".
<ref>http://www.examiner.com/x-12837-US-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m7d7-Statement-by-Nelson-Mandela-at-Michael-Jackson-Memorial</ref>

[[Image:Neverland-ranch-memorial.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Fans visiting the makeshift memorial set up outside the Neverland Ranch entrance shortly after Jackson's death.]]

In Japan, where Jackson had somewhat of an idol status, the top government spokesman and other ministers expressed their condolences. Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Tsutomu Sato told reporters, "I feel sad as I had watched him since he was a member of Jackson Five." "Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada has credited him with building a generation with his music."<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1907367,00.html Big In Japan: Tokyo Mourns Jackson's Death], TIME, June 26, 2009</ref> "'He was a superstar. It is an extremely tragic loss. But it is fantastic he was able to give so many dreams and so much hope to the people of the world,' said Health Minister Yoichi Masuzoe."<ref>http://abcnews.go.com/International/WireStory?id=7939257&page=1</ref>


British Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]] issue a brief statement on Jackson's death: "This is very sad news for the millions of Michael Jackson fans in Britain and around the world." Conservative leader [[David Cameron]] said, "I know Michael Jackson's fans in Britain and around the world will be sad today. Despite the controversies, he was a legendary entertainer."<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8120738.stm, ''BBC News'', June 26, 2009</ref>.

[[Elizabeth Taylor]], a long-time friend, said she can't imagine life without him.<ref name=TaylorJune26>[http://www.usmagazine.com/news/elizabeth-taylor-i-loved-michael-with-all-my-soul-2009266 Elizabeth Taylor: "I Loved Michael With All My Soul"], US Magazine, June 26, 2009.</ref> [[Liza Minnelli]] told CBS, "When the autopsy comes, all hell's going to break loose, so thank God we're ­celebrating him now."<ref name=GumbelJune27>Gumbel, Andrew. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jun/26/michael-jackson-drugs-doctor-missing Police focus on doctor who was with Michael Jackson as he died], ''The Guardian'', June 27, 2009.</ref>

His sister La Toya claimed that his daughter said he was being overworked. La Toya is quoted as saying: "She said, 'No, you don't understand. They kept working him and Daddy didn't want that, but they worked him constantly'. I felt so bad." <ref> [http://www.merrymedia.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7451&Itemid=30 Michael Jackson's Daughter Thinks He Was Overworked ] </ref>

===Tributes===
<!--local-->
On July 10, 2009, 6,000 fans attended a musical tribute in Jackson's hometown of [[Gary, Indiana|Gary]], [[Indiana]]. Local performers staged a medley of his songs, and mayor Rudy Clay unveiled a seven-foot memorial to him. Jesse Jackson addressed the crowd, stating, "This is where Michael learned to dance, where he learned to sing, where he learned to sacrifice."<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5803369/Michael-Jackson-thousands-pay-tribute-at-birthplace-memorial.html Michael Jackson: thousands pay tribute at birthplace memorial], ''The Telegraphy'', retrieved on 11/07/2009</ref>

<!--national-->
[[The Game (rapper)|The Game]], a [[Rapping|rapper]] was the first performer to release a tribute song: his single "[[Better on the Other Side]]" came out the day after Jackson's death. [[Music producer|Produced]] by [[DJ Khalil]], this song featured vocals by [[Sean Combs|Diddy]], [[Chris Brown (entertainer)|Chris Brown]], [[Polow da Don]], [[Mario Winans]], [[Usher (entertainer)|Usher]], and [[Boyz II Men]].<ref>Gamble, Ronnie. [http://www.ballerstatus.com/2009/06/26/the-game-gets-assist-from-chris-brown-diddy-for-michael-jackson-tribute/ The Game Gets Assist From Chris Brown, Diddy For Michael Jackson Tribute], ''BallerStatus'', June 26, 2009, accessed July 1, 2009.</ref>

A wide variety of other artists recorded musical tributes, such as [[50 Cent]]<ref>Reid, Shaheem. [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1614814/20090626/jackson_michael.jhtml 50 Cent Pays Tribute To Michael Jackson], MTV, June 26, 2009</ref>, [[LL Cool J]], [[Robbie Williams]], [[Akon]] and guitarist [[Buckethead]] (whose song entitled "The Homing Beacon" was inspired by Jackson's [[3-D film]], ''[[Captain EO]]''.)<ref>[http://www.bucketheadland.com/01_The_Landing_Beacon.mp3 The Landing Beacon], Buckethead, accessed July 6, 2009.</ref>

Jackson's sister [[La Toya Jackson|La Toya]] released her song, "[[Home (La Toya Jackson song)|Home]]", on [[July 28]] as a [[charity single]] in her brother's honor. All proceeds are being donated to one of Michael Jackson's favorite charities.<ref>http://www.latifaheaston.co.uk/LaToya/home.htm</ref><ref>http://www.bungalorecords.com/</ref>

[[BET Awards#2009 tribute to Michael Jackson|BET's annual 2009 Awards Ceremony]] aired three days after Jackson's passing, on June 28, 2009. It featured a tribute to the singer. Host [[Jamie Foxx]] said, "We want to celebrate this black man. He belongs to us and we shared him with everybody else." The ceremony featured performances of several of Jackson's songs, including pieces from his time with [[The Jackson Five]] and those from his solo career.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/26/jackson.bet.awards/ BET Awards to pay tribute to Jackson], CNN, accessed July 2, 2009.</ref> Joe Jackson and Al Sharpton were in the audience, and Janet Jackson spoke briefly on behalf of the family. The show was the highest-rated BET annual awards show ever.{{Vague|date=October 2009}}<ref>"Ratings: Jackson Tribute Leads BET Awards to All-Time High, Disney Queens Rule, and More", ''seattlepi.com'', accessed July 2, 2009.</ref>{{Dead link|date=October 2009}}

A few days after Jackson's death, there were news reports to the effect that AEG Live, the promoter for Jackson's ''This Is It'' tour, was preparing [[Michael Jackson tribute concert|a tribute concert]] for September 2009. The show would reportedly follow the style arranged for the ''This Is It'' concerts.<ref>Singh, Amar. [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23713756-details/Justin+Timberlake+%27cautious%27+about+Michael+Jackson+tribute+show/article.do Justin Timberlake 'cautious' about Michael Jackson tribute show], ''[[This Is London]]'', June 30, 2009.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31572920/ns/entertainment-gossip/ |title=Jackson's tour to become tribute concert |work=msnbc.com |publisher=[[MSNBC]] |date=27 June 2009 |accessdate=3 July 2009}}</ref> However, as of early September 2009, no details of any such concert have been announced.

<!--international-->
The day after Jackson's death, the mayor of [[Rio de Janeiro]] announced that the city would erect a statue of the singer in the [[favela]] of Dona Marta. Jackson visited the community in 1996 and filmed a music video for [[They Don't Care About Us]] there. The mayor said that Jackson had helped make the community into "a model for [[social development]]."<ref name=Cobo/>

Memorials were held all over the world, in places as diverse as [[Tokyo]],<ref name=Cobo>Cobo, Leila.
[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/michael-jackson-remains-a-global-phenomenon-1003990447.story?pn=1 Michael Jackson Remains A Global Phenomenon], Billboard, July 2, 2009.</ref> [[Bucharest]]<ref>[http://www.mtv.ro/stiri/muzica/nu-te-vom-uita-niciodata Nu te vom uita niciodata!], MTV Romania, accessed July 5, 2009.</ref> and [[Baku]], [[Azerbaijan]].<ref>[http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=104416 Michael Jackson commemorated in Baku] [[Azerbaijan Press Agency|APA]], 29 Jun 2009</ref>

[[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] opened her ''[[Sticky & Sweet Tour]]'' on [[July 4]] in London's [[O2 Arena]]. Jackson was planning to begin his ''[[This Is It (Michael Jackson concerts)|This Is It]]'' tour just a few days later at the same venue. Madonna paid tribute to the King of Pop during the performance: after a Jackson impersonator performed many of Jackson's signature moves to "[[Billie Jean]]" and "[[Wanna Be Startin' Somethin']]", Madonna told the crowd, "Let's give it up for one of the greatest artists the world has ever known. Michael Jackson: Long live the king!"<ref>[http://news-briefs.ew.com/2009/07/madonna-celebrates-michael-jackson.html Madonna celebrates Michael Jackson in London concert. July 5, 2009]</ref> Madonna would incorporate this tribute into every concert (during "Holiday") until the tour ended in September 2009.

The music video for "[[Do the Bartman]]", a ''[[The Simpsons|Simpsons]]'' song co-written by Jackson, was broadcast ahead of an episode rerun of ''The Simpsons'' on June 28. It featured a title card paying tribute to Jackson.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Snierson, Dan|date=June 27, 2009|url=http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/06/michael-jackson-the-simpsons-to-air-do-the-bartman-video-in-tribute.html|title=Michael Jackson: 'The Simpsons' to re-air 'Do the Bartman' video in tribute on Sunday|work=Entertainment Weekly|accessdate=June 28, 2009}}</ref> The 1991 ''Simpsons'' episode that Jackson guest starred in under the name of John Jay Smith, "[[Stark Raving Dad]]", was broadcast on [[Fox network|Fox]] on July 5.<ref>Snierson, Dan. [http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/07/michael-jackson-the-simpsons-to-reair-the-pop-stars-1991-episode.html Michael Jackson: 'The Simpsons' to re-air the pop star's 1991 episode], ''Entertainment Weekly'', July 2, 2009.</ref> The episode had been broadcast on the Dutch [[Comedy Central]] the day after his death, and was dedicated to Jackson's memory.<ref> [http://i26.tinypic.com/23kui9s.png Screenshot of a cached version of Comedy Central's TV Guide for June 26th, 2009 (In Dutch)]</ref>

[[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] opened the [[2009 MTV Video Music Awards]] with a speech about [[Michael Jackson]]. [[Janet Jackson]] made an appearance at the VMAs to pay musical tribute to her late brother and honor his career.<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1620979/20090908/jackson_janet.jhtml Janet Jackson To Pay Tribute To Michael At The VMAs]. Retrieved on Sep 8, 2009.</ref>

===Record sales===
Jackson's record sales increased dramatically in the hours and days following his death, eighty-fold according to [[HMV]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8123085.stm Michael Jackson tops album chart], BBC News, June 28, 2009.</ref> Bill Carr, [[Amazon.com|Amazon's]] vice president for music and video, said the website sold out of all Jackson's CDs, and those of [[The Jackson 5]] within minutes of the news breaking and Jackson's music demand since his death has surpassed those of [[Elvis Presley]] and [[John Lennon]] after their sudden deaths.<ref>Metz, Rachel. "Jackson music, videos quickly sell out after death", ''seattlepi.com'', June 28, 2009; Wood, Daniel B. [http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0627/p25s09-usgn.html Outpouring over Michael Jackson unlike anything since Princess Di], ''Christian Science Monitor'', June 27, 2009.</ref><ref>http://article.wn.com/view/2009/06/30/Michael_Jacksons_postdeath_music_sales_outstrip_Elvis_and_Jo/</ref><ref>http://article.wn.com/view/2009/06/30/Jackson_posthumous_music_sales_outstrip_Elvis/</ref>

The demand placed enormous pressure on CD manufacturing plants.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} Sales of his music topped the leading online music sellers, [[iTunes Store|iTunes]], [[Amazon MP3|Amazon]] and [[Zune Marketplace]], taking over most of the top twenty spots. His album ''[[Thriller (album)|Thriller]]'' climbed to number one on the American iTunes music chart, soon to be replaced by ''[[The Essential Michael Jackson]]'', while another nineteen albums made it into the [[top 40]]. A total of 13 countries pushed ''[[Number Ones (Michael Jackson album)|Number Ones]]'' to the number one spot on their iTunes chart.<ref>[http://www.tmz.com/2009/06/27/michael-jackson-pressing-cd-makers Michael Jackson Pressing CD Makers], ''TMZ'', June 27, 2009; [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/5662997/Michael-Jackson-set-to-be-number-one-in-charts-following-his-death.html Michael Jackson set to be number one in charts following his death], ''The Daily Telegraph'', June 27, 2009.</ref> In Japan, six of his albums made SoundScan Japan's Top 200 Albums chart,<ref name=Cobo/> and in Poland, ''[[Thriller 25]]'' topped the national album chart and was replaced by ''[[King of Pop (album)|King of Pop]]'' the following week.<ref>[http://olis.onyx.pl/listy/index.asp?lang=pl Olis], accessed July 4, 2009.</ref> In Australia, 15 of his albums occupied the [[ARIA]] top 100 as of July 5, four of them in the top ten, with three occupying the top three spots. He had 34 singles in the top 100 singles chart, including four in the top ten. Album sales were 62,015 for the previous week; singles tallied 107,821 units.<ref>Cashmere, Paul. [http://www.undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=8703_Michael_Jackson_Dominates_Australian_Chart Michael Jackson Dominates Australian Chart], ''Undercover.com.au'', July 5, 2009.</ref> In the second week, album sales rose from the previous week and tallied 88,650 copies. On July 12, four albums were in the top 10 with three occupying the top three spots.<ref>http://www.undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=8755_Michael_Jackson_Chartwatch_Australia_Week_2</ref> As of July 19, album sales rose once again from previous weeks and tallied 95,513 copies <ref>http://www.undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=8798_Michael_Jackson_Continues_To_Dominate_Australian_Sales</ref>. In New Zealand, ''Thriller 25'' topped the chart.<ref>http://charts.org.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Michael+Jackson&titel=Thriller+25&cat=a</ref> In Germany, ''King of Pop'' topped the album chart,<ref name="media KoP">{{cite web |url=http://www.media-control.de/michael-jackson-regiert-posthum-die-charts.html |title=Michael Jackson - King of Pop |publisher=media control |accessdate=2009-07-07 }}</ref> and from June 28 to July 4, nine of his albums occupied the Top 20 of [[CAPIF]] in Argentina.<ref>[http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?CodOp=ESCS&CO=6 CAPIF - Representando a la Industria Argentina de la Música]</ref>
In Billboard's European Top 100 Albums, he made history with eight of his albums in the top ten positions.<ref>Sexton, Paul. [http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3icf26a0dad6f100161170cbf2b2f6bb83 Michael Jackson Scores Eight Of Top 10 Euro Albums ], Billboard, July 16, 2009.</ref> As of August 3, ''King of Pop'' has spent four weeks atop Billboard's European Top 100 Albums chart.<ref name = "UK and Euro August 3"/> ''[[The Collection (Michael Jackson album)|The Collection]]'' also spent two weeks atop the same chart.<ref>http://www.billboard.com/news/michael-jackson-continues-u-k-chart-run-1004003727.story#/news/michael-jackson-continues-u-k-chart-run-1004003727.story</ref>

In the UK, on the Sunday following his death, his albums occupied 14 of the top 20 places on the ''Amazon.co.uk'' sales chart, with ''[[Off the Wall (album)|Off the Wall]]'' at the top. ''Number Ones'' reached the top of the [[UK Album Chart]], and his studio albums occupied number two to number eight on the ''iTunes'' Music Store top albums. Six of his songs charted in the top 40: "[[Man in the Mirror]]" (11), "[[Thriller (song)|Thriller]]" (23), "[[Billie Jean]]" (25), "[[Smooth Criminal]]" (28)", "[[Beat It]]" (30), and "[[Earth Song]]" (38).<ref>[http://www.chartstats.com/chart.php?week=20090704 Singles chart for 04/07/2009], ''Chart Stats'', June 29, 2009.</ref> The following Sunday, 13 of Jackson's songs charted in the top 40, including "Man In the Mirror", which landed the number two spot.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=15088 |title=Chart Stats - Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror |publisher=www.chartstats.com |accessdate=2009-08-02}}</ref> He broke [[Ruth Murray]]'s 1955 record of five songs in the top 30.<ref>[http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/c/uk/single_charts.html Singles chart for 06/07/2009], ''Yahoo UK music charts'', July 6, 2009.</ref> ''The Essential Michael Jackson'' topped the album chart, giving Jackson a second number one album in as many weeks. He had five of the top ten albums in the album chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8135207.stm |title=Jackson maintains chart dominance |work=[[BBC News]] |publisher=[[BBC|British Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=5 July 2009 |accessdate=5 July 2009}}</ref> In third week sales, ''The Essential Michael Jackson'' retained the number one position and Jackson held three other positions within the top five.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nme.com/news/michael-jackson/46043 |title=Michael Jackson increases chart dominance |work=NME |date=12 July 2009 |accessdate=12 July 2009}}</ref> By August 3, Jackson had sold 2 million records and spent six consecutive weeks atop the album chart.<ref name = "UK and Euro August 3">http://www.billboard.com/news/michael-jackson-black-eyed-peas-control-1003999573.story#/news/michael-jackson-black-eyed-peas-control-1003999573.story</ref><ref>http://in.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idINIndia-41501020090803</ref> He retained the top spot on the album chart for a seventh consecutive week.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8192356.stm</ref>

In the U.S., Jackson broke three chart records on the first ''Billboard'' issue date that followed his death. The entire top nine positions on [[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']]'s [[Top Pop Catalog Albums]] featured titles related to him. By the third week it would be the entire top twelve positions.<ref name="billboard.biz">http://billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/genre/e3ia0e58e69829af2a979bb1ee7beebe5d1?imw=Y</ref> ''Number Ones'' was the best-selling album of the week and topped the catalog chart with sales of 108,000, an increase of 2,340 percent. ''The Essential Michael Jackson'' (2) and ''Thriller'' (3) also sold over 100,000 units. The other titles on the chart are ''Off the Wall'' (4), Jackson Five's ''[[Jackson 5: The Ultimate Collection|Ultimate Collection]]'' (5), ''[[Bad (album)|Bad]]'' (6), ''[[Dangerous (album)|Dangerous]]'' (7), ''[[HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I|HIStory: Past, Present and Future - Volume 1]]'' (8) and Jackson's ''[[Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection|Ultimate Collection]]'' (9). Collectively, his solo albums sold 422,000 copies in the week following his death, 800,000 copies in the first full week, and 1.1 million copies in the following week of his memorial service.<ref name="billboard.biz"/> He also broke a record on the Top Digital Albums chart, with six of the top 10 slots, including the entire top four. On the [[Hot Digital Songs]] chart he placed a record of 25 songs on the 75-position list. In the U.S., Jackson became the first artist to sell over one million downloads in a week, with 2.6 million sales.<ref>Caulfield, Keith. "Michael Jackson Breaks Billboard Charts Records", ''Billboard'', June 30, 2009.</ref><ref>Sisario, Ben. [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/arts/music/02sales.html In Death as in Life, Michael Jackson Sets Music Sales Records ], ''The New York Times'', July 2, 2009.</ref> By August 5, Jackson had sold nearly 3.8 million albums and 7.6 million tracks in the U.S.. ''Number Ones'' was the best selling album in five of the six weeks that followed his death.<ref>http://www.billboard.com/column/dailynoise/michael-jackson-dave-grohl-supergroup-kristina-1004000617.story#/column/dailynoise/michael-jackson-dave-grohl-supergroup-kristina-1004000617.story</ref> The following week was the album's sixth non-consecutive week as the country's top selling album.<ref>http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/08/12/sugarland-albums-chart/</ref>

==Memorial==
{{Main|Michael Jackson memorial service}}
[[File:Staples Center outside.jpg|right|thumb|220px|An estimated one billion viewers saw coverage of the memorial held in the [[Staples Center]].]]
A private family service was held on July 7 at [[Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery]] in Los Angeles, followed by a public memorial at the [[Staples Center]], where Jackson had rehearsed on June 23, two days before he died. The service was broadcast live around the world, and was believed to have been watched by up to one billion people.<ref name="vancouversun.com"/>

Jackson's solid-bronze casket was placed in front of the stage. His brothers each wore a single, white, sparkling glove, while [[Stevie Wonder]], [[Mariah Carey]], [[Lionel Richie]], [[Jermaine Jackson]] and others sang his songs. [[Berry Gordy]] and [[Smokey Robinson]] both spoke, and [[Queen Latifah]] read, "We had him", a poem written for Jackson by [[Maya Angelou]] at the request of Katherine Jackson. "Sing our songs among the stars and walk our dances across the face of the moon/In the instant that Michael is gone, we know nothing."<ref>Allen, Nick. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5771156/Michael-Jackson-memorial-service-the-biggest-celebrity-send-off-of-all-time.html Michael Jackson memorial service: the biggest celebrity send-off of all time], ''The Daily Telegraph'', July 7, 2009.</ref>{{Failed verification|date=October 2009}} Al Sharpton received a standing ovation{{Failed verification|date=October 2009}} for his [[eulogy]], and Jackson's 11-year-old daughter, Paris, broke down as she told the crowd, "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine ..."<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2009/jul/07/michaeljackson Liveblogging Michael Jackson's funeral and memorial service], ''The Guardian'', July 7, 2009.</ref> [[Marlon Jackson]] said, "Maybe now, Michael, they will leave you alone."<ref name=BBCJuly7>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8137700.stm Fans and family remember Jackson], BBC News, July 7, 2009.</ref>

==Burial==
According to Jackson's official website, the burial was originally scheduled for August 29, 2009 (his 51st birthday.)<ref>[http://www.michaeljackson.com/us/news/michael-jackson-be-laid-rest Michael Jackson To Be Laid to Rest], MichaelJackson.com, August 18, 2009</ref> His service and burial was held at [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale|Forest Lawn Cemetery of Glendale]] on September 3, 2009, 10 weeks to the day after his death.<ref>http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/09/03/michael.jackson.funeral/index.html?iref=mpstoryview</ref><ref name="time-090903" /> The burial was attended by his first wife [[Lisa Marie Presley]] as well as his old friends [[Elizabeth Taylor]] and [[Macaulay Culkin]], amongst others. The service began with Jackson's three children placing a golden crown on his casket.<ref name="mtv-090904">http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1620834/20090904/jackson_michael.jhtml</ref>

Jackson is interred in the Holly Terrace section in the Great Mausoleum. The mausoleum is a secure facility which is not accessible to the general public or to the media, except on a limited basis.<ref name="time-090903" /><ref>[http://www.michaeljackson.com/us/news/date-changed-september-3rd-michael-jackson-burial Date Changed to September 3rd for Michael Jackson Burial], MichaelJackson.com, August 21, 2009</ref>

The family had considered burying Jackson at [[Neverland Ranch]]. However, according to Jackson's nephew [[Taj Jackson]], some family members objected to the site, saying that the ranch had been tainted by the sexual abuse allegations.<ref name="time-090903">Alexander, Bryan. [http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1920240,00.html Picking Jackson's Burial Place: Security Was Key], TIME.com, September 3, 2009</ref> Also, the owners of the ranch would have had to go through a permitting process with Santa Barbara county and the state of California government before establishing a cemetery at the site.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Further reading and external links==
{{Wikiquote|Michael Jackson}}
{{Wikinews}}
{{refbegin}}
*[http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0824091jackson1.html Los Angeles County, California, Search Warrant and Affidavit: Statement of Probable Cause], August 24, 2009
*[http://www.tmz.com/2009/07/02/michael-jackson-tour-rehearsal-video/ Jackson Tour Video&mdash;The Final Rehearsals], TMZ, July 2, 2009.
* Walters, Dell. "[http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/13134.html Michael Slept Here]", ''Washingtonian'', August 1, 2009.

===Obituaries===
*Barnes, Brooks. [http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/arts/music/26jackson.html A Star Idolized and Haunted, Michael Jackson Dies at 50], ''The New York Times'', June 25, 2009.
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4612963.stm Obituary: Michael Jackson], BBC, June 26, 2009.
*Boucher, Geoff and Woo, Elaine. [http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-jackson-obit26-2009jun26,0,1970798.story Michael Jackson's life was infused with fantasy and tragedy], ''Los Angeles Times'', June 26, 2009.
*Rayner, Ben. [http://www.thestar.com/news/obituary/article/657035 Michael Jackson, 50: Child star, thriller, sad sideshow], ''The Toronto Star'', June 26, 2009.
*Saperstein, Pat. [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118005395.html?categoryid=25&cs=1 Michael Jackson dies at 50], ''Variety'', June 25, 2009.
*Sullivan, Caroline. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jun/26/michael-jackson-obituary Michael Jackson], ''The Guardian'', June 26, 2009.
*[http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/michael-jackson-obituary-a-gifted-troubled-king-of-pop-20090626-cyub.html Michael Jackson obituary: a gifted, troubled king of pop], ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', June 26, 2009.
*[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article6581850.ece The Times obituary: Michael Jackson], ''The Times'', June 26, 2009.
{{refend}}

{{Michael Jackson}}


[[Category:2009 in the United States]]
[[Category:Cause of death disputed|Jackson, Michael]]
[[Category:Deaths by person|Jackson, Michael]]
[[Category:Drug-related deaths in California]]

[[es:Muerte de Michael Jackson]]
[[fa:مرگ مایکل جکسون]]
[[fr:Mort et funérailles de Michael Jackson]]
[[hy:Մայքլ Ջեքսոնի մահը]]
[[ru:Смерть Майкла Джексона]]
[[th:การเสียชีวิตของไมเคิล แจ็กสัน]]

Revision as of 21:49, 18 November 2009

Dead!

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