Michael Jackson, the sensationally gifted child star who rose to become the “King of Pop” and the biggest celebrity in the world only to fall from his throne in a freakish series of scandals, died Thursday. He was 50.
Jackson died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Ed Winter, the assistant chief coroner for Los Angeles County, confirmed his office had been notified of the death and would handle the investigation.
The circumstances of Jackson’s death were not immediately clear. Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30 p.m., Capt. Steve Ruda told the Los Angeles Times. The paramedics performed CPR and took him to the hospital, Ruda told the newspaper.
Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. PDT (2126 GMT) after arriving at a Los Angeles hospital in full cardiac arrest, said Fred Corral of the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office. The cause of death was not known and an autopsy would likely take place on Friday, he said.
Jackson was taken ill at home and his personal physician tried to resuscitate him but could not, his brother Jermaine told reporters. He was taken by paramedics to the hospital, where doctors worked for more than an hour to try to revive him before pronouncing him dead, the brother said.
Late Thursday, his body was flown by helicopter from the hospital to the coroner’s office.
The self-styled “King of Pop,” whose hits that included “Thriller” and “Billie Jean,” leaves behind a mountain of debt and an unfulfilled series of comeback concerts set for London in July. Many hoped the shows would rake in millions and erase his financial troubles.
Jackson’s dramatic, one-gloved stage presence and innovative dance moves were imitated by legions of fans around the world who mourned his death.
His lifetime record sales tally was believed to be around 750 million, and with his 13 Grammy Awards and boundary-breaking music videos he was one of the most successful entertainers of all time.
But Jackson’s belief that “I am Peter Pan in my heart,” his preference for the company of children, his friendship with a chimp, his high-pitched voice and numerous plastic surgeries also earned him critics and the nickname “Wacko Jacko.”
Jackson led a reclusive life after his acquittal in 2005 on charges of child molestation, the second time he had faced ultimately unproved allegations of abuse of young boys.
Truly a music god…R.I.P MJ….
MHSRIP
Indeed a music icon gone. Rest In Peace ba Michael.
I hope he repented of his refusal to have been beautifully and wonderfully created in the image of God. Of wanting to re-create himself as a white. God have mercy on him.
Someone made a comment saying and i quote, ‘he was there b4 Micheal Jordan; Tiger Woods; Barak Obama.’ We listened & danced to his music, MJ a true music icon indeed.
May his soul rest in peace and condolences to the bereaved family.
__
Prevention is better than cure.
what a sad day, i know he did some good things and Dad things in his life , but there is no need to say bad stuff about him, its between him and God. RIP.
There goes a great man. Truely will remember Micheal, despite his ill sides. MHSRIP
what happened did the oxygen chamber stop functioning.
King of pop indeed. I can’t think of any other star that was so well known in Africa. I mean everyone born before 1984 can not profess to not knowing Thriller, Bad or Billy Jean. Pity the last years changed people’s views of him. RIP
M.H.S.R.I.P The man was a legend
What a legend, he changed the way music vidoes, dance and entertainment is done, its because of him we now have pipo like Usher, Chris Brown and Neyo, the guy was such an inspiration. Be Inspired.
MHSRIP
I hope you will give God an answer why you changed from black to white.
Tukakusanga brother.
A great man he waz indeed. When you are good, you are good. To the many he “touched” and thrilled, soldier on and put everything in the handz of the Almighty Jehova God.
I danced to his music in the early eighties. All these modern music stars will admit that MJ played an influence in their music.
It is appointed for men to die and thereafter face judgement.
When you don’t have any money, the problem is food. When you have money, it’s sex. When you have both, it’s health. If everything is simply jake, then you’re frightened of death. Death hangs over thee, While thou still live, while thou may, do good.
Michael Jackson was not a sort of ingredient or an inspiration for the character at all.
mmmmm Ghostdog mukali mwee..
Poseni mo akalibwe ,
#19Ghost dog , my brav , whats up man, why are you sad today?
RIP ba MJ
am very sad indeed!!!
#20 Zoe how are you dear, Ghost dog , is scaring me mama, please talk to him
We shall always remember you Wacko Jacko. RIP.
But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
Too bad. Despite being bizzare, this man had talent music wise. As we were growing up, i was one of his fans. Everyone who knew this man (though with erratic behaviour) will agree with me that he was a musical icon. He influenced the direction of pop music hands down. He evolutioned music videos – Remember the thriller video? Remember his songs like wanna be starting something, Billie Jean, Beat it and Thriller, my way. Only those who came to know him later can rubbish this weired man music wise. It is like my son coming up today and telling me “ati Ba Kalusha Bwalya lyali likuala”. RIP Jacko Wacko.
MHSRIP
Can people please go to the Post story. Am about to offload some data. Namundaba?
So sad about Michael Wacko Jacko. MHSRIEP
Iwe ci MOZE what data are threatening everybody, iluke tumone.
My wife was a great fan of MJ. She married me because I looked like him, I mean before he changed his race to a whiteman. MHSRIP
IS THIS CONFIRMING THE RUMOURS OF 2008 WHICH REPORTED THAT JACKSON DIED SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND THE ONE AROUND WAS A FAKE.
ANYWAY NOW THAT IT IS OFFICIAL M.HS.R.I.P.
Man is but a fleeting shadow. Man is but a mist here today but tomorrow no more. Those are some excerpts from the Holy Bible. Sad he is gone but no man is guaranteed of a permanent stay on this earth. True death comes even to earthly kings it does. It is appointed for man to die once and thereafter judgement. For us still living it is time to reflect on our lives and ponder once I die where do I end up. The Bible says the day of salvation is today and also that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord you shall be saved. It is that simple. Repent. The kingdom of God is within you. God bless you all.
Never saw anything great in him but just rubbish and his nature of being hostile to his creator. Hope he repented otherwise he we have to be sorry that he is facing the consequences now or then.
shame MHSRIP
I truly loved Michael Jackson. But, the idea of him trying to bleach his body to a whiteman really boggles my mind. In fact MJ just killed himself with bleaching chemicals he used to apply and take. It’s a lesson to every living black soul. Don’t think being black is being inferior. Especially, our nearby Zairean brothers and sisters-be proud of your pigmentation. It’s for a biological purpose. Nowadays, its almost imposible to find a natural-looking black woman. To a certain extent, even black men. Their hairs are from dead white people, their bodies pink but with very black knuckles. Once, again lets be proud of the way we were created by God.
I truly loved Michael Jackson. But, the idea of him trying to bleach his body to a white man really boggles my mind. In fact MJ just killed himself with bleaching chemicals he used to apply and take. It’s a lesson to every living black soul. Don’t think being black is being inferior. Especially, our nearby Zairean brothers and sisters-be proud of your pigmentation. It’s for a biological purpose. Nowadays, its almost imposible to find a natural-looking black woman. To a certain extent, even black men. Their hairs are from dead white people, their bodies pink but with very black knuckles. Once, again lets be proud of the way we were created by God.
Chifundo ba Micheal
Greatest guy ever lived. Speechless
Please give him the respect due to him…otherwise reserve ur comments…M.H.S.R.I.P. Shame on sum of u!
I truly loved Michael Jackson. But, the idea of him trying to bleach his body to a white-man really boggles my mind. In fact MJ just killed himself with bleaching chemicals he used to apply and take. It’s a lesson to every living black soul. Don’t think being black is being inferior. Especially, our nearby Zairean brothers and sisters-be proud of your pigmentation. It’s for a biological purpose. Nowadays, its almost imposible to find a natural-looking black woman. To a certain extent, even black men. Their hairs are from dead white people, their bodies pink but with very black knuckles. Once, again lets be proud of the way we were created by God.
From the soil you came, from the you will go.
RIP
I still can not believe the legend MJ is gone,may his soul rest in peace
I am still in shock!He shaped the music industry to what it is.
Iwe Deja Vu, even if people marry for various reasons but yours was something else. Now that you are old and no longer look like MJ, what does your wife say if she is stil with u? Is she a fan of Obama? If she is, tell that I look like him. She can marry me too.
MJ is dead and VJ is dead
truly saddened by the death of mj i feel sorry for the kids who never had a normal life living with mj they will need proper counselling
Where did MHSRIP come from. Do they really rest in peace, or is it just words we say without thinking about it, just to convey our sympathy.
Notwithstanding, MJ was truly great, a talented man. We shall miss him. The world shall miss him, honestly.
But what does it profit a man if he gained the whole world yet lost his soul. Rest in peace? May this death be a sombre reminder to all of us. he body dies but the spirit and soul continue to live for eternity. Are we going to RIP?
yaba
wat did that scary fool do to make this a better place except to nthwenu ntwenu wit kids??
They say his mysterious life and troubled finances overshadowed his musical genius! Are you kidding me?? This man was amazing..even through all those court battles, his fans stood strong because of his having touched their hearts with his musical and humanitarian achievements. I don’t know about you, but i’m listening to Human Nature and enjoying the music that even though recorded years ago, still has relevance today. RIP MJ..
no 53..touched hearts???! wat hearts?? only thing he was touching is tuma boys..yaba..
the guy had enough money ntwenu wif omost any woman except my relatives of course! and he decided fye ati awe utobokso twa vayiche tula lenga mutima ku fendela! ahhh its good now that he has fendelad kutali
ba MJ R.I.P…..i liked your music.
mj should stop trying to do ntwenu with that animal mu picture.yaba
iwe #48 are u 4 real,vj is dead
m.h.y.s.r.i.p
iwe nayiwe, how do u listen to some one who opens their legs-pornstar from all people? it would have been in the news by now..yaba
It will be a while before another artist with MJs talent comes along. – Human nature
I was not MJ’s fun but I am saddened by his death. I would like just to caustion those who are celebrating MJ’s death that it’s not right; he was human like all of us despite his shortcommings! It’s sad for anyone to die young, though by Zambian standards, he was fairly old. Like many have noted, the mistakes he made and also the achievements, let’s draw lessons for ourselves so that we improve our own lives. I feel sorry for his funs especially his close relatives and friends. MHSRIP
MHSRIP I loved him so much i was one of his fans we shall miss him but his music will live on .I want to say that I far as i know MJ did not bleach his skin he had a rare skin condition called- it doesnot matter what he did to himself he was great, the best of all times king of pop.
Every time a society loses some one through death, whether famous, or not i always think about the people he/she has left behind. We may or may not have good words about them but they sure had someone who they loved and loved them back. And my heart goes to those who knew Micheal as a dad, brother, uncle, friend.RIP!
MHSRIP Even though he rejected his true likeness. I really never liked the chap so much especially after the child abuse case!
I only hope he sort the Lord before he died. Ba Moze we are waiting for the data, good morning by the way, or is it afternoon for you?
chabipa ba Mikayeli may yo soul rest in eternal peace and may God have mercy on you for all yo short coming becoz we all err in life.but for those of us still alive may this be a reminder that God is there and great no mata how rich or popular one may be when he says no nobody says yes indeed he is great
imwe nayimwe how do u respect a guy who liked fyantasporango navayichi?
am sure alefya ukuka fyanti ka pushy kalya mu picturela
BAD FOR A BLACK WHO BECAME WHITE and in his old age the noze started collapsing…….hope he repented otherwise its hell for ever.
Bob marley,Tupac and Biggie rest in peace
RIP michael, you will always be the king, your legacy shall live on
ghost dog ehe ni apopena
DEATH AND REFLECTIONS
“I believe there are two sides to the phenomenon known as death,
this side where we live, and the other side where we shall continue to live.
Eternity does not start with death.
We are in eternity now.”
~ Norman Vincent Peale ~
MJ GO well and may your soul receive more light in the after life.
mwabosa mwapwa, ndemwibukishya kofye ati nine nachimuchinkula ko pa lyashi lya muyashi uku mi pitilila…..efyo nachibela nambala wanu pa “mulabaso wa kalembo ka malait ne fikope “” !!!v ???? ……i love you all
ati he died of AIDS
bbc reports he had AIDS
MHSRIP
I hope RB doesn’t use this as an excuse for Globe Trotting.
Michael Jackson is my favorite pop artist ever since i was a child. He is truly the King of Pop and i am saddened by this news.
I have nothing to say cause i dd know him was young
MICHAEL WAS A LEGEND AND LET HIM REST…FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW WHAT BLEACHED SKIN LOOKS LIKE,YOU WILL NOT COMMENT AND JUDGE SOMEONE BASED ON THEIR LOOKS…MICHAEL HAD A DISEASE AND SHOULD BE RESPECTED…BA ZA YELLOW BA KU ZAMBIA DONT LOOK LIKE HIM…DONT BE IGNORANT