Reports are coming in that Michael Jackson has died

[Sergeant Pluck]

It's official: front page of the BBC website:  "Singer Michael Jackson 'is dead'"

How dead does he need to be for the Beeb to lose those quotation marks?

[PrettyBoyTim]

He beat it.

[Mr Larrington]

But has he really died or is he just walking in a funny way that makes it look like he's died?

Yeah, and zombies have got rhythm...

Sorry¹

1 - but not very

[PrettyBoyTim]

Apparently the one of the Sky News presenters said: "Let's not forget that Michael touched a lot of people"...

I'm sure McCaulay Culkin would agree...

[IanDG]

So, will the Jackson 4 be making a comeback?

[geraldc]

I got this email 3 days ago. Guess I'll be going for the refund then

'Dear Ticketmaster Customer
We recently sent you an email to advise you that Michael Jackson's show producers announced the rescheduling and change of the opening shows in order to meet the challenges presented by such a large and technically complex concert.
This is a follow up email to remind you that the 14th July event that you purchased tickets for is now scheduled for 6th March 2010. The tickets you receive will be printed with the rescheduled date. You do not have to do anything as you will be automatically be moved to the revised date.
If you cannot attend the revised date please contact us no now to obtain a full refund at Michaeljackson@Ticketmaster.co.uk or via the Michael Jackson Customer Support line on 0844 277 9982.
Please note due to the timeline involved in rescheduling this show your tickets will now be dispatched closer to the event date..
Regards
Ticketmaster - sent on behalf of AEG Live'

[Rob S]

It's official: front page of the BBC website:  "Singer Michael Jackson 'is dead'"

How dead does he need to be for the Beeb to lose those quotation marks?

The Times website said...until 5 minutes ago...that Michael Jackson has 'died' after heartattack.

[Jaded]

I got this email 3 days ago. Guess I'll be going for the refund then

I don't know - they could get Gunter Von Haagen involved and do some kind of animatronic thing?

[Sergeant Pluck]

What a strange life he had. And what a bunch of tossers he surrounded himself with. I note Uri Geller is on as his best mate. Jeez.

Hope he RsIP.

[Rhys W]

Ads by Google - aren't they great (from The Guardian)?

[Really Ancien]

Tell me Tito's still in the best of health.

Damon.

[LEE]

Can I be the first to pay my condolences without taking the piss?

A true musical legend, "genius" seems appropriate given the popularity of his work,  has died.

Edit.  He's an easy target for shit jokes made by the wanna-be-funny but, in all seriousness, you'd be making jokes about an abused child who did remarkable things.

[Jon P]

I'm sure lots of people died today.
I don't actually know them, but I don't know Michael Jackson either.

You are E J Thribb AICMFP

But hang on - where's his nose?  The "beast with two nostrils" has detached itself at the moment of death and is now roaming around the wards of UCLA ... watch this space ...

[ibrahim]

You've been reading Gogol?

[Domestique]

Not everyones cup of tea, but dead at 50 

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Singer Michael Jackson dies at 50

RiP

[rogerzilla]

What a strange life.  Weirder than Elvis's.

[fred the great]

Yep, a real weirdo

I just read that he wore a face mask because his face was in such a mess.

And to die at 50 seems very strange these days

[citoyen]

He's an easy target for shit jokes made by the wanna-be-funny but, in all seriousness, you'd be making jokes about an abused child who did remarkable things.

That's putting a bit strong but point taken. He was a monumental fuck-up but there's no arguing that at the peak of his powers (late 70s-mid 80s) the epithet "King of Pop" was well and truly deserved. Being allowed to stay up late to watch the Thriller premiere on TV is one of my cherished childhood memories. And I defy anyone to listen to Don't Stop without wanting to just get up and dance like a mad uncle at a wedding - possibly the greatest dance record ever made.

The child abuse allegations (which remain no more than allegations, of course) remind me of the time I did jury service. The case was a man who was accused of, well, let's say highly inappropriate behaviour towards his stepchildren. It came out after the case that he'd been seriously abused himself as a child. It's easy to villify but you don't get that way without there being some desperately sad story behind it.

And it's a shame that his personal problems led to Jacko making such a laughing stock of himself over the last 20 years, because it does take some of the gloss off the brilliant things he did.

d.

[tonycollinet]

Agreed - his whole life is one huge sad story.

I've just finished a Steven King Novel (Hearts in Atlantis) which is basically - on one level - about how your childhood influences your whole life.

If he had had a normal life as a child (and I don't necessarily mean  abuse here) would he have been brilliant - and would he have been a screw up.

As my daughter says - "why did he do that to himself - he was so pretty"

[GruB]

How come Uri Geller didn't know this was going to happen?

[tonycollinet]

And to die at 50 seems very strange these days

But lots of people do it. I am now in the age range where an "untimely" death is a real possibility

[Chris S]

I keep a slightly less tabloid view on his life. He was abused - first by his family, then by his promoters. A massively talented person, driven nuts by those around him - who should now be looking at themselves thinking "We probably had a hand in doing this to him."

But - the press love a wacko don't they? Never mind the real person who was in there somewhere. A genuine talent who was a big part of my life in the 80's and early 90's.

Sad day.

[Jaded]

But - the presspublic love a wacko don't they?

It is the public that buy the press. We get the press we deserve by lapping it up and buying it, and we (in this country) like to make our celebrities then dash them down.

The cycle of abuse is terrible. Maybe now he is dead the truth will out. Whatever that truth is.

[Chris S]

Can I be the first to pay my condolences without taking the piss?

Thank you LEE. I thought this thread was pretty fucking far from what I signed up to YACF for.

You're all a bunch of Sun Readers (except lee).

[Eccentrica Gallumbits]

It's very sad for his family and his kids. He was an immensely talented man, and of course immensely screwed up as well. I'm sad that he had such a fucked up life and early death, and I'm sad for the loss of his talent.