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Michael Jackson’s Funeral Causes Family Tensions

Posted by Adam

Monday July 6, 2009

Michael Jackson‘s family have come to blows over plans for the tragic singer’s funeral. Michael Jackson

According to Michael’s manager Dr Tohme Tohme, the King of Pop’s brothers and father Joe wanted a shrine for Michael at the Neverland Ranch but his mother and sisters vetoed the idea.

His Jackson Five brothers also wanted an open coffin funeral, similar to that of soul singer James Brown, and for the star to be driven through the streets so that mourners could throw flowers, as at Princess Diana’s funeral.

But their mother Katherine, 79, has overruled them, saying she felt an open coffin would be “ghoulish” and harmful to Michael’s three children, of whom she has temporary legal guardianship.

“The family is fiercely divided,” a source told Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper. “You’ve got the brothers on one hand, who all want to perform and turn the funeral into a showbiz extravaganza, and then you have Katherine on the other side who is a deeply religious woman and is determined that this won’t descend into a circus.”

Dr Tohme added, “His brothers wanted the final resting place to be Neverland but the rest of the family didn’t want him there for some reason that’s not known to me.

“I tried with some members of the family to provide Neverland as his resting place and to turn it into something. I believe Michael Jackson deserved to be in Neverland — a grand place like Neverland. He is the King of Pop and I think we will not see anyone like him in our lifetime.

“But all his stuff is in storage and I am in control of it. It is Michael Jackson’s items and memorabilia and awards and hopefully we will put it on display in Neverland or whatever the family decide to do with it.”

Death — 1958 – 2009

Jackson, 50, died Thursday (June 25) after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest at his home in Los Angeles. He was said to have consumed “mountains of medication” as he battled numerous disorders in the year leading up to his tragic demise.

It has been widely reported that an overdose of prescription is to blame for the superstar’s unexpected death.

Jacko was due to begin a series of comeback concerts with an appearance at London’s O2 arena on July 13.

Memorial Service

Jackson’s memorial will take place on Tuesday, July 7 at 10 a.m. at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The program will be simulcast at Los Angeles’ nearby Nokia Theatre.

Michael’s body is now expected to be placed in a closed coffin on a raised plinth during the service. One of his trademark sequined gloves and a black fedora will be placed on top.

Katherine will decide whether Michael’s children — Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II — will attend. If they are there, then sources say they will not be wearing masks.

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  • Cheyenne

    No matter what skeletons M.J. had in his closet, he was a very inspiring icon. I grew up jammin’ to thriller, in fact the ‘thriller’ cassette was one of the first cassette’s that I had ever owned. I loved it. But his past is something that none of us has the right to judge, as it says in the Bible,’Let the one without sin cast the 1st stone’. Although us humans has a problem with forgiving people for their wrongs, GOD forgives. And if Micheal was guilty for the things he was accused of, that’s between him and GOD. Personally, I don’t think Micheal was guilty of the allegations he was accused of, but I do believe O.J. was guilty. But, above everything else, Rest In Peace, Micheal. You will always be remembered by all. We Love ya.

    • Tracy Terry

      yeah, we love ya’… oops, one of your little boy blow up dolls just fell out of the closet there, Mike

  • Aman

    Cheyenne,

    You couldn’t have said it better. I completely agree with you, I have been supportive of Michael, through it all.

    I am amazed at how people still in wake of his death are slandering him. They are not God, and they certainly arn’t perfect!

    MJ, rest in peace – - you were the greatest!

    • Tracy Terry

      i think he’s in heaven playing with the gargoyles between their legs

  • krys

    This is Micheal Jackson we are talking about here! Michael we will miss you so much. He has touches so many lives across the nation..How many other celebs have been able to do that??? He suffered much in this cruel world but people need to understand that only God can JUDGE. NONE of US have thr right to cast stones because none of us are even worthy of God’s goodness. I hope to see Michael in heaven since I never had the privelidge of meeting with him here or even attending a concert. I feel that we should just remember him as the greatest entertainer alive, and even though he’s gone in flesh..his music and spirit will go on forever. We love you Michael and RIP, may God Bless you and your family:-)

    • Tracy Terry

      c’mon, sing us one more song, Mike!

  • Melissa

    I feel like we have lost a great person and there will never be another like him … he was the best of the best and no one can take that from him never …

    • Tracy Terry

      i agree, i don’t think we’ll ever have another peter pan zombie

  • http://myspace.com/marcyheightsthedebut Marcy Heights

    R.I.P. Michael Jackson.

    May God Rest Your Soul in Heavenly peace.

    We will always remember you. You live on in our hearts. we appreciate the joy that your music brought to our hearts.

    Read my tribute to Michael Jackson, and listen to my tribute song:

    “A Tribute To The Late Michael Jackson – You Bring Joy To My Heart”, at:

    http://www.myspace.com/marcyheightsthedebutsingle

    To The Jackson Family,

    Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with you all at this time. May you be comforted by looking forward to the sure ressurection in Christ Jesus heaven, for all thsoe who believed, when we will all see our loved ones again.

    Regarding the media, we friends of Michael are truely appalled by the distressing slogans and lying gossip about Michael Jackson over the years. Let it rest on their conscience, that they brought torment to this man’s life. They have caused Michael emotional distress. Michael was not a bad man nor a disgusting man. Michael did not molest children. Michael tried to do good will jestures and the devil tried to turn it around as if he we’re doing bad. We are disgusted by the suggestions. Michael Jackson was persecuted by you black race haters, corrupted minded persons. You killed Michael Jackson, you creeps. Let me say this, so a person thinketh is the way that they are. It takes perverted mind to suggest that anyone else is a pervert. But if any man is without a sin, cast the first stone. Judgement is mine says the Lord. Judge and be judged. Let any man who seeks the pardon of the lord be pardoned. He whom is pardoned is pardoned indeed.

    Michael Jackson, you are still repected.

    Live on in our hearts.

    Marcy Heights and all your friends in London

    Love You

    Peace

    • Tracy Terry

      to the Jackson family: drop dead

  • Caroline

    Well, thank goodness Katharine got her wishes (I’m watching the funeral now at Staples Center web site). The children are with her, sans masks. Family is wearing dark glasses and one glove, which I understand, although it walks things right up to the edge of that line Katherine is guarding. The hype should not diminish the sadness of Michael’s life, or his contributions to music. Not often is an artist so gifted in so many areas. And yes, his resilience is a lesson for all, fans or not.

    • Tracy Terry

      yeah, Katherine seems pretty cool. too bad she’s probably going to kick the bucket soon

  • http://yahoo.com Fans
  • Bah Pamela Azwe Soh

    Rest in peace Michael.As the saying goes a legend is not forgotten for he lives for ever through his works.You live for ever through you sweet and inspiring music.Your kind is yet to be born!
    My sincere condolences to his family especially you Janet because I know you were very close to each other.The world is just a passing place for all of us.We shall all pass on one day to meet him to part no more.
    with love from Cameroon.

    • Tracy Terry

      maybe the whole family will start dying off.. i can hear them falling to the floors now… thump.. thump… thump-thump… thump… thump-thump-thump… thump

  • sue

    i am sure michael jackson is in a better place and left alone from all these evil people. god took him for a reason, he did his part on earth to help people and now god took him because he doesnt want him to suffer anymore.

    look at the children he raised, if his daughter can step out and speak about her dad like that, michael is a dam good father and human being. all these people should just leave him alone and dont take advantage of him. michael is different, he is soft spoken, heart is like a pot of gold and for this reason, they want to take all his money.

    remember this, in life what goes around comes around.

    michael, rest in peace. you raise 3 lovely children and they will be well taken care of. you will be in our hearts forever and no one can EVER replace you

    • Tracy Terry

      he really can’t hear you, you know

  • OL

    RIP MJ!

    • Tracy Terry

      why would you want to rip into him. leave him alone, for God’s sake. he was a wonderful human

  • trish

    MJ said he would never go back to neverland to live there again (in his own words) because he felt it was tainted. So i guess that make sense why some his family don’t want to burry him there.

    • Tracy Terry

      yeah, and some of them, like Jermaine the Village Idiot, wants to make a coupla bucks

  • Tracy Terry

    you know, Jermaine should be cut off by the family for wanting to go against Michael’s last wishes. HE DID NOT WANT TO EVER GO BACK TO NEVERLAND! someday tell that ugly fool!

  • E Y

    Tracy Terry u know why u hate MJ that much? cz u wished & u will always wish that u can be someone famous but u couldn’t & u’ll never can pitty u.

  • http://www.tworzeniestronlublin.pl Ashli Broten

    I like Michael Jackson songs [*] :(