Posted by Adam

Tuesday July 7, 2009

Here’s a video of Michael Jackson‘s memorial service.

The event kicked off 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Kobe Bryant, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, Usher and Lionel Richie were among the celebrity participants.

More than 1.5 million people entered a free draw for tickets and ticket holders began arriving in the early hours of Monday to collect their wrist bands for the six-hour show at the home of the LA Lakers.

Streets surrounding the stadium have been closed off by an army of 3,200 police officers.

Organizers expect upwards of one billion people to tune in via CBS & MTV in the US, BBC2 & Sky in the UK and on the web all round the world. Experts are saying the service is expected to be the biggest event in the history of the internet

Justin Timberlake will not be there, despite the efforts of Michael’ s brother Jermaine to persuade him to perform.

“Jermaine told Justin he was one of Michael’s favourite performers,” a source told British newspaper The Sun.

“But he decided to pay his respects privately.”

It is believed Sir Paul McCartney, who was asked about performing, could not re-arrange other commitments.

Jackson, 50, died Thursday (June 25) after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest at his home in Los Angeles.

Tags: michael jackson