Michael Jackson earn't 19 million a year, but had $300-500 worth of debt, does that mean his kids are responsible for that debt? http://alturl.com/vg8z
Submitted by phiggis on Fri, 06/26/2009 - 19:08.Celebs offer 'Tweet tributes' for Michael Jackson
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 06/26/2009 5:28 PM
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HOLLYWOOD - News of Michael Jackson's abrupt death sent celebrities and musicians "a-Twitter" on Friday just hours after media reports confirmed that the 50-year-old music icon had died of cardiac arrest.
It was clear how Jackson's music had touched the lives of generations of people, including today's current crop of successful superstars.
Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana" star Miley Cyrus sent "love and blessings" to Jackson and his fans, saying the "King of Pop" was her inspiration. Rap artist Ludacris said, "If it were not for Micheal (sic) Jackson I would not be where or who I am today. His Music and Legacy will live on Forever."
Music mogul Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, meanwhile, had this to say of his idol: "Michael Jackson showed me that you can actually see the beat. He made the music come to life!! He made me believe in magic. I will miss him!".
Even Grammy-nominated British singer and instrumentalist Imogen Heap could not contain her extreme disappointment at Jackson's early death. "Nooooo!!!! Michael Jackson was my childhood! I loved him. So so so so sad. So nearly saw him live. Just a couple of weeks. crying. (sic)," she said.
American soul singer Erykah Badu, the latest to issue a statement on Twitter, thanked Jackson for his "hard work, dedication, philanthropy, and sacrifice of [his] young spirit." She added, "Your vision and imagination live..."
Non-musicians also attested to Jackson's impact on their lives. Socialite Kim Kardashian said "music will never be the same" while actress Alyssa Milano gushed: "Remember the first time you saw him moonwalk? RIP Michael Jackson."
Controversy
Some users on the internet, however, had a different reaction to Michael Jackson's death at first. American gossip blogger and television personality Perez Hilton (Mario Armando Lavandeiro in real life) initially tagged the news as a hoax.
On his top-rated and much-maligned website Perezhilton.com, Hilton ran a ghastly close-up picture of Jackson in dark glasses and noticeably patched white skin, and squiggled the words "Heart attack or cold feet?" over the picture.
Initially dubious, Hilton wrote in the accompanying article: "[Jackson] pulled a similar stunt when he was getting ready for his big HBO special in '95 when he collapsed at the rehearsal! Either he's lying or making himself sick, but we're curious to see if he's able to go on. Get your money back, ticket holders!"
Jackson was set to launch a 50-show comeback concert in London, which was tagged to be the highest-grossing concert engagement yet, with over $85 million worth of tickets already sold.
A screenshot of this blog post was circulated on Twitter, and Hilton was immediately at the receiving end of many angry Twitter messages. Joel Madden of the band "Good Charlotte" and boyfriend of socialite Nicole Richie, called the post "disgusting."
Although Hilton immediately recanted his statements and issued implicit apologies on Twitter, the "attack against Jackson" certainly touched a lot of nerves. "Fall Out Boy" guitarist Pete Wentz, who married rock singer Ashlee Simpson in May last year, sent a flurry of Tweets to Hilton, who answered them back with vigor.
"U can't make ur life tearing someone apart, who is a human being, and then flip on a dime and say respect and mourn him. essentially that's what you do. Recanting after someone passes doesn't mean *** in my book. I have no beef. But mj (Michael Jackson) was a legend. I don't think ur a monster. Just own up to tearing ppl like mj down - and let him rest in peace," Wentz told Hilton.
Bittersweet
Celebrities (and some politicians) also sent condolences to Jackson's family, friends, and fans - including California Governor Arnold Swarzenegger, Lance Armstrong, Ashton Kutcher and his wife Demi Moore.
Kutcher and Moore were concerned about Jackson's children and appealed to the public to respect the children's rights to anonymity and privacy.
Jackson has two children with nurse Deborah Rowe, named Michael Joseph Jackson and Paris Michael Katherine. He also has a third child, Prince Michael II (nicknamed "Blanket") with an unidentified woman.
Many remarked at the streak of deaths this week, beginning with Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, then Jackson. McMahon, 86, who became popular on the "Tonight Show," died from a multitude of health problems. Fawcett, a 1970s sex symbol as one of "Charlie's Angels," succumbed to anal cancer.
A stark contrast to the glum messages predominating Twitter, Comedian Dane Cook quipped: "I'm dedicating my [comedy] show tonight to Michael Jackson. THRILLER got me laid. Well... At least thats what I told my friends."
Fellow comedians Ellen Degeneres and Sarah Silverman, however, remained somber. "So sad to hear about Michael Jackson. His music changed our lives. The world has lost an amazing singer and dancer. I will miss him," Degeneres said.
Silverman, meanwhile, said this: "MJ was the best pop songwriter of all time,&was (sic) maybe even an innocent man whose only crime was loving children. Hm this wasn't funny at all."
Hard to take
Jackson, who had sent fans into a frenzy just by appearing onstage in his trademark loose button-downs and black fedora hat, sustained a successful career throughout the 1960s, up to the late 1990s. He also helped numerous charities and childrens' organizations.
Though immensely successful in the music industry, Jackson's personal life suffered after a stream of scandals cropped up in the media, including his failed relationships, his admission that he was sexually molested by his father, and being accused of molesting young boys.
He was portrayed in the media as mentally unstable because of his seeming obsession with face surgery, dangling his baby over a balcony in Berlin, and becoming increasingly paranoid about being seen in public. He was also reported to be $500-million in debt when he passed away.
Musician John Mayer, who said he was "dazed" after hearing news of Jackson's death, however, chose to look on the bright side of Jackson's colorful life. "I truly hope he is memorialized as the '83 moonwalking, MTV owning, mesmerizing, unstoppable, invincible Michael Jackson," he said.
Those hit hardest, meanwhile, were those who knew Jackson personally, even as he was just the bright-faced young boy singing lead vocals for their family band "Jackson 5."
American television host Larry King, 75, kept his Tweet short but poignant: "I interviewed Michael Jackson when he was 12 and with the "Jackson 5."
"Barbarella" star Jane Fonda, 71, a good friend of Jackson's said she was "stunned." She shared that the pop legend had lived with her for a week while she was on set filming the 1981 movie "Golden Pond."
MC Hammer (Bobby Brown in real life), who, like Jackson, had become famous for his trademark clothes (the voluminous "Hammer pants") and unique dancing style, said: "I will be mourning my friend, brother, mentor and inspiration.. He gave me and my family hope. I would never have been me without him. I have no words.. I loved Michael Jackson.. RIP.." Source: www.celebritytweet.com.
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