"We Must Live Each Day Like It's the Last": The Jackson Funeral
Fans hoping to score a ticket to Michael Jackson's concert funeral were informed yesterday of their success or (as above) failure. Just 8,750 fans out of 1.6 million entries were selected. Each is allowed to bring a guest. Some winners are attempting to sell their ticket/wristband on eBay for $1,000 and up.
The service could be a grotesque spectacle or a tasteful and momentous send-off—it's anyone's guess. But it wouldn't be a funeral without Westboro.
So far, everything I predicted has come true. The funeral spectacle, the fight over custody of the kids, the ad nauseam reporting about possible drug abuse, etc. The only thing missing is the farewell song (since Elton isn't available this time, I assume Diana will fill that role), the book deals (coming soon), "Wacko Jacko: The Movie" and a star-studded remake of "We Are the World". So far so good, and I'll give the rest until spring of next year to complete my list.
Posted by: Keith | Jul 6, 2009 9:47:47 AM
I'm guessing the funeral will be very Eva Peron.
Posted by: Sam | Jul 6, 2009 9:54:21 AM
I'm just wondering how many fans will either kill themselves or somehow die in connection with Michael's death.
Posted by: J. J. | Jul 6, 2009 10:20:32 AM
This is wrong on so many levels. When did he become a diety? He's a drug addicted pedophile (okay, no convictions) who never made another CD like Thriller... nothing even came close. I simply don't get any of this... and I don't care. I've tuned out the news because the media only seems to cover this story these days. This is a joke. Anything with Al Sharpton connected to it is a joke.
Posted by: Wayne | Jul 6, 2009 12:20:10 PM
JJ, sadly there have already been reports of fans committing suicide.
Westboro should stay away unless they want to get a very harsh dose of their own medicine.
I really would have loved him to have gotten a more public send-off with a funeral procession, etc., but apparently his mother thought it would be in bad taste and traumatic for this children, so I can't argue with that.
I think because the people who hated Jackson had more voice than those who loved him that people may have been unaware of the depth of people's love and sympathy for Jackson. It was just not pc to say so. I hate bullying and saw the way he was treated as akin to high school bullying that pushes youth to suicide.
Posted by: fern | Jul 6, 2009 2:53:26 PM
"I really would have loved him to have gotten a more public send-off with a funeral procession, etc., but apparently his mother thought it would be in bad taste and traumatic for this children, so I can't argue with that."
I would argue against anything that either of his parents argues. A funeral procession is in poor taste, but selling tickets to a stadium show is classy? As for the trauma to the children, I *think* they could probably have managed a closed family event for the children.
I don't have much interest in or respect for the man, but his parents have shown themselves to be scum (both before and since his death). His siblings, some of whom seem like decent people, should be speaking up more.
Posted by: Paul R | Jul 6, 2009 6:06:25 PM
I wish the fans were being allowed to get as close to the services as they want. By restricting them the police are creating a situation that will back up into the rest of the city.
Whatever you think of Michael, this is a media event that only the Princess of Wales funeral can compare to. It will set all sorts of records tomorrow. It is pop history whether we think that's a good thing or not. It WILL dwarf anything associated with Elvis.
I find it all very interesting.
Posted by: Derek Washington | Jul 6, 2009 7:12:06 PM
To all of you haters with these comments about pedophile, freak and all that!
Just remember this.
We're FAGGOTS, COCKSUCKERS, ABNORMAL, NOT NATURAL!
Oh no but don't call us gays that.
Bitches get a sense of respect.
If this was Harvey Milk being called these names you girls would be calling for folks heads, and wanting them fired, etc......REALLY?
Just remember what goes around comes back around!
I was always taught If you don't have anything good to say..DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL!
Posted by: DUPREE | Jul 7, 2009 1:23:07 AM
Dupree, Harvey Milk was never charged (multiple times) with child molestation, he never made a spectacle in court (let's all wear our PJ's to court!) and he never paid off small children to keep them from screaming. He also wasn't a drug addict, never had so much plastic surgery as to change his entire appearance, never kept a chimp named Bubbles, never slept in an oxygen tank... your comparison is simply stupid and makes no sense at all. I'm not calling you stupid, I do understand that people grieve, but to compare MJ with Harvey Milk? C'mon... The guy was a musician, nothing more.
Posted by: Wayne | Jul 7, 2009 10:50:57 AM
Wayne,
I don't know what the FUCK harvey Milk was. But he wasn't anything to me! But I will not speak bad about him neither.
Mike was a musician and nothing more and Harvey was a SF City Supv and NOTHING MORE!
Posted by: DUPREE | Jul 8, 2009 4:10:20 AM