“spectacular performer, and a music icon”.
On June 25, 2009, Jackson collapsed at his rented mansion at 100 North Carolwood Drive in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles. Pending confirmation from toxicology reports, he was allegedly administered Demerol shortly before he stopped breathing.
Attempts at resuscitating him by his personal physician were unsuccessful. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics received a 911 call at 12:22 p.m. (PDT), arriving three minutes and seventeen seconds later at Jackson’s location.
He was reportedly not breathing and CPR was performed. Resuscitation efforts continued both en route to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, and for an hour further after arriving at approximately 1:13 p.m. (20:13 UTC).
He was noted to have been in cardiac arrest by the paramedics who attended him at his house. Jackson was pronounced dead at approximately 2:25 p.m. local time (21:25 UTC).
Rumors and news of Jackson’s death broke web records triggering a cyberspace traffic jam giving Google, Twitter, Facebook, and Yahoo their highest traffic on record. Vigils were held by members of the general public after the death.
Jackson’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame became a focal point for public grief including many flowers and rememberances.
Jackson had been scheduled to perform 50 sold-out concerts to over one million people, at London’s O2 arena, from July 13, 2009, to March 6, 2010. During a publicity press conference, he had made suggestions of possible retirement.
Randy Phillips, president and chief executive of AEG Live, had stated that the first 10 dates alone would have earned the singer approximately £50 million.
Phillips said that the promotion company had a three-and-a-half year plan to work with Jackson, including a possible world tour, the release of new music and a 3D film based on Jackson’s groundbreaking album, song and music video, Thriller. Jackson made a music video, currently known as “Dome Project”, in early June, 2009. The video is scheduled to finish post-production in mid-July, 2009.
Jackson’s death triggered an outpouring of grief. Fans gathered outside the UCLA Medical Center, his Holmby Hills home, the Apollo Theater in New York, and at Hitsville U.S.A., the old Motown headquarters in Detroit where Jackson’s career began, now the Motown Museum.
Streets around the hospital were blocked off, and across America people left offices and factories to watch the breaking news on television. A small crowd, including the city’s mayor, gathered outside his childhood home in Gary, where the flag on city hall was flown at half staff in his honor.
Fans also mistakenly gathered around the Hollywood Walk of Fame star of another Michael Jackson, a radio commentator, stating that “they didn’t care” when told by reporters. Jackson’s own star had been temporarily covered for the premiere of Sacha Baron Cohen’s comedy, Brüno, which had featured a segment involving La Toya Jackson, now cut.
U.S. President Barack Obama sent a letter of condolence to the Jackson family, and during a press conference the Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that President Obama viewed Jackson as a “spectacular performer, and a music icon”. In Congress, Representatives Diane Watson and Jesse Jackson Jr. asked members to observe a moment of silence.
Madonna and Diana Ross released statements saying they could not stop crying.
Jackson’s former wife, Lisa Marie Presley, said the singer had told her he was afraid he would end up like Elvis Presley, her father.
Elizabeth Taylor, a long-time friend, said she, “can’t imagine life without him.
“Liza Minnelli told CBS, “When the autopsy comes, all hell’s going to break loose, so thank God we’re celebrating him now.”
Gary Taylor of MJJcommunity.com, described as the world’s biggest online Michael Jackson fan club, has said that several of Jackson’s fans have committed suicide.
Jesse Jackson has recorded a YouTube video, urging fans not to “self destruct”. “This is a time when hearts are heavy. There is great pain but great cause to celebrate Michael’s life. It made Michael happy saying ‘We Are The World’. Don’t self destruct. We fall down sometimes, we get back up. That’s the right thing to do. In Michael’s name let’s live together as brothers and sisters and not die apart as fools.

















