TMZ reports that Michael Jackson has died in UCLA Medical Center:
We've just learned Michael Jackson has died. He was 50.Michael suffered a cardiac arrest earlier this afternoon at his Holmby Hills home and paramedics were unable to revive him. We're told when paramedics arrived Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back.
A source tells us Jackson was dead when paramedics arrived.
Once at the hospital, the staff tried to resuscitate him but he was completely unresponsive.
We're told one of the staff members at Jackson's home called 911.
La Toya ran in the hospital sobbing after Jackson was pronounced dead.
At this point the only other news source that is reporting this is BNO News, which reports that OK! magazine is also reporting Jackson's death:
Michael Jackson, often referred to as "The King of Pop", died at the age of 50 on Thursday afternoon after suffering a cardiac arrest, news reports say.Jackson was taken to UCLA hospital in Los Angeles after a 911 call at 12.21 p.m. local time. When paramedics arrived at his home in Holmby Hills they performed CPR but were unable to revive him. Streets surrounding the hospital were blockaded by police with yellow tape.
The cause of death was not immediately known. Both OK! Magazine and TMZ.com confirmed his death.
At this point Fox News is holding off reporting anything further until they confirm it with authorities.
Update: Geraldo Rivera is on Fox News now and he is saying that he has a contact close to Jackson who has told him that he booked 50 concerts, all of which sold out within minutes, but that he had not hired a choreographer or dancers or had any meaningful rehearsals.
Update II: The LA Times is now reporting Jackson is dead. He was pronounced dead at 3:15pm PDT, 6:15pm EDT.
Comments (13)
It'd be easy, and perhaps r... (Below threshold)1. Posted by JLawson | June 25, 2009 7:51 PM | Score: 11 (13 votes cast)
It'd be easy, and perhaps rather satisfying, to snark at this point. But... he was an amazing performer, an astounding talent, that got eaten up by his personal demons.
Farewell, Michael. May you now find the peace you kept searching for here.
1. Posted by JLawson | June 25, 2009 7:51 PM |
Score: 11 (13 votes cast)
Posted on June 25, 2009 19:51
2. Posted by Kim Priestap | June 25, 2009 7:56 PM | Score: 8 (10 votes cast)
JLawson, I agree with you. Even though he had some serious demons that haunted him he was supremely talented. Thriller alone was just amazing.
2. Posted by Kim Priestap | June 25, 2009 7:56 PM |
Score: 8 (10 votes cast)
Posted on June 25, 2009 19:56
3. Posted by Jeannette | June 25, 2009 8:06 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
RIP
3. Posted by Jeannette | June 25, 2009 8:06 PM |
Score: 5 (5 votes cast)
Posted on June 25, 2009 20:06
4. Posted by GarandFan | June 25, 2009 8:28 PM | Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Barry will be on TV shortly, claiming that our current health care system killed him.
4. Posted by GarandFan | June 25, 2009 8:28 PM |
Score: 5 (7 votes cast)
Posted on June 25, 2009 20:28
5. Posted by SillyPuddy | June 25, 2009 8:37 PM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Obama channeling Edwards - if we had universal health care MJ would still be alive!
5. Posted by SillyPuddy | June 25, 2009 8:37 PM |
Score: 4 (6 votes cast)
Posted on June 25, 2009 20:37
6. Posted by HughS | June 25, 2009 9:02 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
JLawson, well said. He was an incredible talent.
This performance from the Motown 25th anniversary was the exclamation point to the set he did on stage just moments before with his brothers.
6. Posted by HughS | June 25, 2009 9:02 PM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on June 25, 2009 21:02
7. Posted by bobdog | June 25, 2009 9:32 PM | Score: 4 (8 votes cast)
Sorry he's dead, but Jackson was a complex, troubled man. No point in dumping unkind scorn on him, but we seem to have forgotten the last major Michael Jackson story.
That said, I'm sorry for his friends and family.
But is it the most important story of the year? Not to me. I'm not trying to hijack this thread, but our country is circling the drain, thanks to Congress, and we chase the glitter ever single time. We're idiots.
7. Posted by bobdog | June 25, 2009 9:32 PM |
Score: 4 (8 votes cast)
Posted on June 25, 2009 21:32
8. Posted by Matt | June 25, 2009 10:21 PM | Score: -4 (8 votes cast)
The death of Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett, has got to be two of the least important things that occured on the earth today. With all the death, mayhem, oppression, disease and starvation, who cares? The passing of a washed up perveted singer and a has-been mediocre B actress is jut not significant.
8. Posted by Matt | June 25, 2009 10:21 PM |
Score: -4 (8 votes cast)
Posted on June 25, 2009 22:21
9. Posted by Hermie | June 25, 2009 10:51 PM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Jackson had an immense talent and gift for performing. That cannot be denied, and his work deeply influenced popular music.
However he threw away a potentially greater professional career with his behavior. I believe he was guilty as charged regarding his abusing children, but his celebrity kept him out of prison. He believed his status could get him out of anything, and considering how many times he got into some kind of trouble, from civil lawsuits regarding the previously mentioned abuse accusations, to dangling his child from a balcony, to his financial troubles; he pretty much did get away with it.
The blame for his woes lie mainly on his shoulders. It seems though that nobody could or would, try to stop him from self-destruction. His family didn't seem to actually care about getting him help, and his numerous hangers-on acted more like enablers and cover-up artists.
I feel sorry for his children, who will never have any chance at a normal life.
9. Posted by Hermie | June 25, 2009 10:51 PM |
Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on June 25, 2009 22:51
10. Posted by Flu-Bird | June 26, 2009 12:55 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Can anyone remeber when he was a kid and the JACKSON 5 thats long ago
10. Posted by Flu-Bird | June 26, 2009 12:55 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on June 26, 2009 00:55
11. Posted by Aye Chihuahua | June 26, 2009 8:27 AM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
When hit with the defibrillator Jackson sat up and yelled....Hoooohoo.
(Yes, I'm going to Hell now...)
11. Posted by Aye Chihuahua | June 26, 2009 8:27 AM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on June 26, 2009 08:27
12. Posted by Adrian Browne | June 26, 2009 12:03 PM | Score: -3 (3 votes cast)
The coroner finds that Michael Jackson looked in the mirror and died of embarrassment.
12. Posted by Adrian Browne | June 26, 2009 12:03 PM |
Score: -3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on June 26, 2009 12:03
13. Posted by LaMedusa | June 26, 2009 3:27 PM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Currently, the police are looking for Jackon's doctor and had his car towed, and also investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. An overdose of Demerol would cause heart failure and coma.
His is with God, now. May he rest in peace.
13. Posted by LaMedusa | June 26, 2009 3:27 PM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on June 26, 2009 15:27