KING OF POP DEAD
MICHAEL JACKSON DIES AT 50; WORLD REACTS; DRUGS MAY BE A FACTOR
AFTER HOURS OF SPECULATION, THE Los Angeles Times, NBC News and other news agencies reported that King of Pop Michael Jackon has died at the age of 50.
The LA Times said he was rushed to the hospital early this afternoon suffering what was believed to be a cardiac arrest.
Brian Oxman, a Jackson family attorney,
said he had warned family members that Michael was "overmedicated" and that he would speak out if a drug overdose proved to be the cause of death.
"I have warned that one day Michael Jackson would wake up dead, and that I would not be silent if that were the case because of the misuse of medications,'' Oxman told CBS News.
LA Fire Dept Capt. Steve Ruda told the paper that Jackson was not breathing when they arrived at his Holmby Hills home, and that EMT workers had tried to recuscitate him on the way to the hospital.
TMZ was the first to report that Jackson had passed away. News sources originally reported that Jackson was in a coma and that family members were rushing to his side.
The death of the musical legend -- hailed for his musical genius but derided for his odd behavior -- dominated news coverage Thursday afternoon.
"As someone who served as Michael Jackson's publicist during the first child molestation incident, I must confess I am not surprised by today's tragic news,"' Michael Levine told TMZ. "Michael has been on an impossibly difficult and often self-destructive journey for years. His talent was unquestionable but so too was his discomfort with the norms of the world. A human simply can not withstand this level of prolonged stress."'
Musical producer Quincy Jones, who worked with Jackson on a movie based on the Broadway production,f The Wiz, released a statement saying, "I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."
The paparazzi-owned website X17online reported that Jackson's death is being investigated as a possible drug overdose.
Here are relevant links:
TMZ broke the news about Michael's death and is the go-to source on the story.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Jackson was found in a coma.
X17online reports that Jackson's death is being investigated as a possible drug overdose.
Yahoo's The Starting Point Twitters live from outside the hospital where Jackson is taken.
Entertainment Weekly published a succinct obituary.
MSNBC has a piece on the pop star's "lasting and conflicting legacy."
Jermaine Jackson announces Michael's death at a Thursday afternoon press conference.
The Washington Post compiles quotes from notables on Michael's death.
WonderWall has celebrities' reactions to the news on Twitter.
Wikipedia has a comprehensive biography of Jackson's life.
Wikipedia's entry on The Jackson Five.
Jackson's professional milestones are so extensive that Wikipedia also has a page detailing his records and achievements.
The original Thriller video on YouTube, which as of 6:55 p.m. June 25 Central Time had been viewed 37,086,255 times.
Julien's Auctions has a five catalogue boxed collection of Jackson's belongings that were scheduled to be auctioned off last April. The auction was cancelled a week before the sale was scheduled to take place.
