June 25, 2009
Throngs Of Fans Pay Tribute To Jackson
Sobbing Crowds Gather Outside Hospital; Celebrities Remember Friend And Colleague
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Play CBS Video Video Jackson Fans Mourn Katie Couric speaks with CBS News' Ben Tracy in Los Angeles, who reports from the UCLA Medical Center where Michael Jackson was pronounced dead, as hundreds of fans gather to mourn the King of Pop.
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A crowd begins to form outside the UCLA medical center in Los Angeles following the death of Michael Jackson June 25, 2009. (CBS)
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People react to the news that Michael Jackson died in New York's Times Square Thursday, June 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
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Photo Essay Michael Jackson: 1958-2009 The "King Of Pop" had a life full of number one hits and personal scandals
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Photo Essay Mourning Michael Jackson Fans gather across the country to mourn the loss of a pop icon
As news of Michael Jackson's death spread through out Los Angeles - and the country - hundreds of fans turned out to pay tribute to the pop icon.
The crowd outside the UCLA medical center numbered in the hundreds and was still growing as of 7:45 p.m. ET Thursday. Police were on the scene to control the crowd and keep it from spilling into the roadway. Many fans remained outside the hospital well past 9 p.m. ET.
Sobbing fans talked to CBS Station KCBS in Los Angeles and other news outlets. One called the deceased star "archangel Michael."
KCBS's Amy Johnson reported that about a dozen fans had arrived at Jackson's Neverland ranch.
Another group of fans gathered at a star bearing the name "Michael Jackson" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It wasn't actually the King of Pop's star, though - that was temporarily inaccessible because of a special event. The replacement star belonged to the British-born Los Angeles radio host of the same name.
Hundreds of fans crowded the street outside Jackson's modest childhood home in Gary, Indiana, the Associated Press reported.
Some fans formed a prayer circle Thursday on the front yard of the small white frame home where Jackson grew up. Others left stuffed animals and notes expressing their condolences.
Fifty-year-old Bernetta Galloway of Gary said residents are proud of Jackson because he was "somebody from Gary who did something with their life."
Jackson was 11 when the family moved out of Gary after the Jackson 5 recorded their first album in 1969. His last trip to Gary was in June, 2003.
Impromptu tributes began to take elsewhere around the world.
Fans took pictures of the marquee outside the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York, which read, 'In memory of Michael Jackson, a true Apollo legend, 1958-2009."
Fans broke into applause as Jackson's music was played over the loudspeakers at the Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, England, where Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young and others were scheduled to play this weekend.
Jackson had been scheduled to play a sold-out 50-date "comeback tour" in the U.K. beginning July 13 and stretching into March of next year.
More Michael Jackson coverage:
Pop Legend's Life Had Ups And Downs
Throngs Of Fans Pay Tribute To Jackson
Jackson's Health Woes Took Center Stage
From Tokyo To Rio, Fans Mourn King Of Pop
Family Attorney Blames Prescription Meds
A Collection Of CBS Videos Of Michael Jackson
The Death Of Michael Jackson, Full Coverage
Meanwhile, fellow celebrities - some colleagues, some barely children in Jackson's 1980s heyday - offered condolences and remembrances.
Jackson's former wife Lisa Marie Presley said in a statement, "I am so very sad and confused with every emotion possible. I am heartbroken for his children who I know were everything to him and for his family. This is such a massive loss on so many levels, words fail me."
Famed music producer Quincy Jones, who produced "Thriller," called Jackson a "little brother," and wrote, "He had it all - talent, grace, professionalism and dedication. He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever."
The family of Susan Boyle, who shot to global fame only recently with her vocal performances on "Britain's Got Talent," sent a statement to CBS News saying she was "deeply saddened".
"Just as her recording career is about to begin, the world of music loses one of it's most important, iconic, figures," her brother Gerry Boyle said in the written message.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger released a statement saying, “Today, the world has lost one of the most influential and iconic figures in the music industry. … Maria and I join all Californians in expressing our shock and sadness over his death and our hearts go out the Jackson family, Michael’s children and to his fans worldwide.”
"I wouldn't be surprised if the world stopped spinning tomorrow,” wrote Will.i.am.
On Twitter, rapper Ludacris said, "If it were not for Micheal Jackson I would not be where or who I am today. His Music and Legacy will live on Forever. Prayers to the fam R.I.P."
More celebrity tweets on Jackson's death. (Note: the tweets are not edited):
More celebrity tributes:
© MMIX, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Add a Comment See all 14 Comments
- Michael Jackson, though a good dancer and performer, was also a pedophile. The news is making me sick with their sudden tears over Michael Jackson. He got by with molesting many children. Let's quit making him look like a god.
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- MICHAEL JACKSON, was an innocent child forced into the entertainment industry by his greedy controling father, a child completely deprived of his boyhood, and forced to become an adult like so many childhood stars. That type of person goes through life with a void that no money can replace. Unfortunately as a man Michael tried to recapture the child that was suppressed within himself and as all humans he made mistakes but on an extreme level. LETS NOT FORGET ALL THE HAPPINESS HE DID BRING TO THE WORLD THROUGH HIS MUSIC AND ALL THE YOUNGER ENTERTAINERS THAT WERE DIRECTLY INFLUENCED BY HIM IN SOME WAY.
BARE IN MIND THAT THERE IS ALWAYS 3 SIDES TO EACH AND EVERY STORY> PLAINTIFF, DEFENDANT AND THE GREAT MAN ABOVE US ALL WATCHING !!!!
NO ONE ON THIS PLANET IS FREE FROM SIN AND JUDGEMENT.
Micheal was only 9 days older than me and I truely feel like I lost my brother. MY GREATEST MEMORY WAS WHEN HE DEBUTED *spell check* ON THE RADIO SINGING "ABC" I was jumping on my mothers bed and quickly called my older sister to hear how cute Michael appeared and how he would make an immediate impact on the World. "AND THAT HE CERTAINLY DID"
NO ONE AT ALL CAN TAKE THAT FAME FROM HIM " HATERS, SINNERS, JUDGEMENTAL PEOPLE AND THE LIKE.
THATS THE TALENT HE WAS BORN WITH AND TOOK TO HIS GRAVE, GO AHEAD I DARE YOU TO MATCH IT ANY DAY!!! AINT GONNA HAPPEN
MISS YOU FOREVER MICHAEL > Michael Smiles in Heaven, God made you too, and he does'nt make Junk!!!!! - Reply to this comment
- Cattiej, r u crazy or r u the demon, fool
- Reply to this comment
- Cattiej,,,,,,,,,,,,bitc
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- Officially threatened by North Korea with nuclear destruction, America is also engaged in two prolonged wars. Forty million Americans are without health insurance; many more are underinsured. The world economy is the worst since The Great Depression. Millions are loosing their jobs and homes.
News purveyors have lost all sense of importance. Anyone having to do with this outrageously disproportionate coverage should have their journalism degrees revoked. The death of Michael Jackson deserves no more than a footnote in the records of pedophilia.
Edward R. Murrow, Douglas Edwards, Frank Reynolds and Peter Jennings would be ashamed of the journalism profession and CBS. - Reply to this comment
- It was admirable that he kept such a positive view and
remained an optimist about so much while so many tried
to poison his image and sharks attacked him continuously.
May he rest in peace, and may his family get through this
very trying time. - Reply to this comment
- Goodbye Michael, you will be sorely missed by the entire planet. :(
- Reply to this comment
- The Michael Jackson we liked years ago, died many years ago for us. His lifestyle of enhanced by his people who took care of him. They treated him as a God, when all he was, was a money machine. Well, he can't take his money with him now, can he! All you hanger's on are now going to have to get out and get a REAL job. Wonder how many people have already stolen items from Michael Jackson now that he is dead. What a mess he created, all because people couldn't tell Michael, NO, he spent millions of dollars on lavish items. We won't miss him. We will however miss Farah Fawcett, she bravely fought cancer. Michael fought his demons.
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- Speak for yourself. YOU might not miss him, but you don't speak for anyone else. As for me, I'm sad that his life turned out the way it did. He definitely needed help.
- How dare you, you only know what the media released we the public will never know the true stories behind the alligations. Millions of people will miss him and I admire all of his musical talents. TO many people arround the world he was a god, and will always be. Miceal will finaly be able to REST IN PEACE.
- I agree, most of is problems were self-inflicted or caused by "hanger's on". The coverage is a little over the top. The Jackson clan will all be covered as the victoms, but they are probably one of the primary causes of his death. He never had a life as a child because of them. I think some of his "problems" resulted from that.
- Why is it when someone truly great dies, there are always idots such as yourself who can't wait to put them down? You are nothing but a sad pathetic little person who will never amount to anything, perhaps you need to get a job and a life if you have nothing better to do than talk ill of the dead. I hope someone spits on you and trash talks you, not that anyone in your life would probably be bothered to because you are a waste of space. Go crawl under a rock and stay there until you learn some respect! I like millions world wide will miss Michael greatly, he has touched my life and many around me with his wonderful music. What have you ever done of importance.... NOTHING!
- Are you serious? What flipped like you like this?
ruger_223 why don't you go find your screen name and put one in your mouth, you would be doing a great service to humanity, worthless dog. This man had more talent and class in one follicle of hair than you have in your whole body. For you and cattiej - what a waste of your fathers sperm you all turned out to be.
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