Michael Jackson did WHAT?

[Nadir]

Is he dead? Someone tell me!

Unconfirmed? WHAT?

Pop star Michael Jackson has been rushed to hospital in Los Angeles after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest.

The Los Angeles Times newspaper said the singer was not breathing when paramedics arrived at his Bel Air home home at about 1230 (1900GMT).

Unconfirmed reports on TMZ entertainment website say the 50-year-old star has died.

The paramedics performed CPR on Jackson as the ambulance took him to the UCLA medical centre, officials say.

The star was due to begin a series of comeback concerts with an appearance at London's O2 arena on 13 July.

He has a history of health problems and has not completed a concert tour in 12 years.

(source)

[Indigo]

I just posted something like this in 'bad and ugly'

hmm.

I don't know...watching it now.

[Marguerite]

Conflicting reports are coming in but the spanish news channel and a few of the American ones are having breaking stories of his death.

[Silk]

There credibility is stuffed if he survives this.

[Lithos]

So they most likely make sure that he does not!

Even CNN says that he did apparently, so I think it is pretty much certain.

[Rhapsody]

The LA Times is reporting it, and that's where he lived.  So I'm assuming.

Michael Jackson is dead [Updated]
2:06 PM | June 25, 2009

[Updated at 3:15 p.m.: Pop star Michael Jackson was pronounced dead by doctors this afternoon after arriving at a hospital in a deep coma, city and law enforcement sources told The Times.]

[Updated at 2:46 p.m.: Jackson is in a coma and his family is arriving at his bedside, a law enforcement source told The Times.

Jackson was rushed to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center this afternoon by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics.

Fire Capt. Steve Ruda said paramedics responded to a call at Jackson's home at 12:26 p.m. He was not breathing when they arrived. The paramedics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and took him to the hospital, Ruda told The Times.

[Updated at 2:12 p.m.: Paramedics were called to a home in the 100 block of Carolwood Drive off Sunset Boulevard. Jackson had rented the Bel-Air home for $100,000 a month. It was described as a French chateau estate built in 2002 with seven bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, 12 fireplaces and a theater.

The home is about 2 1/2 miles, about a six-minute drive, from UCLA Medical Center. An earlier version of this post incorrectly described the time to travel between the home and hospital as two minutes.]

The news comes as Jackson, 50, was attempting a comeback after years of tabloid headlines, most notably his trial and acquittal on child molestation charges.

In May, The Times reported that Jackson had rented the Bel-Air residence and was rehearsing for a series of 50 sold-out shows in London's O2 Arena. Jackson had won the backing of two billionaires to get the so-called "King of Pop" back on stage.

His backers envision the shows at AEG's O2 as an audition for a career rebirth that could ultimately encompass a three-year world tour, a new album, movies, a Graceland-like museum, musical revues in Las Vegas and Macau, and even a "Thriller" casino. Such a rebound could wipe out Jackson's massive debt.

—Andrew Blankstein and Phil Willon

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/06/pop-star-michael-jackson-was-rushed-to-a-hospital-this-afternoon-by-los-angeles-fire-department-paramedics--capt-steve-ruda.html

[Nerayda]

It is confirmed:

Michael Jackson has died.

[Nadir]

Confirmed where? Give us a source.

[Lithos]

City Coroner confirmed to CNN

Read CNN front page.

Now updated on article too:

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/25/michael.jackson/index.html

[Rhapsody]

Confirmed where? Give us a source.

I also linked the LA Times article.

Edited to add:  I admire the paramedic who spoke to reporters about the story.  He could have made a fortune selling the story to the tabloids and more legit media... instead, under questioning by reporters, he stuck to his guns and stuck to the confidentiality guaranteed by his profession.  That, my friends, is integrity.

[Doomsday]

Hee hee!

[Rhapsody]

Was that supposed to be a joke?  If it is, I didn't get it.

[Avi]

In all seriousness, whatever you thought about MJ, he was a pop legend, and he really laid the groundwork for all the great pop stars since.  He will be missed.

Thriller dance on the tube - Michael Jackson thriller

[Oniya]

Was that supposed to be a joke?  If it is, I didn't get it.

Other than being another famous 'MJ' - and the wrong picture.  (That happens to be Tiger Woods, and I don't even follow golf.)

[Gunslinger]

Here is to you Jackson, one of the best artists the world will ever see *raises glass* You will be missed

[Serephino]

Well, MTV and NBC canceled their scheduled programming to do special tributes and talk about his life, so if he's not dead I'm gonna be a little ticked.

All I can say is he had serious problems and I hope he's at peace now. 

[Trieste]

He has a disfiguring, embarrassing disease, and people accuse him of bleaching his skin to look more white.

He was acquitted at trial, but is still called a child molester.

He has been hounded by the tabloids.

I hope he faked his death and went somewhere to finish out his life in peace.

[Fertile Myrtle]

I hope he faked his death and went somewhere to finish out his life in peace.

I do too. A lot of people are thinking that even though he was broke. He needed the money from that tour.

[OneOfAKiind]

He has a disfiguring, embarrassing disease, and people accuse him of bleaching his skin to look more white.

He was acquitted at trial, but is still called a child molester.

He has been hounded by the tabloids.

I hope he faked his death and went somewhere to finish out his life in peace.

I had the same thoughts exactly. I just feel sorry for him. He was seriously screwed up and his life, while amazing, probably also just tortured him.

He truly was a gifted artist, and I hope that he is remembered for that instead of all of the terrible things (trials, hanging kid off balcony, etc) 

all i have to say is... billie jean is not my lover.

[SinsOfEden]

I just can't believe it. It's a shock to me.
When I was kid, MJ was my idol. Despite being female I wanted to be just like him. I used to think he was the coolest person ever, aside from my dad, Gods rest both their souls.

I just hope that he's found peace; whether he really is dead or if he faked it to try and get away from all of the horrible parts of his life. He was an amazing singer and artist and I know he's going to be missed by a lot of people.

-bows her head slightly and then sighs-

[Trieste]

I do too. A lot of people are thinking that even though he was broke. He needed the money from that tour.

Death is the ultimate declaration of bankruptcy. >.>

[Fertile Myrtle]

Death is the ultimate declaration of bankruptcy. >.>

Yeah, but he definitely wouldn't have been bankrupt had he done the tour. At least I don't think he would have...

[OneOfAKiind]

Someone's facebook status: "is glad Michael Jackson is gone. Good ridance!"

One- so sad to feel that way about someone.
two- she didn't even spell riddance right.

[SinsOfEden]

People can be extremely insensitive and so stupid. >=|

[OneOfAKiind]

I thought this was nice:

"This type of legacy cannot be erased by even the most horrible of charges and allegations. His music and performances are historic and forever ingrained in our hearts."

greatest ever