For a week now there has been non-stop coverage of Michael Jackson’s life.
All this media circus culminated in today’s memorial service.
Now, don’t get me wrong, Michael Jackson is probably (one of) the greatest entertainers in History.
But we’re talking about, hands down, the biggest broadcast event in History.
Bigger than Obama’s Inauguration.
Bigger than any other event in recent times.
Would you say that Michael Jackson dying is a Historical event?
Or is everyone treating it as a Historical event the event itself?
I think that a plane crash, an exodus in Somalia, massive protests and deaths in China, or even Palin resigning, are bigger news stories than this week’s 24:7 coverage of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits.
No offense to whomever might get offended, but this is ridiculous.
During this hommage, the poor man’s coffin was publicly displayed right in front of the stage like some kind of weird trophy.
I have never seen anything like this and probably will never again.
Just the entrance of the coffin under applause is enough to get chills down your back (not in a good way).
This isn’t just the biggest broadcast in History, it’s also one of the creepiest.
The final choir with the kids holding hands intersected with shots from London and people dancing to “We Are the World” mixed gaudy with crass.
Are people going to dance on his grave soon?
James Hibberd even declared (about the event itself, before it began):
Is it possible to have a pop star’s memorial service on this scale and not have it be, to a large extent, tacky? […] No matter how much it means to you, the setting turns it into camp. Who can regard an event soberly when you know there’s going to be folks selling T-shirts outside?
Honestly, is this supposed to be a concert with a coffin or a memorial service?
What was even more heart-breaking was seeing the family, especially the daughter, talking about their dead brother/father.
Though fans can grieve, this is a memorial service that in my opinion should have been held privately.
The mourning of a family towards a human being shouldn’t be shared with over a billion people worldwide!
Elizabeth Taylor earlier stated:
I’ve been asked to speak at the Staples Center. I cannot be part of the public whoopla. And I cannot guarantee that I would be coherent to say a word. I just don’t believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others.
How I feel is between us. Not a public event. I said I wouldn’t go to the Staples Center and I certainly don’t want to become a part of it. I love him too much.
The fans are grieving a celebrity.
Michael’s family is mourning a man.
This isn’t the same thing, and the media circus is only blurring the line.
I’ll end this post with a quote from the King of Pop himself:
It feels so good to be thought of as a person, not as a personality.
Let’s respect his wishes.
Please let Michael Jackson rest in peace now.
