Michael Jackson

Dies at Age 50



Written by Alicia on Jun-26-09 4:01am2009-06-25T14:01:45

UPDATED 3:23 PM: Legendary musician Michael Jackson has died, law enforcement sources have confirmed.

TMZ reports that someone at Jackson's Holmby Hills home called 911 at 12:21 pm. When paramedics arrived at his home, he was not breathing. The Los Angeles Times reports by the time he reached the UCLA Medical center, Jackson was in a coma. He was pronounced dead by doctors this afternoon.

Several months ago, celebrity biographer Ian Halperin claimed Jackson was deathly ill and required a lung transplant. Jackson's rep quickly disputed Halperin's claims.

Jackson was readying for a 50-show run of performances at London's O2 Arena. He had voiced concern about being physically able to complete that many performances.

Jackson is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, and Prince Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson was born into a life of showbusiness. At 11 years old he was thrust into the spotlight as he stepped up to the microphone to front the Jackson 5. From that moment on, Michael's life was filmed, photographed and recorded. He grew up in front of the press, and ultimiately, he died in front of the press with TMZ practically live-blogging his hospitalization and subsequent death.




Jackson Family Attorney:
Jackson Was Surrounded By Enablers.

It is not yet known what caused Michael Jackson's death from cardiac arrest; an autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow. But the Jackson family's attorney, Brian Oxman, called CNN to shed light on Michael's medical condition.

Oxman wanted people to know that Michael was not gravely ill, as had been rumored for months. The singer was, however, debilitated by a dependence on prescription medication. He told CNN in a shaking voice:

Michael has always been in very fine physical condition. The one thing which has bothered me so much is the discussion that one day he was going to be dead, and...I don't know if this is that day, I can only tell you that this is something that was not unexpected...the medications which Michael was under, this family has been trying for months and months and months to take care of Michael Jackson.



The people who have surrounded him have been enabling him. If you think the case of Anna Nicole Smith was an abuse, it's nothing in comparison to what we have seen taking place in Michael Jackson's life. Oxman also confirmed that Jackson was struggling to get in shape for the 50 performances he had scheduled at London's O2 Arena.