Fans Mourn Michael Jackson's Death Across the World

Us Magazine - June 26, 2009 9:28 AM PDT
Story photo: Fans Mourn Michael Jackson's Death Across the World<br>GERARD BURKHART/AFP/Getty Images; David Aguilera/BuzzFoto/FilmMagic; LandovUs Magazine
Shortly after the news of Michael Jackson's shocking death Thursday, fans began arriving by the dozens to the family's 22-room estate in Encino, Calif. They left teddy bears, notes, flowers and candles outside the mansion, which Jackson is said to have adored.

The singer's death was palpable across the world. Hundreds left scrap books, flowers and candles outside his childhood home in Gary, Ind.

Outside the UCLA Medical Center after Jackson's passing, hundreds began chanting, "Michael! Michael!" as another fan blasted "Man in the Mirror" from an iPod dock.

Look back at Michael Jackson's life

"He was the first concert I ever went to! It was my birthday present when I was 6-years old," Missy Traubhill, 29, told Usmagazine.com. "My mom took me and my cousin in a limo, and we went to go see Thriller. I bought a blue muscle T-shirt with him on the front. He was in his little black pants, his skinny little black pants and white socks and black shoes. It was my best birthday memory of my life."

Dionica Bel, 25, recalled that Jackson's HIStory was her first album.

"I wanted to dance like him, to sing like him," she said. "I, to this day, have not stopped trying to moonwalk. He will always be one of the premiere reasons I fell in love with the kind of music I listen to today. He is his own genre. There would be no Justin Timberlake, there would be no Usher, there would be none of those pop artists today, if not for the ground work that Michael Jackson laid out for them."

See Us' photo tribute to stars who have died too soon

Outside NYC's Apollo Theater late Thursday, fans remembered Jackson as well.

"What really touched everybody so much out here is knowing that we lost a great person," Conway Murray, 39, told Us. "It's sad, but it's a great moment to see everybody out here together as one, to share the legacy of Michael Jackson."

Wearing a bright yellow Michael Jackson T-shirt featuring four printed pictures of the singer's face, Latifa Salaam, 54, told Us she was "horrified" when she heard the news of his passing.

"I jumped up. I said, 'No!' But it was true," she said. "So I grabbed the phone and called my daughter, everybody. Everybody heard. I called my sister, called my cousin. They were crying on the phone."

Added Jasmine Watson, 19: "I came out here because I heard the commotion and wanted to be a part of the memorial. It's beautiful. Here we get to see everyone come together and be together to remember him. I don't think there will ever be another King of Pop."

See Us' photo tribute to stars who have died too soon

In NYC's Times Square, a crowd gathered on Broadway and 44th Street outside the MTV studios. An ABC News banner read, "Michael Jackson, King of Pop, Dead at 50." At one point, a bus drove down Seventh Avenue blasting "Billie Jean." Crowds cheered.

Stephanie Defeo, 34, told Us: "I'm heartbroken. You can say Michael Jackson anywhere in the world and people will understand. I can't believe hes dead. Today was a huge loss in pop culture."



More news from Usmagazine.com



Join Us on Facebook and Twitter for even more up to the minute celebrity news and photos!

comments

show comments

comments

comments 1-10 of 25  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • ByHisGrace
    There is only One King-that One is Jesus. I agree with Jane. There are only 3 who know whether there was any truth at all in those who accused & maligned Michael Jackson's name. Michael himself. God & the kids. Yet when it comes down to it Michael, poor confused young man that he was, & the child could have been talked into thinking there was something going on bec
    report abuseposted July 24, 2009 11:34 AM PDT
  • ByHisGrace
    There is only One King-that One is Jesus. I agree with Jane. There are only 3 who know whether there was any truth at all in those who accused & maligned Michael Jackson's name. Michael himself. God & the kids. Yet when it comes down to it Michael, poor confused young man that he was, & the child could have been talked into thinking there was something going on bec
    report abuseposted July 24, 2009 11:33 AM PDT
  • maryfigaro
    michael was a gift to us and we did not appreaciate him, so our gift was taken away. He was such an integral part of my life, for every song he sang I have a memory. It makes me sad that I won't be able to hear any more new songs to place with new memories. My sympathy to his family. RIP Michael. as someone said, we loved you but God loves you more. Now angels are moonwalking in heaven.
    report abuseposted June 29, 2009 5:52 AM PDT
  • maryfigaro
    michael was a gift to us and we did not appreaciate him, so our gift was taken away. He was such an integral part of my life, for every song he sang I have a memory. It makes me sad that I won't be able to hear any more new songs to place with new memories. My sympathy to his family. RIP Michael. as someone said, we loved you but God loves you more. Now angels are moonwalking in heaven.
    report abuseposted June 29, 2009 5:52 AM PDT
  • maryfigaro
    michael was a gift to us and we did not appreaciate him, so our gift was taken away. He was such an integral part of my life, for every song he sang I have a memory. It makes me sad that I won't be able to hear any more new songs to place with new memories. My sympathy to his family. RIP Michael. as someone said, we loved you but God loves you more. Now angels are moonwalking in heaven.
    report abuseposted June 29, 2009 5:51 AM PDT
  • Love07
    Michael you were the first guy in the spot light that I had a crush on in fact you were my first crush. no one knows the pain that you experianced on this earth so who are we to point fingers and judge; the good thing is that your soul is in heaven and you have no more pain just pleasure. REST IN PEACE SWEET HEART, I LOVE YOU , I WIL L ALWAYS MISS YOU.
    report abuseposted June 28, 2009 10:36 AM PDT
  • brianne_1208
    may you rest in peace MJ...you're gone but your music still remain in us...GODSPEED!
    report abuseposted June 26, 2009 10:00 AM PDT
  • Mark S
    Yeah Aaron, when he was arrested and they put him in that police department bathroom in Santa Barbara, he told us there was "dooty feces all over the walls". We don't know what kind of pain he was in, maybe Demerol helped relieve him of some of it. And when his mother called him a "f_ggot". That was cruel and hurt him deeply. So much pain, so little
    report abuseposted June 26, 2009 9:54 AM PDT
  • ashley m
    Why do people come here and try to turn real grief and sorry into a farce? Michael I am going to miss you... I am going to miss your music, I am going to miss your dancing, I am going to miss everything that made you you. I'm glad you finally got the chance to hang up your dancing shoes and rest in the arms of your maker. The world will miss you.... :)
    report abuseposted June 26, 2009 9:53 AM PDT
  • HolierThanThou
    so so so sad....may he rest in peace
    report abuseposted June 26, 2009 9:37 AM PDT
comments 1-10 of 25  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

Post A Comment

sign in to post a comment.

sign in

RELATED ARTICLES

RELATED PHOTOS

RELATED VIDEOS

Updates

Manage My Updates
Manage My Updates
More Updates »

omg!

MORE ENTERTAINMENT

ALSO ON YAHOO!

Help us to improve! - Send Your Suggestions