Michael Jackson's Memorial Speakers Hardly Knew Him

Us Magazine - July 9, 2009 7:39 PM PDT
Story photo: Michael Jackson's Memorial Speakers Hardly Knew HimKevin Mazur/MJ Memorial via Getty Images;Kevork Djansezian/Getty ImagesUs Magazine
The majority of boldfaced names at Michael Jackson's July 6 memorial at Los Angeles' Staples Center hadn't spoken to the the singer in years.

Many never even met him at all.

Brooke Shields - who broke down in tears as she remembered her "true friend" - last saw Jackson (whom she met as a teenager) 18 years ago at Elizabeth Taylor's 1991 wedding. (At the memorial, she recalled how the two of them sneaked into Taylor's room for a peek at her dress.)

See photos from Michael Jackson's memorial

Corey Feldman -- who befriended Jackson in the 1980s -- also hadn't talked to the star in several years after having a falling out. Feldman ended up wearing a Jackson costume to the ceremony. "I'm just drained," he told Us.

Many of Jackson's close friends were no-shows: Macaulay Culkin, ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley, Webster's Emmanuel Lewis, among others.

Quincy Jones, Jackson's longtime producer, and Diana Ross -- who was named in Jackson's will as a backup guardian to Jackson's three children -- also skipped the ceremony. Ross said she was at the memorial "in spirit," but that she "decided to pause and be silent" because it "feels right."

Look back at photos of Michael Jackson and his children through the years

Arnold Klein, Jackson's longtime dermatologist and biological father to his two oldest children, was also noticeably absent. Debbie Rowe, mother of Jackson's two eldest children, said she skipped because she felt she'd "be an unnecessary distraction."

As for Elizabeth Taylor? She said she stayed home because she didn't want to "be a part of the public whoopla."

Even Jesse Jackson, who counseled the singer during his trial, was not present to speak. (A source tells Us Joe Jackson dislikes him and made sure Rev. Al Sharpton -- who laughed about Jackson during a 2008 discussion on race -- delivered a speech instead.)

See how Michael Jackson's appearance has changed over the years

Instead, most of the people who paid tribute to Jackson at Tuesday's memorial never met him at all.

Queen Latifah, who eulogized the singer, told David Letterman: "I never actually got to meet him. My partner met him because we managed Naughty by Nature and they did a remix with him. He thought I had beautiful cheekbones."

John Mayer -- who performed an instrumental version of "Human Nature" -- told Larry King he also "never met" the King of Pop. His only connection was listening to Thriller as a teen. He said the Jackson family asked him to perform. (The Los Angeles Times' Ann Powers remarked, "I don't know why John Mayer is here. Was Slash not available?")

See Michael Jackson's most unforgettable moments

Jennifer Hudson -- who performed "Will You Be There" -- also had no prior relationship with Jackson. Mariah Carey covered the Jackson 5 classic "I'll Be There," which she sang at the memorial. Though she worked with Jackson on his 2001 charity single "What More Can I Give?" she wasn't close with the singer, a source tells Us.

Look back at Michael Jackson's life

Usher, who sobbed and touched Jackson's coffin while singing "Gone Too Soon," performed with Jackson at his 2001 celebration concert at New York City's Madison Square Garden. But "their contact was minimal," the source tells Us, even though Usher has stated how influential Jackson was on his career.

Twelve-year-old Britain's Got Talent finalist Shaheen Jafargholi's connection to Jackson? He toured as a young Jackson in the Thriller Live show and sang the Jackson 5 cover version of "Who's Loving You" on Britain's Got Talent.



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comments 1-10 of 132  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • TrueToMyself
    Fake friends, fake family, for a fake @sshole sick minded sorry excuse for a human being, monster-who should have died in prison and I hope he rots in the hottest place in hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    report abuseposted September 28, 2009 8:50 PM PDT
  • SammyMo
    kno him....to me it sounds like u guys need something to run ur mouths about so u talk about anything....the media can be dicks at times.... pressing issues that dont even matter...have u ever met him..but yet u write as if ur mad at the turn out like he was ur best friend.....and did it ever occur that most of the people u named were friends of the family...they were there to support the family..
    report abuseposted July 31, 2009 8:53 PM PDT
  • SammyMo
    i dont get it ....they all were fans as well as entertainers who he influenced.....why does it matter if they met him.....he still was a big part of the music world and surely if they could have met him they would have....why is it ok for a fan to cry and fall out all over the place over someone they felt they knew thru music but if a artist or actress meets him only once you say o she doesnt even
    report abuseposted July 31, 2009 8:50 PM PDT
  • Deanna Z
    MJ is gone. (RIP my love) Let him rest in PEACE already.
    report abuseposted July 22, 2009 3:49 PM PDT
  • C.B. W
    o.k. i AM TOTALLY MISSING THE POINT OF WHY THIS STUFF IS WRITTEN. SEEMS TO ME, TO BE ANOTHER ILL ATTEMPT TO FURTHER DISCREDIT MJ.... MJ WAS THE BEST , AT WHAT HE DID...PERIOD...END OF STORY................
    report abuseposted July 21, 2009 7:22 PM PDT
  • frustrated
    Did I miss an update somewhere that positively ID'd the dermotologist as those childrens biological father? In this article it actually states him as being so. I think the whole paternity issue should be left alone. The man they called their father was their father and it's not up to society to pick and poke. That crap *%*$@! me off.
    report abuseposted July 19, 2009 1:23 PM PDT
  • Jennifer
    MJ touched the lives of people globally through his music...so it's okay if he doesn't even know who performed in his memorial!!! his SOUL won't discriminate!
    report abuseposted July 19, 2009 12:56 PM PDT
  • M
    NOT VERY MANY PEOLPE IN THIS WORLD WILL EVER TOUCH MILLIONS OF LIVES IN SUCH A POSSITIVE MANOR---WHETHER YOU LIKE M.J. OR NOT THE PROOF OF HIS INFLUENCE ON THIS WORLD IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WATCHED ON TV-SATTLELITE-AND MANY THAT ATTENDED AND NOT TO MENTION THOSE THAT STOOD OUT ON THE STREETS ON THAT DAY...REST IN PEACE M.J.
    report abuseposted July 17, 2009 6:52 PM PDT
  • M
    WHETHER OR NOT FOLKS KEPT IN TOUCH WITH M.J. OR WHETHER THEY HAD EVEN MET HIM OR NOT--POINT IS THAT HE WAS ADMIRED BY MILLIONS---HELLO! HELLO! HELLO! OVER 31.1 MILLION PEOPLE WATCHED THE MEMORIAL ON TV---NOT TO MENTION THOSE THAT ATTENDED ---ONCE AGAIN THIS SHOWS HOW MANY ADMIRED HIM.
    report abuseposted July 17, 2009 6:41 PM PDT
  • M
    MAKE A CHANGE! MAN IN THE MIRROR-IS JUST ONE OF MANY SONGS THAT ENCOURAGE PEOLPLE TO GIVE BACK TO THOSE IN NEED AND HE LIVED THE LIFE HE SANG ABOUT..MY PRAYERS ARE THAT THE FAMILY WILL BE ABLE TO FIND COMFORT FROM THOSE THAT LOVE THEM
    report abuseposted July 17, 2009 6:27 PM PDT
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