Michael Jackson

The Best King Of Pop!

While the media’s treatment of Michael Jackson in the first 24 hours after his shocking death last week was largely reverential (aside from anything coming out of Maureen Orth, that is), things took a turn for the ugly over the weekend, just as Liza Minnelli had predicted. As you might expect, the Fleet Street tabloids were the epicenter of Jackson-related stories and rumors; at least one story that made the rounds yesterday has already mysteriously been pulled from the originating source’s website. That said, we’ve pulled together a quick roundup of the latest Jackson news for you, all of which should be taken with a grain — if not an entire shaker’s worth — of salt.

• Michael Jackson’s autopsy results were harrowing, to say the least. Jackson weighed approximately 112 pounds at the time of his death, and his body was described as being “severely emaciated.” Additionally, he had also lost almost all of his hair and “little more than ‘peach fuzz’ covered his scalp”; he was wearing a wig at the time of his death. It also appears that during the frantic moments before the ambulance arrived at his home, he received up to four adrenaline shots into his heart. [Sun UK] Update: TMZ is now reporting that the autopsy report being relayed by the Sun is “fabricated and completely false.” No further explanation at the moment.

• Speaking of autopsies, Jackson’s family ordered a private physician to complete a second autopsy. It is thought that they might be preparing for a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against Dr. Conrad Murray. [LA Now/LAT]

• Speaking of Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson’s personal physician, he was located late on Friday afternoon and spoke to police over the weekend. He is no longer being considered a suspect in MJ’s death. [TMZ]

• Grace Rwaramba, a nanny who served under Jackson’s employ for seventeen years, says she had to repeatedly pump his stomach over the years because of issues that arose when he had too many prescription drugs in his system. She also claims that the Nation of Islam was renting the home where Michael Jackson spent his final months to him for £60,000 a month, a home that supposedly had a market value of more like £15,000 a month. Lastly, she says that Michael Jackson signed the contracts for his O2 residency thinking he was only performing 10 shows, not 50. [Daily Mail]

• Celebrity biographer Ian Halperin, best known for the exposés he’s written on Scientology, wrote a shocking piece for the Daily Mail that corroborates Rwaramba’s claim that Jackson initially thought he was signing on to perform only ten comeback concert dates. He also writes that Jackson could barely speak, let alone sing, because of a genetic condition that affected his lungs. His most shocking claim — aside from one that Jackson would rendezvous with one of his male lovers at a “grungy, rat-infested motel” — is that his grueling preparation for the concerts is ultimately what killed him. [Daily Mail]

• Michael Jackson rehearsed at the Staples Center on the night before his death. His performance was “recorded in multi-camera, high-definition video and multi-track audio,” and AEG officials are reportedly considering releasing the footage as Jackson’s final album.

THE probe into Michael Jackson’s death could turn into a murder inquiry, the police chief of Los Angeles admitted yesterday.

William Bratton said doctors could be charged with murder if tests on Jacko’s body reveal that prescription drugs contributed to his death.

He added:”Are we dealing with a homicide or accidental overdose? “That is going to be very dependent on the toxicology reports.

“We’ve got very good investigators. They will be prepared to deal with whatever the coroner’s findings may be.”

Jackson’s dad Joe has again suggested his son’s death was a result of “foul play”. He told ABC TV in the States: “I do believe that. Yes.”

Detectives began seizing Jackson’s confidential health records on Thursday. His doctors were told to hand over all documents, including “radiology and psychiatric records”.

Injected Police believe Jackson was being given drugs by as many as a dozen doctors before his death.

Reports yesterday claimed he also injected himself with painkillers. They said “injection sites” had been found on his neck, upper arms, upper legs, ankles and knee.

Bratton said detectives had interviewed a number of Jacko’s doctors and the US Drug Enforcement Administration were helping the police “on a comprehensive set of inquiries”.

Investigators are focusing on a powerful sedative called Diprivan, which was found at Jackson’s rented Bel Air mansion after his death. Experts say the drug should only be administered by a trained anaesthetist.

Meanwhile, it was claimed yesterday that Jackson’s body is in a crypt at a Hollywood cemetery.

Reports said it was being kept temporarily in the crypt, which belongs to Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, while the Jackson family argue over where it should finally be laid to rest

MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images, Pool Photographer/Getty Images

Michael Jackson’s family and the rest of the world aren’t the only ones waiting for that final coroner’s report on what really killed the King of Pop.

Los Angeles Police Department Chief William Bratton says that, depending on what the toxicology tests turn up, the nature of their investigation into Jackson’s death could change.

“We are still awaiting corroboration form the coroner’s office as to cause of death,” Bratton told CNN.com. “That is going to be very dependent on the toxicology reports that are due to come back. And based on those, we will have an idea of what it is we are dealing with. Are we dealing with a homicide, or are we dealing with accidental overdose?”

For his part, father Joe Jackson thinks his son’s death was no accident.

“I do believe it was foul play,” he told ABC News Thursday night.

The use of those potentially inflammatory words comes as the Los Angeles Times reports that the county coroner’s office has subpoenaed Jackson’s medical records from a number of doctors who treated the Thriller artist over the years, including dermatologist Dr. Arnold Klein.

As it turns out, the one-gloved man was seen one last time.

As the Jackson family gathered at Forest Lawn Cemetery on Monday night before the big memorial, they viewed Michael Jackson’s body in an open casket, People reports.

“He looked like himself,” David Fossett, the star’s cousin, told the magazine. “He looked like he just was laying there sleeping. He looked peaceful.”  

His final outfit, coordinated by sister La Toya Jackson and longtime stylist Michael Bush, included a specially-made single glove, as E! News learned yesterday.

“[Relatives] talked to each other and cried,” Fossett said. “It was a somber mood. Even though he’s this big entertainer, he’s still our family.”

During the morning service, before the event at the Staples Center, the casket was closed and roses placed on top, Fossett said.

As for where said casket rests currently, the New York Post is reporting that the star’s remains have been stashed in Motown man Berry Gordy’s crypt in Forest Lawn while the family continues to debate M.J.’s final resting place.