Michael Jackson's death: Jermaine Jackson speaks

At a brief news conference in the auditorium of the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center this evening,  Jermaine Jackson sighed audibly several times before addressing reporters.

“This is hard,” he said softly. “My brother, the legendary King of Pop, passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 2:26 p.m.... It is believed he passed away of cardiac arrest.”

He said Michael Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Tohme R. Tohme, was with him at the house and had tried to resuscitate him. He said paramedics also tried to revive his brother and “upon arriving at the hospital at 1:14 p.m., a team of doctors, including emergency physicians and a cardiologist, worked to resuscitate him for a period of more than one hour but were unsuccessful.“

Jackson said a definitive cause of death would not be known until an autopsy is performed.

“May Allah be with you, Michael, always,” Jermaine Jackson said, ending the news conference.

UCLA officials did not say anything about Michael Jackson.

“We’re respecting the family’s wishes with respect to the patients’ privacy,” said hospital spokeswoman Roxanne Moster.

During the news conference, fans in the hospital courtyard lit candles and sang Michael Jackson songs.

-- Carla Hall in Westwood

An emotional Jermaine Jackson makes a statement to the press that his brother Michael Jackson had passed away at the UCLA Medical Center in Westwood on June 25, 2009. Genaro Molina / LA Times

Comments

[Lumpy Rutherford]

I didn't like the guy or his music, but mostly I didn't like the results of his makeover. He looked like his sister.

[jayabdih]

To the family of the late Micheal Jackson:

I know all of you are very strong in facing such a difficult time. Continue to be strong. As for Micheal and his famous Jackson 5, all of you made this world a happy place to live-in.

[Ben Northrop]

It took me about a week to finally collect my thoughts enough to reflect on the loss of a music legend: Michael Jackson. Those that know me well know that I have been a lifelong fan and advocate of Michael Jackson. There are two main reasons I admire Michael: his amazing talent as a musician and dancer, and two, his determination and strength. I have followed his life story very closely since I was a young child. I was fortunate to grow up in an environment where I was heavily exposed to pop culture during my entire childhood. As early as 3 or 4 years of age I was listening to vinyl records and cassettes, and among those were Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson songs. My Mom and Dad always had amazing musical taste and gave me full access to their library of music at a very young age. Whenever I liked a new song, Mom and Dad almost always bought the album or the 45 for me. By age 8, I had my own copies (on vinyl) of Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad.

Someone recently said about Michael Jackson: “Thank you for providing the soundtrack to my life.” I can relate to that quote. This past week I made a lengthy compilation of Michael’s songs, and as I have listened to them, each and every one has brought me back to a different memory in my life. I can remember being terrified by the “Thriller” music video, playing my beloved Jackson 5 tapes from Aunt Sandy in our house on Delaware, and riding my bike to Wal-Mart in York to buy singles from “Dangerous” in the early 90s. There are so many memories, I could write a novel. The rhythms and lyrics are engrained into my mind. The Jackson 5 ballads make me want to cry, and Michael’s upbeat songs make me want to dance. I can say I feel every emotion he did as he wrote the songs and performed them. His true talent was being able to capture the emotions of his audience in ways that many other artists couldn’t.

Anyone who has researched or followed Michael’s entire timeline from his childhood knows that he faced a lot of inner turmoil, despite his fame as an accomplished music artist. Many celebrities have faced these types of things. Unfortunately for Michael, his pressures and expectations started at such a young age. He didn’t get to experience many of the childhood joys and living that the rest of us do. Everything may seem good on the outside, but until you have walked in someone’s shoes, you will never know if they are truly happy or if they are living a pure hell. I believe Michael was very unhappy most of his life. His music was his outlet.

Michael faced a lot of scandal over the past two decades. I will say about that what I have said on any issue, don’t judge someone or something until you have actually taken the time to become educated on the facts surrounding it. I think it is such a shame that so many people have had negative views about Michael and have said so many unkind things over the years, largely in part to ignorance about the situation. Michael was strange, I will be the first to admit, but I think if you take the time to put ALL the pieces of his life puzzle together, he doesn’t seem so strange. The man did so many wonderful things for charities and good causes. He was a selfless person. Despite many cruel accusations, the man was never convicted of anything. I believe his eccentric lifestyle labeled him as something negative, just because of the fact that he was different. There are a lot of people who have a hard time accepting someone who is different, it is much easier for them to slap a hateful or negative label on that person, without taking the time to get to know the person, or better yet understand the circumstances of that person’s life.

Michael, I admire you for being strong and for expressing yourself, regardless of what anyone thought. Thank you for giving the world many tremendous gifts: your music, your spirit, your courage, and your giving, loving soul. No one will ever replace you. Rest in peace.

[Lucy Mangas]

I always liked Michael Jackson music and his dance, but to be honest nothing special, but when I saw the way his family and friends spoke about him I was very impressed by his kindness and the love and affection of his family. I was specially touched by the way that Jermaine spoke about his brother and they extraordinary way he performed the song "Smile" to the point that I can't stop singing it in my mind. It was a beautiful performance where you could feel the love for his brother. All my blessings

[Gail]

I am so sorry for your loss Jermaine,you have to be strong and don't let some of these cruel people way you down.You have to just chalk it off that they are ignorant.I really am saddened by Michael Jackson's passing.The Jackson 5 were adorable children,but Michael LOL was so adorable..I love his beautiful voice.Ben,I'll Be there...I love all of the Jackson's music..Let's Get Serious,the song you recorded as well
I just wish things turned out differently for everyone concerned.My prayers are with you

[Tammerly Holmes]

Writing to you from Australia, I remember the day of Michael Jackson's death as one of the worst moments I have experienced in my life. I cried for hours and could not stop thinking about the most incredible loss the world had suffered in a long time. Human kind may never be the same - people of generations after Michael's time will never quite understand why he was so amazing and unique but they will always have his videos and footage to remember him and I will cherish my memories in my heart forever.

[MJ Fan]

It's so sad that people have to be so cruel, it makes my heart feel very heavy. How can people do this to others (call you names, or put labels on people) Do they not know that we are all human and have feelings?
It sounds like all MJ wanted was to love and be loved. What's so wrong with that? It doesn't make him evil or a child molestor. I truly believe that his spirit has passed on to another realm and is still alive, (as all of ours will be after we pass). I just hope and pray that people will learn to love and to give as MJ did here on this earth, regardless of race or beliefs. Our souls need to learn mostly how to give love.
My love to the Jacksons and what they are going through. May God (or whom ever you call the almighty) be with you in these trying times.

[Doreen Ambrose-Van Lee]

(For Michael Joseph Jackson)

My heart is heavy, as I watch news footage of you
gliding across the stage and gyrating your pelvis,
At this moment in time this is bigger than the Duke,
man, this is bigger than Elvis!
Though you made your living with words, today there
are no words to express the way the world feels,
Right now there is no need to go into your discography
because it encompasses valleys and hills.
But where do I begin, should I start with your amazing
solo career or should I start with the Jackson 5,
When you were just a cute little boy,
On stage you were talented and outgoing,
Yet off stage you were introspective and coy,
In the 70’s, you put the world into a trance
with your ‘fro and bell bottomed jeans as you did the robot,
Michael, you had everyone at your feet because when
you danced and sang you gave all that you got!
Nat King Cole was a merry ole soul as he sat perched
up against mama’s old wooden phonograph next to Billie Holliday,
Roberta Flack and the Jackson’s Destiny album,
Lord, have mercy you all grew up to be mature, sexy and
handsome!
Ooh, wee, or should I say ‘hee hee hee’ about that
pulsating falsetto,
That reached every galaxy, country, mansion, island, barrio,
prison, hut, village, suburb, trailer park, igloo and ghetto!
I am old school and I remember coming home from school
putting on your albums,
These were the days before CD’s, MP3 players, Limewire and
IPODS,
Goodness gracious, listening to your music was heaven
sent directly from God.
You were a great admirer of the legendary James
Brown,
It warmed my heart to see you at an award show holding
his crown.
You ruled the 80’s with a single glittering iron glove,
Moon walking into the hearts of millions
Moving as gracefully and as freely as a dove.
Newborns coming into the world already know your
name,
Ailing grandparents in their last days know the same.
You are Gary’s finest but the world dubbed you the
‘Gloved One.’
Michael, your legacy is HIStory, DESTINY, OFF THE
WALL, VICTORY, TRIUMPH, INVINCIBLE,
BAD and most definitely a THRILLER.
You are the King of Pop the ‘Man In The Mirror’! You
‘rocked our world’ for over 40 years.
You gave us such memorable songs as Who’s Lovin You,
Gotta Be There, Heart Break Hotel, Butterflies, PYT, Billie Jean,
Earth Song, Can You Feel It, Working Day And Night, The Girl
Is Mine, Say, Say, Say, and We ‘Remember The Time’ you told
us that ‘We Are The World’ and to ‘Ease on Down The Road.’
You sold out football field stadiums and integrated
MTV music videos!
Back in the day we wore your buttons and donned white
socks and penny loafers,
Now here we stand today in shock and sadness but we
know your pain is over.
Michael, we miss you and though you said ‘Heaven Can
Wait’, ‘You Are Not
Alone’, and “Human Nature” is the reason ‘I Just
Can’t Stop Loving You.’
You were a great humanitarian a sensitive human
being,
Who came to earth and completed your journey now you
can have eternal rest,
The world loves you ‘Gloved One’ but the Lord truly
knows best.
We ‘Never Can Say Goodbye’ to you ‘Lovely One.’
WE LOVE YOU, MJ.

[J]

I thought I remembered hearing Dr Tohme Tohme tried to resuscitate Michael. MNNNNnnn very strange. So why is it now Dr Murray is getting the blame. Was the LA times at this Press conference and heard this from Jermaine. R.I.P Michael.

[ARONA]

Jermaine ,you are not Michael , please do not start to dress like him....

[Md.kamruzzaman]

I think micheal jakson was muslim. We should pray for him.