Michael Jackson's family agrees to Staples Center memorial Tuesday morning [Updated]

Michael Jackson's family has agreed to hold a memorial for the singer at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Staples Center in Los Angeles..

The decision, announced by family spokesman Ken Sunshine, caps days of discussions about how to honor Jackson. [Updated at 6:15 p.m.: Few details were immediately available. But in a statement, Sunshine said that 11,000 tickets will be distributed to the general public free of charge. There will be a registration system to get tickets. More details will be announced Friday.]

At a news conference this afternoon, AEG Live's chief executive, Randy Phillips, said he had been conferring with the family and that its desire was to hold a memorial service at Staples Center, the scene of the singer's final rehearsal.

Phillips said the ultimate decision about the timing and format of such a program lay with Jackson's mother, Katherine. “It’s all up to Katherine,” Phillips said.

—Maria Elena Fernandez

Comments

[b]

i wonder what time tomorrow they will let us know how to request or obtain tickets. i really want to say my last goodbyes to the king of pop.

[Mary]

I can feel their pain, I lost a son too.My comment is for the media about who Michael gave the authority to handle his affairs. If Michael wanted his mother and his children together let the rest of the prying eye world leave it that way, It was his decision. If he wanted to leave what money he has left to a dog; cat; rattlesnake or burn it; that was his business. No one can make a decision whom I should leave anything to except me. So why don't the rest of the snooping eyes who are always looking for the negative and very negative critical moments and comments; LEAVE HIM ALONE. LET MICHAEL HAVE PEACE IN DEATH. YOU HOUNDED HIM IN LIFE LIKE A BLOODHOUND. AREN'T YOU TIRED NOW?
There is nothing but love from my family to his family. We will always love you Michael; You will live in our Hearts Forever.

[joe caprio]

GOOD CHOICE.ADOLATION WILL SEEK ITS LEVEL AND IM SURE THE KING OF POP FANS WILL MAKE THIS AN EVENT FOR THE AGES. JOE CAPRIO/CITYLIFEPRODUCTIONS

[CJ]

That state is sending out IOU's, whatever happens any new budget is going to hurt those most in need and taxpayers are paying for a celebrities memorial service? This is disgusting.

[snowfall]

why does everyone fall in like vulcures when someone like mj dies,bury him first,lay him to rest,he had a very hard life,he was never a child,let him be one now.love his memory and career.he was a beautifull soul,who was hurting inside,and didn't know who to trust,everyone wanted a peice of him,money wise.just remember his music,and what it did for you and your life.let him rest in peace.

[Donna]

I think they should bury him at neverland. This was his favorite place.

[G-Mesa]

Who is paying for this crap?

[toots]

i think it is just great that people are working together
i know Katherine will make a good decision
please people do not put any negative comments
let's focus on what MJ gaves us = entertainment & great music

[Pete the Fed]

Glad I don't live in LA or pay taxes in the city.

[Nancy]

AEG and capitalist pigs...shame on you for having a fee to play tribute to MJ. This is so blatently wrong. His family should just do a private burial and not try to make a bigger mockery out of this mans life. SHAME ON YOU!!!!

[Anonymous]

Who is paying for all the police that are going to be necessary for this fiasco? CA is in a financial crisis.

[dee]

my hearts goes out to the jackson family, and espeacially his children, micheal will always be remembered, and loved by all of us I don't think any generation will not know who micheal he will live on for ever, I know we all want to be there to see him for the last time, but that would be impossible so what I feel should happen is that they should just televise the whole thing like that we can just stay home and morn with his family and avoid any accidents, again jackson family we love you and you r in my prayers

[sylvie]

To the family and advicers, you should bring nerverland back to its glory in the memory of Michael.It would be the best way to preserve his legacy.It would take alot of money at first,but it will be worth it in the long run.Everyone who knew Michael understood how much Neverland met to Him.So please Bring all is stuff that was put all over the place, and bring it all back to neverland,That is where it belongs,that is what Michael would of wanted ,..all there,so is FAN'S,is Family,Friends,and especially is KIDS deserve to go to the place is Father Loved so much..trust me everyone would what to go there to see and marvel at how the King of Pop lived .They would not want to go everywhere to see this and that..It will always be at neverland.So to the people who are in charge of neverland and all that. Don,t make a big mistake and don,t listen to nobody else because you know its the truth.Michael BELONG'S AT NEVERLAND.THAT IS WHERE IT WILL GO ON IS LEGACY.NO where else is going to work.How Dare THE SANTA BARBRA VALLEE PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING about the family wanting to have michael there at neverland.for them and is FAN's.THAT is where HE BELONGS.AND for them to make it hard on them is so wrong on so many levels.They should be ashamed of themselfs,Instead they should be helping out in anyway they can.We are talking about a funeral here,what is wrong with people's moral's,Back in the day where people cared,they would of help out with food, are just make things easier, not harder for the FAMILY TO PREPARE. wow I just can't beleive that. GOD must be so dissapointed in human's.IT's not like there routine's would be disrupted forever ,we are talking about someone that as died that alot of people LOVED.come on people help out for the love of GOD.It would be the right thing too do .SANTA BARBRA VALLEE FOLKS,MAN UP. Do what is right,do what it takes to help out the family, just to stop complaining and make it happen, because that is where Michael Jackson belong's. ITS AT NEVERLAND AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT GET IN THE WAY OF THAT.IMAGINE THE scene of Michael coming down that country road to is home,to is dream,is fantasy,everything that he was so proud of ,seing that happening on T.V. from the AIR ,Would be something to see.People around the world would be looking at the lines of cars following for miles and it would be incredible to see THE KING OF POP,GOING TO HIS RESTING PLACE,HIS HOME NEVERLAND.HE BELONG'S THERE AND EVERYONE SHOULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN.PEOPLE WILL WAIT,WE UNDERSTAND HOW IT TAKES TIME , ESPECIALLY FOR HIM.HE DESERVE THAT ,WE AS a people should make this happen for him,he help alot of people, and he as suffered too,so lets to the right think for him.AND THERE should be the biggest concert ever,with all the people that would of been in is concert's,they should make it happen,for Michael and is FAN"s ,and let is Boy participate because he wanted too, so let him go on, and honour is father's music..AND PLEASE SECURE IS LEGACY AT NEVERLAND SO THAT IN THE FUTURE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO GO VISIT ALL THAT MICHAEL WAS, AND IS CHILDREN WILL APRECIATE THAT MORE THEN PEOPLE REALIZED.MY SOUL AS TOLD ME ALL THIS SO I HAD TO SEND THIS,I HOPE I HAVE NOT AFFENDED ANYONE LOVE SYLVIE xoxoxo

[sylvie]

I really beleive that the SANTA BARBRA VALLEE People,wanted michael gone a long time ago.I strongly beleive that they created alot of problems, when he was accused of child abuse.THEY WANTED MICHAEL OUT OF THAT AREA,AND THEY succed in that,but guess what MICHAEL WILL WIN from the grave,and What they almost destroyed will be restored.THE FAMILY JACKSON,WILL NOT DISSAPOIT MICHAEL,THEY WILL MAKE NEVERLAND BACK TO ITS GLORY.THAT COMMUNITY SHOULD BE EMBARASSED IN WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TOO MICHAEL,THEY HURT HIM IN THE WORST WAY POSSIBLE.HELP THE FAMILY INSTEAD OF BEING IN THE WAY.

[NotSylvie]

"To the family and advicers, you should bring nerverland back to its glory in the memory of Michael..." - Sylvie

-----------------------

Neverland should be closed forever, perhaps even be destroyed. After the police "violated it" (as MJ said) with their searches, even he did not want to return there himself. MJ abandoned the place because of the bad memories it held for him, and thus it is a very poor memorial to him. Let his music be his legacy, not the building where he was accused of vile acts.

[Weinnie_malaysia]

im fully agree with slyvie...NEVERLAND is Wat belongs to MJ~and it should be the place for him to rest forever!!he had so many sweet memories in NEVERLAND..and i would like to say thx to our KING OF POP, although u will not read this..thx for giv our world the greatest song and love..you are a legend in the world and you are the only one!!!i hv change myself after listen the song (Man In the Mirror)..Michael u hd make our world better..thru your song we can get all that!somethings that its too bad that im unable to Go for the ceremony..!!!!

Lastly..i would like to say:BURY OUR MICHAEL JACKSON IN NEVERLAND..

[sharon Dobkin]

lets remember mj for his music .he was put on this earth too pass us all a message no matter what colour shape sex size we r all brothers and he wanted too pass this message through song and dance. his own life was far from normal very sad infact but his message was passed on through his song and dance. the whole world today all different countries all different colour brothers all grieve together for one brother. MJ R.I.P. xx

[PATRICK]

micheal jackson it the greastest singer king pop a all time

[Linda Black]

I was hurt, so hurt when I heard about Michael. To his family, I would like to extend my deepest condolences. Michael belonged to the world and we are mourning too. We will miss him deeply, a life that too soon left us. May God bless his children and family, and maybe NOW Michael can R.I.P.
If I may add to Jermaine's suggestion that Michael be put to rest at Neverland Ranch, I believe that HE SHOULD BE PLACED UNDER THE TREE that he loved so well, in the place that he used to call home and sanctuary, and one that he loved so dearly. Michael, you are gone from our arm's reach, but your memories will forever be embedded in our hearts.