14 DAY TRIAL // Michael Jackson’s public memorial service, aired by all major news channels and streamed online for the millions of fans at home, who were not lucky enough to win a ticket, brought a tear to the eyes of many. However, it also brought a cynical smile on the lips of a few, who have gone to lament the state of our celebrity culture, where it has become acceptable to parade a coffin in front of a live audience and bring mourning children to deal with their loss in front of the cameras.
Two such media outlets that have been utterly offended by the display of grief are the British publications / tabloids the Daily Mail and The Sun. No matter how much they disagree with the family’s decision to let organizers AEG Live go ahead with the public memorial or to bring the coffin with Michael’s dead body on stage, both admit that the ceremony was heart-felt and moving on many an occasion.
Still, that does not stop them from labeling the memorial nothing short of a circus, a tacky, sick and bizarre ceremony that stands as proof that celebrity culture has come to suck the meaning out of everything in life, even of the tragedy that is losing someone you love. Mourning children, who have not even learned to deal with their loss and who still need time to come to terms with what has happened with their father, should not, under any circumstance, be pushed like that in the glaring spotlight, the tabs say in more or less words. Celebrities who are looking to make their way back in the good graces of the media (and both name Brooke Shields here) should not piggyback on the passing of a great singer and entertainer to do so. All in all, the Michael Jackson memorial was ill-advised and in very bad taste, the publications conclude.
“The King of Pop’s funeral in Los Angeles broke new ground in questionable taste by having his coffin centre-stage of his memorial service. The world’s final taste of the Michael Jackson phenomenon was a singing, dancing, schmaltzy spectacle that eclipsed anything even this city of make-believe has ever witnessed. And one that underlined how overwhelming the culture of celebrity has become. Nearly two weeks after he died, Jackson still had the power to bring everything to a standstill. He also had the capacity to shock.” Paul Harris of the Mail writes in one of today’s pieces.
Gordon Smart of The Sun echoes the same sentiment. “When 11-year-old Paris Michael Jackson, who has spent her childhood hidden from the spotlight behind a veil, was pushed in front of a microphone to address 19,000 people and billions more at home – my mind was made up. This wasn’t a memorial for a pop icon or the greatest entertainer the world has ever seen. It was a reminder of why Michael Jackson became a deeply unhappy, lonely man living an utterly bizarre existence. It was a macabre circus.” Smart writes.
Be that as it may (fans are free to disagree, of course), the memorial did not completely lack touching moments, represented by A-list singers who gave their own renditions of Michael’s greatest hits and favorite songs. Among them were Mariah Carey, brother Jermaine Jackson, Jennifer Hudson and Usher. See the videos below.
Mariah Carey & Trey Lorenz - "I'll Be There"
Jermaine Jackson - "Smile"
Jennifer Hudson - "Will You Be There (Hold Me)"
Usher - "Gone Too Soon"