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NYC Mourns Michael Jackson's Death

After the news of music legend Michael Jackson's sudden death yesterday, New Yorkers expressed their grief and remembered the "King of Pop" all over the city. The Reverend Al Sharpton issued a statement, "A friend of Michael's for the last 35 years, I call on people around the world to pray for him and his family in the hour... I have known him at his high moments and his low moments and I know he would want us to pray for his family," and later held court outside the Apollo Theatre—which is where the Jackson 5 was discovered—where he said, "I watched him sell stadiums out. Michael Jackson made culture accept a person of color way before Tiger Woods, way before Oprah Winfrey, way before Barack Obama. Michael did with music what they later did with sports, and in politics and in television and no controversy will erase the historic impact." Here's video:

Dancing broke out on 125th Street, in front of the Apollo, and the Daily News reports people chanted, "Michael! Michael! Michael!" A number 2 train subway conductor announced his death to commuters. And a Brooklyn fan said, "We were around to see his rise and fall. I feel disappointed." Radio stations switched to Michael Jackson songs, leaving bicyclists and pedestrians and riding or walking by cars with a Michael Jackson greatest hits soundtrack.

A 13-year-old Manhattan resident told the Post, "I pray that he's still singing and dancing in heaven.... I was shocked. I ran to the guitar store and asked them if it was true. It makes me pray that nothing happens to my mom because she's older than Michael Jackson." A tourist from Maryland said, "He was so young. I hope he had enough time to say, Lord have mercy on my soul. This loss hurts. I hugged my family and told [them] that I love them. This is as iconic a day as when Kennedy was shot."

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Comments [rss]

  • ides_of_march

    So basically a lot of Harlem idiots are celebrating a black man who hated the fact he was born black.

    Yeah, that makes sense.

  • Billiamsburg

    at least sharpton was there to profit off another death. he's doing wonders for the black community. and get those damn lawn chairs out of times square. this city has gotten so tacky.

  • Clarice City

    I'm enjoying the misspelled "Micheal Jackson" on the car in photo #4. Noble effort.

  • BklynsFinest

    Man did Al have a photo taken with him and everyone so he could siphon media attention at their passings, (James Brown...etc) I mean damn...

  • NannyState

    Don't forget his other motive: the free food at funerals.

  • alice17

    I love how all of a sudden millions of people who have most likely made fun of him and his weirdness, abuse accusations, looks, etc. are coming out of the woodwork paying tribute to him as if they never made fun of him. His death is shocking to almost everyone, yes, but most of us are guilty of laughing at his expense. Now that he's gone it's okay to act like that never happened? Now all of a sudden people are holding up RIP MJ signs, dancing in the street, updating Facebook statuses with statements telling everyone how much he meant to them?

  • Gnomie

    A lot of those people who are praising him in the streets have done so even when he was at his lowest. Remember his child molestation trial when there were hoards of fans outside the courthouse holding signs and wailing? Remember that creepy woman releasing the doves? Not all of us remember his final years for what they were, horrifying and tragic

  • JenChungsBaby

    Stop, the life you save may be your own.

  • NannyState

    His concert series shouldn't be cancelled just because he's 'technically dead'. He's had so much work done that no embalming is necessary and his last "live" performance was as fast-paced and exhilarating as a Senior Turkey Trot 5k Walkathon. I say the show must go on!

  • NannyState

    Boo!

  • felixthecat2

    lame

  • matty

    boring.

  • yakatori

    I hope you all rot in hell you heartless bastards.

    Furthermore, I hope strangers mock your death.

  • yakatori

    He have may some terrible mistake in his life but he introduces a lot a joy into a lot of people's lives. Something I doubt any one of you idiots can say.

  • NannyState

    I can only imagine all the "joy he brought into your life" between 1993 and 2009...

  • yakatori

    what a lame ass joke from a lame ass person. Go back under your rock.

  • NannyState

    "Keep believing in the magic! Don't let them fool you with their allegations, they're ignorant!"

  • Clarice City

    Liz Taylor?

  • jjazznola

    Any normal person accused of being a pedophile that believed they were innocent would fight tooth and nail to clear their name. Not just pay off whoever they had to to just make it all go away. I guess the key word here is normal!

  • rosweed

    Jockeys will wear black armbands out of respect for Michael Jackson who successfully rode more 3 yr olds than anyone in living memory.

    What was Jackson’s cause of Death? A) Sunshine B) Moonlight C) Good Times D) Boogie

    McDonald’s are bringing out the Michael Jackson tribute burger. 50 year old meat between two 7 year old buns

    Reports of Michael Jackson having a heart attack are incorrect. He’s been found in the children’s ward having a stroke.

    When Farrah Fawcett arrived in Heaven, God was such a big fan he decided to grant her one wish. She asked that all the children in the world could be safe. So God killed Michael Jackson.

    Michael Jackson died of shock after finding out Boyz II Men was a band, not a delivery service.

    Michael Jackson actually died of food poisoning. He ate some 12 year old nuts. Punchline # 2: a five-year old wiener.

    Michael Jackson’s legal team announced that he had agreed to be melted down by undertakers to make plastic toys. So, kids can play with him for a change.

    What did the woman on the beach say to Michael Jackson? Excuse me, you're in my son.

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