Death of Michael Jackson

===Grief===
[[File:Michael Jackson star6272009.JPG|thumb|150px|alt=The floor on an area on the ground is covered with flowers, cards and balloons. The area is closed off with metal barricades. |Jackson's star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] became a focal point for public grief.]]
News of Jackson's death triggered an outpouring of grief around the world. Fans gathered outside the UCLA Medical Center, [[Neverland Ranch]], his [[Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, California|Holmby Hills]] home, the [[Hayvenhurst]] Jackson family home in Encino, the [[Apollo Theater]] in New York, and at [[Hitsville U.S.A.]], the old [[Motown]] headquarters in Detroit where Jackson's career began, now the Motown Museum. Streets around the hospital were blocked off.<ref name=Coleman>Coleman, Mark. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5645517/Michael-Jackson-is-dead-fans-mourn-outside-hospital.html Michael Jackson is dead: fans mourn outside hospital] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710211436/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5645517/Michael-Jackson-is-dead-fans-mourn-outside-hospital.html |date=July 10, 2022 }}, ''The Daily Telegraph'', June 26, 2009.</ref> A small crowd, including the city's mayor, gathered outside Jackson's childhood home in [[Gary, Indiana|Gary]], where the flag on city hall was flown at [[half-staff]] in his honor.<ref>Keagle, Lauri Harvey. [http://nwitimes.com/news/local/article_09dde006-1899-5b27-9f38-b190d4c7a64e.html Fans paying respects to King of Pop at boyhood home] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710211344/https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/article_09dde006-1899-5b27-9f38-b190d4c7a64e.html |date=July 10, 2022 }}, ''[[The Times of Northwest Indiana]]'', June 26, 2009.</ref> Fans in Hollywood initially gathered around the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame|Walk of Fame]] star of [[Michael Jackson (radio commentator)|another Michael Jackson]], as they were unable to access Jackson's star, which had been temporarily covered by equipment in place for the ''[[Brüno]]'' film premiere.<ref>[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/06/michael-jackson-7.html Michael Jackson's death: Fans gather at wrong Hollywood star] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104114008/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/06/michael-jackson-7.html |date=November 4, 2012 }}, ''Los Angeles Times'', June 26, 2009.</ref> Grieving fans and memorial tributes relocated from the talk radio host's star the next day.<ref>Behrens, Zach. [http://laist.com/2009/06/26/crowds_gather_around_michael_jackso.php Crowds Gather Around Michael Jackson's Star After Bruno Premiere] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629071126/http://laist.com/2009/06/26/crowds_gather_around_michael_jackso.php |date=June 29, 2009 }}, ''Hollywood LAist'', June 26, 2009.</ref>

From [[Odessa]]<ref>[http://photo.unian.net/eng/themes/13467 In Odessa honoured memory of Michael Jackson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505085559/https://photo.unian.net/eng/themes/13467 |date=May 5, 2019 }}, [[UNIAN]] (June 29, 2009)</ref> to [[Brussels]],<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.gva.be/nieuws/media-en-cultuur/video/extern-hulde-aan-michael-jackson-in-brussel.aspx Hulde aan Michael Jackson in Brussel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708122435/http://www.gva.be/nieuws/media-en-cultuur/video/extern-hulde-aan-michael-jackson-in-brussel.aspx |date=July 8, 2009 }}, [[Gazet van Antwerpen]] (July 7, 2009)</ref> and beyond, fans held their own memorial gatherings. U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] sent a letter of condolence to the Jackson family,<ref name=GumbelJune28/> and the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] observed a [[moment of silence]].<ref>Gavin, Patrick. [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/24260.html Congress pauses for Michael Jackson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811001337/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/24260.html |date=August 11, 2015 }}, ''The Politico'', June 26, 2009.</ref> Obama later stated that Jackson "will go down in history as one of our greatest entertainers".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/07/02/1985306.aspx |title=Obama On Michael Jackson's Death |first=Mark |last=Murray |work=MSNBC |date=July 2, 2009 |access-date=March 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705073504/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/07/02/1985306.aspx |archive-date=July 5, 2009 |df=mdy }}</ref> Former South African President [[Nelson Mandela]] said that Jackson's loss would be felt worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/51594/Nelson-Mandela-%27Michael-Jackson-Was-Part-Of-Our-Family%27|title=Nelson Mandela: 'Michael Jackson Was Part Of Our Family'|first=Jason|last=Gregory|work=gigwise.com|access-date=November 27, 2015|archive-date=October 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021173222/https://gigwise.com/news/51594/Nelson-Mandela-%27Michael-Jackson-Was-Part-Of-Our-Family%27|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Image:Neverland-ranch-memorial.jpg|thumb|left|250px|alt=A group of people standing outside a gated area. There are trees, bushes, and grassed areas. A majority of the area the people and in are shadowed by the trees by the gate. |Fans visiting the makeshift memorial set up outside the Neverland Ranch entrance shortly after Jackson's death]]

In Japan, Internal Affairs and Communications Minister [[Tsutomu Sato (politician)|Tsutomu Sato]] told reporters, "I feel sad as I had watched him since he was a member of Jackson Five [<nowiki/>''[[sic]]'']." Defense Minister [[Yasukazu Hamada]] credited him with building a generation with his music.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090628001342/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1907367,00.html Big In Japan: Tokyo Mourns Jackson's Death], ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', June 26, 2009</ref> Health Minister [[Yōichi Masuzoe]] called the death an "extremely tragic loss".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/WireStory?id=7939257&page=1 |title=Michael Jackson Had Loyal, Generous Fans in Japan |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ABC News |date=June 26, 2009 |access-date=March 9, 2010 |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018215909/https://abcnews.go.com/International/WireStory?id=7939257&page=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the United Kingdom, [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Gordon Brown]]'s spokesperson said: "This is very sad news for the millions of Michael Jackson fans in Britain and around the world." [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|opposition leader]] [[David Cameron]] said: "I know Michael Jackson's fans in Britain and around the world will be sad today. Despite the controversies, he was a legendary entertainer."

Russian fans gathered outside the [[Embassy of the United States, Moscow|U.S. Embassy in Moscow]] to mourn.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://worldmeets.us/novosti000069.shtml |title=Russian Fans of Michael Jackson Still Devastated |work=WorldMeetsUs |first=Yekaterina |last=Blinova |date=June 28, 2009 |access-date=March 9, 2010 |archive-date=October 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019172612/https://worldmeets.us/novosti000069.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> French Minister of Culture [[Frédéric Mitterrand]], said, "We all have a Michael Jackson within."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://worldmeets.us/lefigaro0000279.shtml |title=Jackson: The Tragic 'Genetically Modified' Icon of Globalization |first=Alexis |last=Griffiths |work=WorldMeetsUs |date=June 27, 2009 |access-date=March 9, 2010 |archive-date=October 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022012656/https://worldmeets.us/lefigaro0000279.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Elizabeth Taylor]], a long-time friend, said that she could not imagine life without him.<ref name=TaylorJune26>[http://www.usmagazine.com/celebritynews/news/elizabeth-taylor-i-loved-michael-with-all-my-soul-2009266 Elizabeth Taylor: "I Loved Michael With All My Soul"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511230637/http://www.usmagazine.com/celebritynews/news/elizabeth-taylor-i-loved-michael-with-all-my-soul-2009266 |date=May 11, 2011 }}, ''[[Us Weekly]]'', June 26, 2009.</ref> [[Liza Minnelli]] told CBS, "When the autopsy comes, all hell's going to break loose, so thank God we're celebrating him now."<ref name=GumbelJune27>Gumbel, Andrew. [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jun/26/michael-jackson-drugs-doctor-missing Police focus on doctor who was with Michael Jackson as he died] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710211343/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jun/26/michael-jackson-drugs-doctor-missing |date=July 10, 2022 }}, ''The Guardian'', June 27, 2009.</ref> His sister La Toya stated that his daughter said he was being overworked. La Toya was quoted as saying, "She said, 'No, you don't understand. They kept working him and Daddy didn't want that, but they worked him constantly'. I felt so bad."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/music/michael-jacksons-daughter-reveals-death-fears/story-e6frexl9-1225781690322 |title=Michael Jackson's daughter reveals death fears |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |date=October 2, 2009 |access-date=March 8, 2010 |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018215909/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/music/michael-jacksons-daughter-reveals-death-fears/story-e6frexl9-1225781690322 |url-status=live }}</ref>