Death of Michael Jackson

===Memorial===
{{Main|Michael Jackson memorial service}}
[[Image:MichaelJacksonMemorial 02.jpg|right|thumb|alt=A white round building that has one glass front wall showing with a sign in red text that reads "Staples Center" in capital letters. In the background, there are multiple people walking in front of the building and a white parked car and a cloudy blue sky. | A worldwide audience of an estimated 2.5 to 3 billion people saw coverage of the memorial held in the [[Staples Center]], pictured here during the memorial service.]]
A private family service was held at [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]] in Los Angeles, after a public memorial at the [[Staples Center]] in Los Angeles, California on July 7, where Jackson had rehearsed on June 24, the day before he died. The memorial service was organized by Jackson's concert promoter, [[AEG Live]] (who also own and operate the Staples Center).<ref>{{cite web|first=Tim|last=Parks|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a163368/aeg-to-release-jackson-memorial-tickets.html|title=AEG to release Jackson memorial tickets|publisher=Digital Spy|date=July 3, 2009|access-date=February 26, 2010|archive-date=July 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705120210/http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a163368/aeg-to-release-jackson-memorial-tickets.html|url-status=live}}</ref> AEG originally planned to charge for tickets,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://cdn.singersroom.com/content/2009-07-03/AEG-Live-Backtracks-Over-Michael-Jackson-Funeral-Tickets-Offers-Giveaway/|title=AEG Live Backtracks Over Michael Jackson Funeral Tickets, Offers Giveawayerrors|date=July 3, 2009|access-date=May 6, 2013|publisher=cdn.singersroom.com|archive-date=October 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004235919/http://cdn.singersroom.com/content/2009-07-03/AEG-Live-Backtracks-Over-Michael-Jackson-Funeral-Tickets-Offers-Giveaway/|url-status=dead}}</ref> but following public pressure, AEG instead distributed the 17,500 tickets for free through an online lottery that attracted over 1.2&nbsp;million applicants in 24 hours,<ref>{{cite news|last=Allen|first=Nick|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5744787/Thirteen-applications-per-second-for-Michael-Jackson-memorial-tickets.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5744787/Thirteen-applications-per-second-for-Michael-Jackson-memorial-tickets.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Thirteen applications per second for Michaeldate=July&nbsp;6, 2009|work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London | date=July 6, 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and over a half-billion views of the webpage.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/07/michael-jackson-5.html |title=Website for Jackson tickets gets 500&nbsp;million hits in first hour |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 3, 2009 |access-date=July 28, 2009 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193934/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/07/michael-jackson-5.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The service was broadcast live around the world, and was believed to have been watched by more than 2.5 billion persons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5592621|title=News|work=msn.com|access-date=November 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140807110046/http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5592621|archive-date=August 7, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5592621|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140807110046/http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5592621|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 7, 2014|title=Hazarika'{{'}}s funeral creates world record|date=August 7, 2014|access-date=December 30, 2016}}</ref>

Jackson's solid-bronze casket (which reportedly cost $25,000)<ref name=HarlowJuly5>{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article6638226.ece|first=John|last=Harlow|title=Police target 30 in hunt for Michael Jackson's drug suppliers|work=The Sunday Times|location=UK|date=July 9, 2009|access-date=July 4, 2009|archive-date=October 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018215910/https://www.the-tls.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref> was placed in front of the stage. Numerous celebrity guests attended the services.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/print?id=8009534 |title=Michael Jackson to be Buried in Famed Hollywood Cemetery |agency=ABC News |date=July 6, 2009 |author=Sarah Netter, Emily Friedman |access-date=February 26, 2010 |archive-date=May 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511230640/http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=8009534 |url-status=live }}</ref> His brothers each wore a single, white, sparkling glove, while [[Stevie Wonder]], [[Mariah Carey]], [[Lionel Richie]], [[Jermaine Jackson]] and others sang his songs. Jackson's then 11-year-old daughter, [[Paris Jackson|Paris]], broke down as she told the crowd, "I just want to say, ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine&nbsp;... and I just want to say I love him&nbsp;... so much."<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/news/blog/2009/jul/07/michaeljackson Liveblogging Michael Jackson's funeral and memorial service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202095539/https://www.theguardian.com/news/blog/2009/jul/07/michaeljackson |date=February 2, 2017 }}, ''The Guardian'', July 7, 2009.</ref> [[Marlon Jackson]] said, "Maybe now, Michael, they will leave you alone."<ref name=BBCJuly7>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8137700.stm Fans and family remember Jackson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305080619/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8137700.stm |date=March 5, 2016 }}, BBC News, July 7, 2009.</ref>