Yesterday Jermaine Jackson held a press conference in which he announced the supposedly confirmed musicians for the Michael Jackson tribute concert to be held in Vienna, Austria on September 26. Jermaine’s public statement was no doubt meant to quell some of the speculation over the fact that tickets, which run from a steep $91 – $745 USD, are not refundable based on whether certain artists show up or not.

Many tongues were clucking over the fact that Jermaine announced that known abuser Chris Brown was among the acts that would perform. The only thing that might hold convicted felon Brown back could be his criminal case, according to Jermaine. “He wants to be here. It’s just up to what he’s going through with his court case right now… He’s definitely going to be here.” Other artists confirmed to perform are Mary J. Blige, Akon, and Natalie Cole. Stevie Wonder, R. Kelly and Maroon 5 might appear, according to Jermaine, but it sounds less than certain. Now we can add Chris Brown to the artists that haven’t confirmed yet. Brown’s rep told E! Online that his client has in no way committed to the memorial concert, and it sounds like the money isn’t right, or he’s been advised not to go. Shocker – someone is telling Brown he can’t do something:

The “Forever” singer has put the kibosh on any plans to perform at the M.J. tribute concert in Vienna, hours after Jermaine Jackson announced Brown would be among the headliners at the Sept. 26 show.

“Chris is not confirmed to perform or participate in any capacity for this show,” the publicist for Brown’s label tells E! News…

There was no immediate comment from organizers of the Jackson tribute, but Jermaine’s definitely got some ‘splaining to do.

[From E! Online]

Michael Jackson will be making some kind of appearance, though, most likely in the form of a projected hologram, judging from the concert organizer’s kind of creepy comments. Organizer says that Jermaine will be doing a duet with his late brother, and we can all look forward to seeing Michael on stage again. Tasteless:

Brother JERMAINE will sing a duet with the late King Of Pop, who will be brought back to life through cutting-edge technology, at the event in Austria later this month.

And the 54-year-old broke down when discussing how he is yet to adequately grieve for his brother’s passing.

Georg Kindel, organiser of the show which will take place in Vienna, Austria on September, 26 said: “What we are going to do is to bring Michael, for one last time, on stage again.

“It will be the surprise of the evening. Michael will reappear on stage for one time and will sing a song together with his brother Jermaine Jackson.

“It will be a magic moment for millions of fans around the world who love his music.”

[From The Sun]

I guess if there was any doubt that Jermaine was doing this in honor of the almighty dollar, and not to honor his late little brother, it’s been erased now. We saw Celine Dion do a live duet with an Elvis hologram on American Idol in April, 2007. That was pretty incredible and it looked real. It didn’t seem exploitative because Elvis has been resting in peace for decades and Celine is an accomplished enough musician that it didn’t seem gimmicky. Jermaine, on the other hand, isn’t a small percentage as successful as his dead brother in whose honor he’s supposedly holding this concert.

Jermaine Jackson is shown at a press conference in London yesterday. Look at that garish diamond watch and diamond tennis bracelet he’s sporting. Credit: WENN.com

So Christian Audigier is officially my most disliked person in the world. Yeah I know there are criminals and general evil-doers out there, but I don’t have to hear about them as much as I have to hear about this loser and look at his absolutely hideous “designs.” And I can’t look away – every moron on the subway is wearing those shirts, thinking he/she looks cool. Or at least (presumably) thinking they don’t look like a douchebag, which they absolutely do.

Anyway, the prince of crap has decided people aren’t saying his name enough lately. Due to the unfortunate combination of everyone suddenly regaining their vision and everyone else suddenly hating Jon Gosselin, no one really wants anything to do with Christian. So what’d he do to get some more press? The natural thing of course. Something good for charity that’ll cause everyone to take note? Absolutely not! He’s renting Michael Jackson’s last home, so now he has a place to devote himself fulltime to the worship of Jon Gosselin’s curvy calves.

Christian Audigier will not transform Michael Jackson’s former home into a public space.

Michele Elyzabeth, a spokeswoman for the Ed Hardy clothing founder, said Audigier would move into the sprawling Holmby Hills mansion at the end of Jackson’s lease on Dec. 15.

He also said that Audigier had no plans to turn the rental property where the King of Pop collapsed and later died into a public space.

The estate is owned by Ed Hardy CEO Hubert Guez.

Jackson was entombed Thursday night at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, Calif.

[From the Huffington Post]

Oh thank goodness. I was sooooooooo stressed about Christian Audigier’s housing/famewh*re situation. Seriously, lots of sleep lost and whatnot. Michael obviously only rented the place for a little while, and Audigier’s doing the same. And while I’ve never cared for Michael Jackson’s “I am Christ”-sense of décor, I guarantee you it was a hell of a lot more attractive than whatever Audigier’s going to do to the place. Lots of paintings of skeletons wearing tattoos? Tattoos of skeletons? Audigier strikes me as the kind of guy who totally gets how stupid and useless he is, so I’m sure he’ll be able to mock his “design” sense in his art.

Frankly this isn’t all that bad. I half expected to read that he’d bought Neverland. Then started emblazoning all the zoo animals with wicked edgy Ed Hardy designs.

Here’s Christian Audigier hanging out/admiring his calves in Saint-Tropez on Sunday. Images thanks to BauerGriffinOnline.

Chris Brown was just announced as one of the headliners for a Michael Jackson tribute concert in Vienna later this month. This will be Chris Brown’s first public performance since his February pre-Grammy Awards party, after which he beat the sh-t out of his girlfriend, Rihanna. I know this is getting old, but when does this motherf-cker’s community service begin? Can a guy on five-years probation and six months of community service just make a headline-making jaunt to Vienna? As it turns out, he can. He just needs a judge’s approval to leave the country. Eh. Our justice system is so screwed up.

The concert will be held on September 26, at the former imperial Schoenbrunn Palace. The whole thing has the approval of the Jackson family. Jermaine Jackson praised Chris, saying “Michael was his idol and he (Brown) dedicated his first number one hit in the U.S. to Michael. Chris is a very, very talented artist.” Mary J. Blige, Natalie Cole and Sister Sledge have also been named for appearances, with more names to come.

Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown and Akon are among the first group of artists announced for the September 26 Michael Jackson tribute concert in Vienna being put together by the late pop singer’s brother Jermaine Jackson.

Organizers also announced that veteran acts Natalie Cole and Sister Sledge will perform outside the 17th-century palace of Schönbrunn in the Austrian capital, with more names slated to be announced later this week at press conferences in London on Wednesday and Berlin on Thursday.

The first group of performers also includes boy band US 5, protégés of imprisoned boy-band impresario Lou Pearlman, and actress Angela Bassett, who portrayed family matriarch Katherine Jackson in the TV-movie “The Jacksons: An American Dream.” According to organizers, Bassett will “impersonate one part of Michael Jackson’s life.” A total of 20-25 acts are expected to take part in the concert, which will be televised around the globe.

The show will be the first live performance by Brown since his sentencing last month for the beating of ex-girlfriend Rihanna in February. Brown, 20, an avowed Jackson devotee, was sentenced to 180 days of community labor work, a year of domestic-violence counseling and five years of probation in the case, but he can travel outside the country with a judge’s permission, lawyer Mark Geragos told CNN’s Larry King last week. Akon worked with Jackson on songs for what was to be the King of Pop’s long-in-the-works comeback album.

The performers will be backed by Jackson’s touring band, with whom he’d rehearsed for weeks before his untimely death on June 25 at the age of 50. The dancers for his planned This Is It concerts in London will also be on the bill.

Jermaine will sing a virtual duet with his late brother that he promises will be a “magic moment for all who loved his music.” Among the songs that will performed by various artists at the event are “Man in the Mirror,” “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Thriller,” “Black or White,” “Earth Song,” “Smooth Criminal,” “Bad,” “Dirty Diana,” “Will You Be There,” “You Are Not Alone,” “Remember the Time,” “Heal the World,” “The Girl Is Mine” and “Scream.”

The palace’s grounds can accommodate more than 65,000 fans, who will watch the proceedings along with Jackson’s family and children. The 165-foot-wide stage will feature massive LED walls that can slide together and apart and a runway that allows performers to walk through the audience.

[From MTV]

Sounds totally legit, right? Not so much, according to MSNBC. Apparently, “ticket holders should be wary. The fine print on the show’s Web site makes no guarantees that any performers touted will show, and if they don’t, there’s no getting your money back.” According to MSNBC’s sources, there is no certainty that any or all of these artists will appear, and yet all ticket sales are final: “Any refund or discount due to the performance or non-performance of a specific artist is hereby explicitly excluded.” I really hope Chris Brown fails to appear. I hope a judge denies him, rips up his passport and forces him to begin his community service and counseling RIGHT NOW.

Chris Brown is shown outside a club on 7/5/09. Credit: PRPhotos

I can’t decide how I feel about the Jackson family right now. No matter their past or their issues, they’ve lost a close family member and I feel they’re due some empathy and respect like anyone would be. On the other hand, it’s hard not to feel like in an attempt to be kind we’re often willfully turning a blind eye to all the ways they’re still trying to make money off of Michael’s memory. His funeral is a great example of this push and pull. The family made such a big deal about how they had to have nothing but absolute privacy. They managed to even get the airspace blocked off. Yet people ignored it, and now they’re beyond livid. However it turns out the Jacksons filmed the funeral themselves for a DVD they’re releasing. So is their real motivation privacy or money?

Randy Jackson is furious footage of Michael’s funeral at Forest Lawn is being broadcast all over the world, saying it was a private event and not meant for the public to see. Jackson just released a scathing statement condemning those who violated the no-fly zone over Forest Lawn last night — asking all media organizations to refrain from airing any more footage of the event.

Here’s Randy’s full statement:

“As a family, we are all aware of how Michael’s life, and his death, touched so many around the world. It is why we held a public memorial in my brother’s honor. And it is the reason we chose to release a small amount of footage leading up to yesterday’s ceremony at Forest Lawn. I was dismayed last night and again today at the coverage I saw on television of our ceremony for Michael. We had asked the media to respect the privacy and the sanctity of this event; to give us one moment of privacy to mourn as a family out of the public spotlight.

Unfortunately, despite a no-fly zone around Forest Lawn, many media organizations decided to ignore our wishes. They employed helicopters that not only surreptitiously recorded our private family ceremony, but also severely disrupted it. I therefore ask today that media organizations airing helicopter footage of the ceremony we held for my brother immediately pull that footage from their air and refrain from airing it in the future.”

[From TMZ]

But here’s that little tidbit about how the Jackson family is actually just trying to make money off his funeral themselves. They even filmed the “after party” (poor word to describe it, but that’s what they called it) held at a restaurant after Michael’s funeral.

There were were cameras shooting everything at the after-party for Michael Jackson’s burial — and we’re told the whole thing could end up on A&E.

Sources tell TMZ footage from inside the party — as well as the funeral itself — will be used for an A&E special, plus a DVD at a later date.

Don’t expect to see Joe or Katherine Jackson, Michael’s three children or Elizabeth Taylor in the footage though — we’re told none of them went to the restaurant after the burial.

A few other random tidbits about the affair: Rat Pack music played all night, “Casablanca” was projected onto the walls, the brothers talked about a reunion tour — and Janet seemed the most grief stricken of the group.

[From TMZ]

And as an aside, Rev. Al Sharpton Tweeted his way through Jackson’s funeral service. In case there wasn’t enough tacky behavior going on.

According to MSNBC, the reason Katherine Jackson almost didn’t go to the funeral was because she was so distraught over how public it had become. I find that confusing. They couldn’t expect complete and total privacy – they chose to hold the service outdoors. And Michael was interred – they certainly could have done it indoors if absolute privacy was necessary. And nothing about Michael’s life was really private. I understand why she would have wanted it to be totally private, but I’m confused about why she thought that would actually happen. Again, especially with the family filming things for their DVD.

Katherine Jackson apparently was the source of the delay of the start of Michael Jackson’s burial service on Thursday night. A source in direct contact with the family said Katherine didn’t begin getting ready at her Encino home until 6:45 p.m., just 15 minutes before the scheduled start.

“She actually had to be coerced into going in the end,” said the source. “It was like the reality of what this had turned into — an event and not anything remotely private — hit her all at once.”

Katherine and the rest of the Jacksons ultimately made it to the Glendale Forest Lawn cemetery, where guests such as Elizabeth Taylor had been waiting for nearly two hours in some cases.

Taylor’s appearance was a surprise to many — though she was one of Jackson’s closest confidantes, she was not at the public memorial in July. The source says Taylor was actually not invited to the July 7 private ceremony that took place just before the public event at the Staples Center, and this invite was extended at the last minute.

“She didn’t go to Staples because she didn’t want to be part of the spotlight. When she accepted a rather last minute invite to this memorial, she thought it was really going to be private. She had no idea that she’d be on camera so much. She definitely didn’t expect to wait outside for hours,” said the source.

[From MSNBC]

I never expected to be impressed with the Jackson family through this, and I’ve gone back and forth. True, they could certainly have been much tackier than they were. So I guess they’ve dialed down some of the drama. But filming Michael’s funeral, and then releasing a terse statement about how upset you are that other people did the same? You’re filming it to make money. Whatever reason other people are filming it, it can’t be more crass than that. I want to give them some leeway because of what they’re going through, but it seems like this was always and will always be about the almighty dollar.

Here’s Katherine and Joe Jackson at the funeral. We’re only using these photos because they were released by the family. Images thanks to WENN.com .

Michael Jackson was finally laid to rest last night in a private ceremony at Forest Hills Cemetery in Glendale, California. Friends and family including Liz Taylor, Macauley Culkin, and Chris Tucker were at the ceremony for the King of Pop, who passed away over two months ago from an apparent accidental drug overdose. The Jackson family was an hour and a half late to the cemetery, arriving in their motorcade around 8:30 despite a start time of 7:00 pm. Mourners waited patiently in nearly 90 degree weather for the Jackson family to arrive. When the outdoor ceremony began, Micheal Jackson’s three children placed a jeweled crown on top of his casket. It was also covered in white flowers, with white lilies and roses throughout.

Jackson will be interred in a mausoleum in Forest Hills that is not open to the public. The Associated Press has reported that the Jackson family has purchased 12 plots in Forest Hills Glendale, although they don’t specify where they are or whether family members plan to be buried in the mausoleum near Michael.

The Jackson family has released some photos to the public of the ceremony, and we have some of those here. They’re also said to have used artificial lighting that suggests that the private funeral may become publicly available, either through a reality show or DVD release, at some point:

aris Jackson wept as she stepped into the mausoleum where her father, Michael, was to be entombed. Katherine Jackson, overcome by sorrow, turned back when she was faced with her son’s final resting place.

On a sultry Thursday evening, amid a sea of white flowers and with a bejeweled crown placed atop his casket by his children, the King of Pop was given an intimate, private version of the lavish public memorial held shortly after his death in June.

Gladys Knight performed the hymn “Our Father” (The Lord’s Prayer) and moved many to tears, according to one guest who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the day.

When it was over, many of the the 200 mourners hugged each other. Among them were Elizabeth Taylor, Jackson’s ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley, Barry Bonds and Macaulay Culkin.

The Rev. Al Sharpton, who gave a eulogy at the public event and at Thursday’s service, also extolled Knight’s earlier performance of “His Eye is on the Sparrow.”

“Gladys Knight sang her heart out. Now we prepare to lay him to rest,” Sharpton posted on his Twitter account during the service that was held outside and then within the marble mausoleum.

The mourners followed the crowned, lushly flower-draped casket as Jackson’s five brothers – each wearing a bright red tie and a single crystal-studded glove – carried it into the mausoleum. The 11-year-old Paris cried as the group entered the imposing building and was comforted by her aunt, LaToya.

Paris and brothers Prince Michael, 12, and Prince Michael II, 7, known as Blanket, began the service by placing the crown on their father’s golden casket. They were composed through most of the hour-and-a-half ceremony.

As it ended, Katherine Jackson appeared extremely weary and had to be helped to her car, according to the guest. Earlier, she had a difficult time going into the mausoleum; she was overcome, turned back, and it wasn’t clear if she went in at all, the guest said.

The Jackson family’s tardy arrival delayed the service for nearly two hours; no explanation was given to mourners. The invitation notice indicated the service would begin promptly at 7 p.m.; it began closer to 8:30.

The 77-year-old Taylor and others were left waiting in the late summer heat, with the temperature stuck at 90 degrees just before sunset, and some mourners fanned themselves with programs for the service. As darkness fell, police escorted the family’s motorcade of 31 cars, including Rolls-Royces and Cadillacs, from their compound in Encino to Forest Lawn, about a 20-minute journey, with the hearse bearing Jackson’s body at the end.

About 250 seats were arranged for mourners over artificial turf laid roadside at the mausoleum, and a vivid orange moon, a mark of the devastating wildfire about 10 miles distant, hung over the cemetery.

There were two oversized portraits of a youthful, vibrant Jackson mounted next to the casket amid displays of white lilies and roses. At Jackson’s lavish public memorial, red roses covered his casket.

A large, blimp-like inflated light, the type used in film and television production, and a boom camera hovered over the seating area placed in front of the elaborate marble mausoleum. The equipment raised the possibility that the footage would be used for the Jackson concert documentary “This Is It,” or perhaps the Jackson brothers’ upcoming reality show.

[From AP via The Huffington Post]

It seems like so long ago that Michael Jackson died, as if we’ve somehow learned something about life since then. I know that sounds so esoteric, but it’s hard to describe it. It’s like those of us who grew up with his music all kind of faced our own mortality when he passed. Seeing these photos of his friends and family tears at my heartstrings. RIP Michael, you will not be forgotten.

(We usually do not publish photos of private funerals, but these are the ones released by the family.)

After all this time, Michael Jackson is finally being put to rest. It seems that taking so long – 70 days – is quite the indignity to his memory. But bickering families can make things hard, especially once lawyers and judges get involved. Today Michael will be laid to rest at Forrest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, California. The family will have a private funeral with just very close friends and relatives there, and they aren’t releasing any information about it. Jackson will be interred in the Great Mausoleum, which has some interesting art relevant to Michael’s life.

More than two months after Michael Jackson’s death, the singer will finally be buried on Thursday (September 3) at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California. But unlike the star-studded public memorial held in July, the final goodbye to the 50-year-old pop icon will be a private affair for friends and family only.

Jackson will be interred in the Great Mausoleum on the grounds of Forest Lawn, the final resting place for a number of Hollywood legends, including George Burns, Clark Gable, Nat King Cole, John Wayne and Walt Disney. Police promise a heavy presence during the event — including canine units and air support — and have encouraged gawkers to stay away. CNN reported that Gladys Knight, a longtime friend of Jackson’s, will perform an undisclosed song at the service. No media will be allowed at the funeral and the family has not announced anything about the program.

In addition to replicas of Michelangelo’s “David” and “Moses” sculptures, the mausoleum where Jackson will be buried features an ornate stained glass rendition of Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” making it a fitting resting place for the singer, who once commissioned for his bedroom a “Last Supper” portrait in which he appeared as Jesus among disciples that include Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein, John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, Elvis and Walt Disney. The huge mausoleum is normally open to tourists but was closed on Wednesday in preparation for the funeral.

It is unclear where the golden casket that took center stage at the July celebration at the Staples Center in Los Angeles has been since that event, though it is rumored that it has been kept in the Forest Lawn crypt of Motown founder Berry Gordy.

[From MTV]

The aforementioned heavy security – estimated to cost at least $150,000 – will be paid for by Jackson’s estate and not by the city, which paid $1.4 for security for the memorial.

In related news, Dr. Jack Kevorkian is jumping on the bandwagon (albeit a little late) in an attempt to grab some attention. He’s saying that Michael ultimately “got what he wanted” – what he wanted being propofol. And Kevorkian says Dr. Conrad Murray, who administered the fatal dosage to Jackson, is not to blame and the ultimate responsibility rests with Michael.

Dr. Jack Kevorkian defended Michael Jackson’s doctor Conrad Murray, who is the sole target of the investigation into the late pop star’s death by injection.

On Wednesday the now-paroled Kevorkian, 81, told Neil Cavuto, “I don’t think he was malicious. Murder is defined as miles of forethought… Did the doctor have forethought? I doubt it.”

Murray says he injected Jackson with heavy sedatives including the anesthetic propofol at the singer’s request.

“Maybe Jackson craved these things so much he pestered the doctor until he got it.” Kevorkian added, “The patient got what he wanted. He is the one who said yes or no to take a drug.”

[From the Huffington Post]

While people argue over Kevorkian’s own ethics, I think most medical ethicists would agree that the ultimate responsibility rests with a doctor, not the patient. Just because a patient wants something doesn’t mean he gets it. We’re not talking about a toddler wearing down their parent until they give in and give them a lollipop. If I just really really really wanted a valium drip, I couldn’t just demand it and expect to get it. Even if I went doctor shopping and someone finally gave in and gave me that valium and something bad happened as a result, it is ultimately on the doctor. They’re the ones with the complete medical knowledge. Yeah I shouldn’t have been trying to get my IV narcotic fix, but it’s ultimately their job to say no. I just got really lost in my own scenario. You see what I’m saying though.

Michael Jackson shouldn’t have been trying to get propofol. But he was. And it was the responsibility of every doctor he pestered to say no. Doctors are simply held to a higher standard. They have more education and a more thorough understanding of how these things work. I seriously doubt Michael Jackson knew the odds were so good he’d die from the propofol. But Murray did.

Michael Jackson and Eddie Murphy are shown in 1989. Credit: PRN/PRPhotos

Joe Jackson had an interview that aired on the Today Show this morning. The Jackson patriarch was sketchy in his responses and spoke in kind of halting half sentences. He cut the interview short when he was asked how much he sees Michael’s children. He said he sees them “enough,” but he faltered and took a while to get to that point. You could tell the real answer was “not much.” From the way he carefully worded his response to how he was doing, it was obvious that he’s trying to pretend that he cares more about Micheal’s loss than about all the opportunities that his son’s death has brought him. He’s a piss poor liar though, especially considering how much experience he has at it. Joe also repeated his vague claim that unknown persons are responsible for Michael’s death and that they need to be brought to justice.

People Magazine’s report on this interview packages Joe’s responses so that they make sense. Watching the interview, you just got the impression that the guy is still trying to get press coverage following his son’s death but that he doesn’t have much to say.

How are you doing?
I’m fine. I’m still grieving over my son’s loss, because he was the greatest. All over the world. I’m proud of that.

Are you angry?
I’m not angry. I’m mad… I didn’t know all this was going on. That’s what I’m mad about

You didn’t know Michael had a problem with these medications.
I didn’t know he was taking that type of medication.

Your son’s death was ruled a homicide. What does the family want now?
They want justice to be done. That’s what is being done.

Does that mean criminal charges?
I don’t know.

Did you know he needed that drug [Propofol] to go to sleep?
No, I did not. First I ever heard of it.

Police say Dr. Conrad Murray admitted to to them that he gave Michael Propofol the morning he died… That has now been ruled the cause of death. What does that tell you?
That tell me [sic] that was foul play done. That’s what it tells me. And more to be investigated to see what really is behind all of this stuff. Not just Dr. Conrad Murray.

Do you want someone to pay?
Someone should pay. Not just someone, but all of them should pay that’s involved.

All the doctors?
I didn’t say doctors. Anybody else that’s involved.

What role do you play in the kids’ lives?
Well I’m their grandfather.

Have you seen them?
Of course.

How often do you see the kids?
I’ll put it like this… I see them just, well. I see them enough, time enough, often enough.

[Transcribed from Joe Jackson's appearance on The Today Show, 8/31/09, video above]

At the end of this story, they dropped the news that Michael Jackson’s body is finally going to be buried this Friday in a private ceremony at Forest Lawn Ceremony. It has been over two months since the King of Pop died, and this isn’t the first story we’ve heard about a pending burial. Let’s hope it’s for real this time. His kids don’t need to keep waiting to bury their dad.

A tribute show was held for Michael Jackson at the Palms Casino over the weekend on Saturday, that day that would have been his 51st birthday. Jackson was honored with a star on the walk of fame outside the Casino, which Joe happily accepted saying :I wish he was here to see this take place.” I wonder how much Joe Jackson was paid to attend.

Sky News reports that Joe Jackson went a little further in his request for an investigation into his son’s death, saying “I want them to do a complete congressional investigation.” He also expressed how unbelievable his son’s death still is, “I just can’t believe he is not with me no more… Seems like he is just performing somewhere else and still living and having a good time performing, entertaining people.”

Joe Jackson is shown at the Palms Casino accepting the star on his son’s behalf with Johnny Brenden on 8/29/09. Credit: WENN.com

In the latest bizarre news about the paternity of Michael Jackson’s children, The Sun is reporting that Macaulay Culkin, 29, is the biological father of Michael Jackson’s youngest son, Blanket, 7. We’ve heard two different friends of Jackson’s claim that they’re possibly the biological father of Jackson’s two older children, Paris and Prince Micheal II. Up until now the speculation about Blanket’s origins has focused on his mother, who some outlets claim is a Norwegian woman who once worked for Jackson named Pia Bhatti. Now The Sun claims that Blanket was conceived using donated sperm from Jackson’s friend, former child actor Culkin. Some of these quotes from The Sun suggest that the paper might be completely speculating in this story, but it’s also possible that they have a decent source. With Jackson, anything is possible really:

ACTOR Macaulay Culkin is the mystery dad of Michael Jackson’s son Blanket, it was claimed last night.
The Home Alone film star is said to have donated sperm to help Jacko create his seven-year-old offspring – real name Prince Michael II – with an unknown surrogate mum.

The two celebrities became firm friends after Culkin, now 29, shot to fame as a child in the 1990 box office smash.

He went on to star alongside Jackson in the video for his hit song Black or White in 1991, regularly visited the singer’s Neverland ranch, and took the witness stand to defend him at his 2005 child molestation trial.

One source said: “It is well known Jackson and Macaulay shared a unique bond.

“Now rumours are spreading like wildfire that Macaulay, who Jackson nicknamed Mack, is actually Blanket’s biological dad.”

Close pals say Jacko, who died aged 50 at his Los Angeles home in June, is not the natural dad of Blanket, his brother Michael, 12, or their 11-year-old sister Paris.

Fevered speculation gripped the US after repeated claims that a “well-known Hollywood actor” donated the sperm for Blanket.

Now sources close to Jackson say the Thriller star asked Culkin for the donation to help him complete his “perfect” family.

The source added: “This isn’t just chitter-chatter, even Culkin suspects he’s Blanket’s father.

“So many names have been mentioned as prospective dads, and this is probably the wackiest yet.

“But Jackson and Culkin were best friends. He was one of the few people Jackson really trusted and Mack never let him down.

“Really, Jackson idolised him – that’s why he asked Mack to donate sperm.

“Deep down, I think he always wished Mack was his son. Creating Blanket was the next best thing.”

Culkin – godfather to Jacko’s other two children – has told pals he will not comment in public out of loyalty to his late pal.

Helped by fertility experts and skin specialist Dr Arnie Klein, Jackson is said to have stockpiled the ingredients to genetically engineer three “perfect” kids.

Klein is said to have given sperm for the elder two, while actor Mark Lester has claimed HE is Paris’ dad.

[From The Sun]

If you wanted to have gorgeous kids you couldn’t do much better than to use Macauley Culkin’s genes. Blanket does have beautiful features, including full lips that could have been inherited from Culkin, but it’s hard to tell. I doubt we’ll ever know for sure who fathered any of Jackson’s children. Last week, the lawyer for Jackson’s former dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein issued a bizarre statement that claimed that “There was a possibility that the two older kids could be biologically linked” to him. He went on to say that Klein wouldn’t take a DNA test, though, because Michael Jackson was the children’s father and they needed to stay with their grandmother. It’s like he was saying the kids were probably his, but he didn’t want to know either way. Given that Culkin seems to value his privacy, I doubt he’ll be taking a DNA test or issuing a statement about this. Maybe he’ll chime in to say it’s completely false, though.

In related news, Michael Jackson’s death was ruled a homicide late last week when the cause of death was released. Jackson died of a combination of Lorazepam (Ativan) and Propofol. No one has yet been officially charged in his death, but that could change soon.

Update: Macauley’s rep has denied this report, calling it “too preposterous for us to even acknowledge.” Yeah, The Sun made it up.

Macaulay Culkin is shown in 2006 and in 1990′s Home Alone. Blanket is shown on 7/7/09 at his father’s funeral. Credit: WENN.com

Mark Vincent Kaplan is shown on 6/5/08. Credit: WENN.com

The lawyer for Dr. Arnold Klein, the shifty dermatologist/plastic surgeon who counted Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor among his closest friends, says that Klein is probably the father of Jackson’s children. It’s worth noting that Klein’s lawyer is none other than Kevin Federline’s attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, who seems just as eager for fame and notoriety as many of his clients. Kaplan seems to enjoy giving sensational quotes about his high profile clients to ensure that he gets maximum coverage, and his latest statement is a doozy. US Weekly is claiming in the title to this story that “Klein is ‘Well Aware’ He’s Father of Michael Jackson’s Children.” That’s not what Kaplan says, however. Kaplan told US that “There was a possibility that the two older kids could be biologically linked to Dr. Klein. And Dr. Klein was well aware.” That’s not a statement of certainty at all. Kaplan than went on to say that Klein won’t take a DNA test or try and raise the children. It sounds like all of this is being brought up due to Michael Jackson’s friend Mark Lester claiming Paris could be his biological daughter, as there’s a reference made to “concerns [over] the influence of other people” on the children’s guardian, their grandmother Katherine Jackson:

Dermatologist Arnold Klein knows he’s the father of Michael Jackson’s two oldest kids, Prince, 12 and Paris, 11, his lawyer admits to Usmagazine.com. [sic: read his statement, he doesn't definitely say this]

“There was a possibility that the two older kids could be biologically linked to Dr. Klein. And Dr. Klein was well aware,” his lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, tells Us when explaining why he was present at a guardianship hearing for Jackson’s children.

Us Weekly first confirmed from multiple sources that Klein — Jackson’s longtime dermatologist — is Prince and Paris’ biological father. Debbie Rowe, who worked for Klein for 23 years, is the biological mother, and was wed to Jackson for three years. (Jackson was also father to Blanket, 7, born to a different surrogate mother.)

Kaplan continues: “Dr. Klein wanted to assert a request that he had concerns. He had an agreement with Michael Jackson that if anything happened to Michael Jackson… Dr. Klein would do what he could to see that they were protected.”

Still, Klein won’t take a DNA test, Kaplan says.

“It would serve no helpful purpose for the children to be distracted from believing Michael Jackson is not the father in every possibility. It would be of interest to other people. It is not something Dr. Klein feels he is interested to establish. It would serve no purpose other than creating distraction or noise. It is not going to help the children,” he says, “other than to solve the answered question, which is a selfish motive to see who the ultimate provider of the 13 chromosomes [is].”

Klein does not want to challenge the [sic] Katherine Jackson’s guardianship of the kids.

“Katherine Jackson is responsible for the decisions and upbringing of the children,” Kaplan says. “And his concerns were the influence of other people around her.” (Kaplan does not name specific people Klein is concerned about.)

Klein has never officially confirmed he’s Prince and Paris’ father, but he hasn’t exactly denied it.

In a July interview on Good Morning America, he said he’s not their father “to the best of my knowledge.” The next day on Larry King Live, he admitted he once donated sperm but couldn’t answer paternity questions “one way or another.”

[From US Weekly]

Again, Kaplan is not definitely saying that Klein is the father of Paris and Prince Michael II, he’s only saying it’s a possibility and that they want to make sure other people don’t try and influence Katherine Jackson. This statement is a real departure from Klein’s past stance on paternity. In Klein’s Larry King Live interview in early July, he said that he was willing to take a DNA test and that if he was the father “I would spend every moment of the day with the children,” and would “absolutely” become their father. Now Klein is saying that there’s no use taking a DNA test and that Michael Jackson will always be their father. It’s strange that he would change his position so much in just a few weeks.

Yesterday Klein’s former nurse and the mother of Jackson’s two older children, Debbie Rowe, was seen visiting Klein’s office. She explained to the paparazzi that another doctor in the practice was a close friend and that it was his anniversary that day. When asked about the other people coming forward claiming to be the father of Jackson’s children she say “everybody wants their fifteen minutes I guess.” Does that include her former employer?

It looks like LaToya Jackson might just be right, after all. The L.A. County coroner’s office has ruled that the death of Michael Jackson was not an accidental overdose. Jackson had quite a cocktail of sedatives in his system, including Valium and lorazepam, in addition to the much-covered dose of propofol. According to E! News, it’s looking more and more like Jackson’s private doctor, Conrad Murray, is going to be on the hook, possibly facing manslaughter charges for his role in the death.

The cause of Michael Jackson’s death? Homicide.

According to a published report citing a law enforcement official close to the case, the popster died as the result of criminal wrongdoing, making it likelier than ever that his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, will now face involuntary manslaughter charges.

Meanwhile E! News has obtained a search warrant affidavit unsealed today in Houston quoting Los Angeles County coroner’s officials as saying Jackson had lethal levels of propofol in his system when he died.

“Toxicology analysis shows Michael Jackson had lethal levels of propofol in his blood,” reads the court document.

Per the affidavit, Murray told the LAPD he’d been treating the 50-year-old singer for insomnia for six weeks and giving him 50 milligrams of the powerful anesthetic intravenously every night.

The doctor not only acknowledged that he obtained and administered propofol on June 25, the morning Jackson died, but he also admitted to leaving the King of Pop under the influence of the drug when he left the room to tend to other business.

The plot thickens.

According to Murray’s account, Jackson was having trouble sleeping the night of June 24. Noticing that the Moonwalker was forming what he believed was an addiction, the doctor claimed he had been trying to ween him off propofol for some time with little success and, as a result, initially withheld the drug traditionally used only in hospitals and monitored by an anesthesiologist.

Instead, he gave Jackson the milder sedative Valium at 1:30 a.m.. With Jackson still awake, he next tried giving him a shot of lorazepam at 2 a.m. followed by midazolam. When those failed to have any effect, Murray said he then decided to give him 25 milligrams of propofol, which induced sleep right away.

But in perhaps the affidavit’s biggest bombshell, the cardiologist admitted to detectives that he left Jackson alone to go make phone calls to his Houston office and family members. When he returned, Murray found Jackson had stopped breathing. He immediately began performing CPR as one of the entertainer’s employees dialed 911.

Such admissions don’t bode well for the doc, whom police are considering charging with involuntary manslaughter. However, while it’s now coming out that M.J. had lethal levels of the drug in his body, the L.A. County Coroner’s office still has not issued an official cause of death.

Autopsy results have been delayed indefinitely.

One thing Murray can breathe a little easier about: Investigators have not discovered any evidence that the doc bought propofol under his medical license or that he had obtained it illegally, noting Jackson had apparently been prescribed the medication from several other doctors, two of whom were reportedly based in Germany.

[From E! News]

“Autopsy results have been delayed indefinitely.” Why? Between this and the Jackson family’s inability to bury the body, I am more convinced than ever that something sneaky is going on here. How long does it take to do an autopsy? I believe the family and Jackson’s handlers are trying to keep some major secrets here. Why else would it take two months to complete an autopsy and bury his remains? Anyway, this Dr. Murray had better get used to the inside of a courtroom. Something tells me he’s going to be spending a lot of time in one soon.