Randy Jackson warns people not to air footage of MJ’s funeral

michael jackson funeral 030909

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 funeral 030909

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

28 Responses to “Randy Jackson warns people not to air footage of MJ’s funeral”

Comments are Closed

We close comments on older posts to fight comment spam.

  1. georgiagrl says:

    Shame on the Jackson’s for profiting off MJ’s passing.
    RIP MJ!

  2. cassie says:

    Shame on Lisa Marie from profiting on Elvis’ passing. Who should profit if not his family? Who paid for the funeral? All for one and one for all.He supported his family all his life.

  3. anna says:

    If they didn’t want it to be aired, they shouldn’t have made his burial arrangements a circus.

  4. lala says:

    This family is a BIG JOKE!

    u_u… not that MJ is though.

  5. Diane says:

    My thoughts and feelings as well. If they wanted a private service they had the opportunity to do so. It’s all about the $$$.

    I wonder how long before the, still photos will be sold and available.

    BTW, the after party? It’s purpose was to work the crowd, selling the Jackson ideas = )

  6. Larshie says:

    Well there is alot of weird things going on. I dont think they want money but they probrably wanted every on to see the funeral on the reality show instead of the tv.But what i dont understand is if you wanted the burial service to be private why did’nt you have the service inside…Not to be rude but if you really wanted the service to be private what was the point of having it outside….I guess the jackson family will only know that one…About profiting on mj’s death i know nothing about that

  7. lola lola says:

    The whole family is in a panic that their meal ticket is gone

  8. Goddess711 says:

    Who the f**k do they think they are? Any money they have is made from the people who care enough to watch this bullsh** circus. Private? Wayyyyyyyy too late for that, Randy. He wants it to be some new footage on the cash-cow dvd they release later??
    Money whores at a funeral, tsk tsk tsk!

  9. the original kate says:

    um…exactly how many times is he going to be buried?

  10. boomchakaboom says:

    I think a family is entitled to conduct a funeral service in any manner they see fit, no matter who they are. If they want to air it on A&E later then so what? If anyone thinks the funeral, or the family, violates a code of conduct concerning how they chose to bury a loved one, then that is the height of sticking one’s nose where it does not belong.

  11. Wow says:

    Cassie, your statement rings true. Funny how people forget. Prisilla and Lisa stillprofit from Elvis, so where’s the same negativity towards them?

    It’s sad when ANY parent has to bury a child. For those who can only find harsh words for this family, all I can say is that in the event YOU have to bury your child or sibling someday that you remember the exact harsh words you have for this family burying theirs.

  12. boomchakaboom says:

    The flowers were no doubt spectacular.

  13. Sue says:

    I feel so bad for Katherine — obviously she is so grief stricken, she had to take time to sych herself up to go. I know where she is at – she needs time to face up to the fact that her baby is gone. Hard road. . .

  14. hunnybe says:

    @ Cassie and wow I agree.As far as the pictures and reality show,I blame that damn media whore Jermaine Jackson.I mean he was the only one to roll the window down and see who all were there(2nd ceremony).What a joke.

  15. Beth says:

    Katherine probably didn’t realize that her sons and husband were going to film the ceremony. It seems like she tried to go through this with dignity but other family members are trying hard to be tacky. If Randy and other members didn’t want the media there, they shouldn’t have announced the burial date. I hate that everybody is calling the gathering after the funeral an afterparty. Everytime I have gone to a funeral there’s always been a brunch/lunch type of gathering.

  16. CushyGirl says:

    My heart goes out to Katherine and the kids, I hope when life settles down for grandmom and the kids, they will be able to live a more normal life. It’s there somewhere, if people will just leave them alone. You can see the sweetness in her face, although she looks so sad.

  17. Sherry from Indiana says:

    Number 10, you are right. Only this family has the right to say anything about how their loved one is laid to rest, just like the rest of us. People have a lot of nerve.

    As for me, I personally hope the Jackson family makes boatloads of cash for the whole family to spite Michael’s enemies that worked so hard to destroy his integrity. I hope his children want for nothing ever. The Jackson family has been gracious throughout this whole time when they didn’t have to be. But, they loved Michael and they made what was important to him important to them, also. Michael’s fans love the Jackson family for that.

  18. Michelle says:

    Even in death the guy can’t get a break, especially from his gold-digging ass family. Katherine, Janet, and Rebbie are seemingly the only decent three of the bunch.

    Let him rest already.

    RIP MJ

  19. CYANN says:

    The truth is they wouldn’t be doing it if there were not people willing to buy it. Really, whom is worse?

  20. Hieronymus Grex says:

    Uh, it’s all over the news and tabs, moron. Too late.

  21. judy says:

    To wOW:

    I burried my daughter and no way was it the same as the Jacksons are acting.
    The whole time they are making these arraignements they are also adding up how much they are going to make on it. The only tears I have seen is from MJ’s mothers the others are busy trying to make $$$$ because MJ supported 99 percent

  22. kris says:

    i think they filmed it for remembrance purposes not to release it for profit. we havent heard any of jacksons said theyre going to sell burial footage.Its very normal if family members film the event… gosh, MJ is their brother. thats one single event the whole family and friends come together. of course they will put it in DVD and for distribution to those who attended and those who failed plus thank you cards. thats how a planned and formal burial is. lets just wait them till we see the DVDs on stores. for now, lets not be too judgmental.its family matter we should respect.

  23. fizXgirl314 says:

    tweeting through a funeral? selling the dvd? calling it an afterparty? damn, this kind of makes me glad he died so he doesn’t have to live with people like this around him… how tacky 🙁

  24. Madame Ava says:

    I think the family needs the money to pay off the debt MJ left behind, but taping a funeral is a little much don’t you think!! Nothing is sacred any more…can’t even die in Peace. The family wants the fans to leave him alone, but Joe Jackson and the brother’s just keep on coming with the interviews, tell alls, book deals, comeback tours, movies, auctions, who knows pretty soon you’ll probably see Michael’s Wigs on EBAY. I haven’t seen so many Jackson’s on TV for years…unless they were performing with Michael!! LMAO

  25. JustStoppingBy says:

    I’ve always heard of it referred to as a “repast” not an “after party.”

    Anyway, RIP MJ

  26. Always blessed says:

    BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS!!! RIP MJ AND THANKS FOR THE SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE!!!

  27. 4Real says:

    C’mon it’s all getting out of hand. The president of the United States dies and gets one funeral. Are we going to be having mini-funerals throughout the year? His soul is finally free and shame on all the earth bound creatures trying to make $$ out of his memory and his corpse.

  28. barneslr says:

    “i think they filmed it for remembrance purposes not to release it for profit.”

    I think you are very naive. It’s nice that your instinct is to think the best of people, and I wish that it were true. Unfortunately, I think you are wrong. I am sure they are sad that they lost a family member…I don’t doubt their pain. But I am positive that they are also figuring out how they can make the most money off his death, as well. There’s no question in my mind whatsoever.

    He will be worth far more to them dead than he ever was alive. Mark my words.