California state authorities ordered Jackson to close the Neverland Ranch and fined him more than $100,000 for failing to pay the staff there or maintain proper insurance. (March 2006).
Celebrities provided varied comments after Jackson's sudden death. Madonna and Diana Ross released statements saying they could not stop crying. Jackson's former wife, Lisa Marie Presley, said the singer had told her he was afraid he would end up like Elvis Presley, her father. Elizabeth Taylor, a long-time friend, said she, "can't imagine life without him." Liza Minnelli told CBS, "When the autopsy comes, all hell's going to break loose, so thank God we're celebrating him now." Jamie Foxx, stated: "We want to celebrate this black man. He belongs to us and we shared him with everybody else.".
Childhood school friend of David Gest.
Claimed to have given $300 million to charity, more than any other celebrity apart from Oprah Winfrey.
Copied his moon walk after mime Marcel Marceau in "walk-against-the- wind" pantomime techniques.
Despite a number of surgeons' claims that Jackson has undergone multiple nasal surgeries as well as a forehead lift, thinned lips and cheekbone surgery, Jackson wrote in his 1988 autobiography "Moon Walk" that he only had two rhinoplastic surgeries and the surgical creation of a cleft in his chin, while attributing puberty and diet to the noticeable change in the structure of his face.
Diagnosed with lupus in 1984.
Did not tour America after the BAD tour in 1987.
Disappointed his fans by singing a few lines from "We Are the World", accompanied by a children's choir, after he had been rumored to perform his 1982 hit "Thriller" as a triumphant comeback at the World Music Awards at Earls Court, London. Jackson left the stage to audible boos from the audience - some of his fans had paid up to £500 a ticket to see him perform. (15 November 2006).
Ended more than a year of speculation by buying the British music publishing company ATV Music for a reported £34 million ($50 million) in August 1985. The company owned 40,000 songs, including the Northern Songs catalog which contained all The Beatles songs up to their Apple Days. Jackson outbid Coca-Cola, EMI, CBS (who thereafter looked after the catalog for Jackson) and a very disappointed Paul McCartney, who had originally tried to buy Northern Songs for £21 million ($35 million) in 1981 and then later - again unsuccessfully - in conjunction with Yoko Ono.
Ever since he was a boy, Michael Jackson was a fan of the Three Stooges, especially Curly Howard. In fact, for the Curly biography "Curly: An Illustrated Biography of the Superstooge" (Citadel Press, 1985), written by Curly's niece Joan Howard Maurer, Michael wrote the Foreward. The irony here is that both men died at roughly the same age: Curly at forty-eight, Michael at fifty.
Ex-brother-in-law of James DeBarge.
Fan of Fulham Football Club (English Premier League soccer club), based at Craven Cottage, Fulham, London, England. Fellow fans include Elizabeth Hurley, Lily Allen, Hugh Grant, Pierce Brosnan, Hugh Laurie, Benicio Del Toro, Daniel Radcliffe and Andrew Johnston.
Fell out with Quincy Jones after the producer cut half the songs from his 1987 album "BAD". In a 2006 interview with "The Daily Telegraph" newspaper, Jones admitted he had not spoken to Jackson for years.
Filed complaints against the Independent Television Commission and the Broadcasting Standards Commission of the UK following the documentary Living with Michael Jackson: A Tonight Special (2003) (TV).
First artist to generate seven top ten hits (USA) on one album with "Thriller."
First solo artist to generate four top ten hits on the Billboard charts on one album with "Off the Wall."
Following his death, U.S. President Barack Obama sent a letter of condolence to the Jackson family, and during a press conference the Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that President Obama viewed Jackson as a "spectacular performer, and a music icon". In Congress, Representatives Diane Watson and Jesse Jackson Jr. asked members to observe a moment of silence.
Following the week of his death, his album sales collectively spiked over 2000%.