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OK! Magazine Publishes Final Photo Of Michael Jackson In Tribute Issue
By Roberta | June 29, 2009
I can’t say that this is at all fitting for the legacy of the King of Pop. It was heart-wrenching enough to lose such an icon in the world of music on Thursday. Michael Jackson’s music will forever be a legacy to his talent.
OK! Magazine felt the need to put his final photo on the cover of their publication. Get this, it’s a tribute! WTF?
A more fitting tribute would have been to use something on the cover from his Thriller days or maybe something from his Jackson 5 days, but no, they’ve decided to use the photo from his ambulance ride to the hospital on Thursday.
No tact! They should be ashamed of themselves for this nonsense. This pays absolutely NO tribute to his memory!!
Complain here:
News Editor: christian.guiltenane@express.co.uk
Online Editor: geoff.marsh@express.co.ukOK! Magazine,
The Northern & Shell Building,
Number 10 Lower Thames Street,
London, EC3R 6EN
It’s only been four days since he left us. This is plain awful!
UPDATE (Allie): The OK magazine offices in the United States, have also elected to use this same photo.
Photo after the jump…
Sickening.
Topics: Michael Jackson, Wired WTF |
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63 Responses to “OK! Magazine Publishes Final Photo Of Michael Jackson In Tribute Issue”
Comments
June 29th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Unbelievable!
June 29th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Thanks for the contact addresses for OK magazine.
Awfully disgraceful to put a dead man on a ‘Tribute’ mag’s front cover. No one deserves this.
June 29th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
omg that is so intrusive
June 29th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
What a sin that the media continues to exploit MJ’s death in such a way.
No other celebrity has had such a grossly innapropiate cover.
Shame on OK magazine, and I’ve written both email addy’s a complaint letter.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I can’t believe they printed that. I’m so pleased to hear they are getting complaints, I wrote 3 e mails to them earlier on today. Him and his family have been through enough in they’re lives and this magazine only see money and didn’t even let him die with dignity.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
i thinkits disgusting, i sent emails earlier today to both of those addresses, i also personally rang them and gave them my opinion as to how disgusting this is, shockingly she sed they hadnt had anymore complaints which i think is a pile of crap!!
they shudnt be allowed to print things like this
June 29th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Hi, We cannot let OK get away with this disgusting behaviour.
Please take the time to complain to the
Press Complaints Commission
http://www.pcc.org.uk/
complaints@pcc.org.uk
0845 600 2757
Halton House
20/23 Holborn
London EC1N 2JD
Thanks.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:20 am
absolutley horrified! have emailed and complained…why is this considered ok by them? had they put a picture anywhere close to this on jade goodys (really great) tribute issue they would have been hung drawn and quatered…well done everyone for complaing!!!
June 30th, 2009 at 12:30 am
The best person to complain to is Richard Desmond, the owner. You can email him on richard.desmond@express.co.uk
Neither Christian or the online editor will have anything to do with this appalling cover decision.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:17 am
This is terrible, I’m ashamed to say I have bought a few ok mags in the past, but this has left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I’m truely never buying an ok magazine again, quite simply, they’re sick - ‘in loving memory?’ what money grabbing leaches, featuring his children on the front cover too - after the appeal not to intrude on his children’s privacy, the fact that ok deny they’ve had many complaints prove they have no heart and only have regard for themselves. Disgusting.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:30 am
Thank you for this. I’m formulating a formal letter of disgust to the OK Mgazine manager. He/She clearly doesn’t realise that a huge part of the world’s population is mourning. It was the most incensitive picture to show. They have also gone completely against Michael’s wishes to not have his children’s faces shown to the public. They need a lesson in etiquette. They, more than most magazines should respect Michael since he has given them so much business over the past decades. You’ve disgusted yourselves, disgusted the Jackson Family, their fans and you’ve lost yourselves so much custom. How about a ‘Michael Jackson Tribute apology and revamp edition’?
I’m not sure that will cover the dispicable damage you’ve caused but it will be an admition of guilt and wrong doing which would make an apology easier to accept.
June 30th, 2009 at 9:21 am
Awful. Like people want to look at something like that. >:/ I will never buy another OK magazine.
I too have sent emails.
June 30th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Terrible. Out of the all the great picture of the star, why choose the one at his lowest?????????
Tribute?? more like insult!! He’s done so much more in his life…we should be remembering that…not his death.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
absolutely appalling. i’ve already e-mailed all the contacts on the OK! site and I received a pretty rude e-mail back. nobody deserves this and this magazine should not be able to get away with it.
Here’s the list of e-mails on the OK! website:
christian.guiltenane@express.co.uk,
emma.gunavardhana@express.co.uk,
mark.moody@express.co.uk,
sophie.mutter@express.co.uk,
nassubs@btbmf.co.uk,
geoff.marsh@express.co.uk
June 30th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
I’m glad to see so many other people are putting their complaints forward. I sent them an email earlier.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the front cover in the shop - how dare they call it a Tribute Issue!
I URGE PEOPLE TO KEEP COMPLAINING
June 30th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Below you will find a template to use if you wish to complain regarding this cover.
I have just emailed the below to the Press Complaints commission and forwarded a copy to all of the editors and contributors to OK magazine.
to : complaints@pcc.org.uk
BCC: geoff.marsh@express.co.uk, nassubs@btbmf.co.uk, sophie.mutter@express.co.uk, mark.moody@express.co.uk, emma.gunavardhana@express.co.uk, christian.guiltenane@express.co.uk, richard.desmond@express.co.uk
Hello,
I wish to make a formal complaint regarding OK magazine’s grossly offensive cover which features one of the final photographs of Michael Jackson, as the superstar lay dying in the back of ambulance. I find it to be distasteful and, quite frankly, appalling that a photo like this was chosen and put on the cover of a magazine which has been billed as a “tribute.”
Michael Jackson was a much loved public figure and it is extremely upsetting to see a photo of him, or any human being, as they are quite literally dying.
Please reply to this email with further information on how I can make a formal complaint.
Thank you.
Craig Hindmarsh
June 30th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I agree, this cover shows no respect or compassion and I will ensure never to purchase this magazine - ever! I passed it on the newstand and actually felt sick. This is someone’s son, someone’s brother, someone’s father - how very sad that this was allowed to be published - an all time low from the magazine - a disgrace! I will be complaining now by email and urge everyone to keep complaining.
June 30th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
The only tribute here is to their “bottom line.”
Certainly not “o.k.” I don’t blame photogs for snapping the picture, who wouldn’t if found there at that moment w/ a digital in your hand. But, to put it on a cover as a tribute. Classy.
July 1st, 2009 at 4:14 am
They want to cash in on Michael Jackson.
I pray to god his children do not see this “tribute” magazine.
I miss you Michael. You are always in my heart
July 1st, 2009 at 5:51 am
LOL THE GUY WAS A PAEDOPHILE, WHY CANT U MORONS UNDERSTAND WHAT PAEDOPHILLIA IS ABOUT U SICK BASTARDS, HE IS DEAD AND THATS WHAT HE DESERVED
July 1st, 2009 at 5:54 am
This is an email I sent to Christ Guiltenane at OK! Magazine regarding this appalling and disrespectful issue!!:
—–
To Chris Guiltenane @ OK! Magazine,
I’m absolutely appalled beyond words. I’ve seen the picture OK! is
flaunting of Michael Jackson in his last moments of life being
flaunted on the cover of your latest issue and I must say, I’ve never
in so long felt so physically repulsed by the lengths the media will
go to to sell a few magazines.
You ask yourself this - hypothetically speaking, if your father,
mother or someone you loved died and then someone stuck a picture of
them dying on a magazine cover for all and sundry to see - how would
you feel? Would you like them to be remembered by such an awful image?
Think of the young fans who will see that. It will destroy them.
When I was a child and one of my idols died, Melanie Appleby of Mel &
Kim, I was absolutely devastated when in art class at school I found a
newspaper article flaunting photos of Melanie boated, bald, with a
neck brace and undergoing chemotherapy treatment. In that moment my
world fell apart as a child. My idols Kylie, Mel & Kim, Prince,
Madonna and Michael Jackson were icons I looked up to in times of
need. They inspired and they delivered and as an adult I have built a
thicker skin in regards to the heinous content the media spurt out but
as a child it’s extremely damaging. Even as an adult it hurts and
repulses me. Where does the desire come from to completely dismiss
‘respect’ just to make some more money from selling magazines? This is
another major flaw in how human beings work - no empathy or respect
for others in their suffering and times of distress.
I am beyond appalled by your magazines blatant disregard for respect
in putting such an awful image on the cover of your latest issue.
Whilst it’s reality and many believe we are entitled to see reality in
it’s most raw of forms this is taking it too far. People die every
day, awful things happen all around the world but you don’t put them
all over the covers of your magazine so why now? Of course, money.
Shame, isn’t it.
Michael deserves to be remembered for his talent and they joy he
brought to the world before the media started it’s ludicrous ‘witch
hunt’. Having his dying image printed everywhere is beyond
disrespectful and it’s just a shame that in future similar things will
happen. I imagine, if Michael had been a relative or friend of yours,
you wouldn’t have been so keen to print the photo. In future take a
step back and ask how you’d feel.
I’m truly and utterly appalled and whoever agreed/cleared that image
to be on the cover should be bloody ashamed of themselves.
Elle Richardson
July 1st, 2009 at 7:24 am
as well as emailing the above, I think we should also write to the press Complaints Commission at http://www.pcc.org.uk
The press code includes the following points:
) Everyone is entitled to respect for his or her private and family life, home, health and correspondence
Intrusion into grief or shock
i) In cases involving personal grief or shock, enquiries and approaches must be made with sympathy and discretion and publication handled sensitively.
July 1st, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I have also sent an email of complaint to:
complaints@pcc.org.uk
geoff.marsh@express.co.uk, nassubs@btbmf.co.uk, sophie.mutter@express.co.uk, mark.moody@express.co.uk, emma.gunavardhana@express.co.uk, christian.guiltenane@express.co.uk, richard.desmond@express.co.uk
sickening.
July 1st, 2009 at 12:16 pm
I have also put all the details on facebook MJ tribute site and emailed all my freinds to send an email about this matter!
July 1st, 2009 at 12:18 pm
[...] features an incredibly offensive last pic of michael jackson. (if you really wanna see it, click here) the magazine reportedly spent close to $500,000 to obtain their cover pic of the legendary mj on [...]
July 1st, 2009 at 12:26 pm
disgracefull that they only pic OK thought would fit there pockets is the sad harrowing pic of Mr MJ at his last moments of his life!!! who the hell wants to rememebr him like that!!! he was a true legend…R.I.P Mr MJ x
July 1st, 2009 at 1:03 pm
I cannot believe they would go to this extreme. This is wrong. No one wants to be remembered like this. This is very upsetting.
July 1st, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I can’t beleive this, not living in the UK means that I have only just heard of it. I instantly sent a complaint. Why can’t they just leave him alone
:(
July 1st, 2009 at 1:21 pm
HELLOOOOOO you posted it on your website!!!!
July 1st, 2009 at 1:22 pm
why did you “feel the need” to post it??!
July 1st, 2009 at 1:44 pm
[...] We thought it was sickening enough when we saw the U.K. version of OK! magazine. They published the final photo of Michael Jackson en route to the hospital via ambulance. No one is sure whether Michael was alive or dead at that [...]
July 1st, 2009 at 1:58 pm
OMG Itz Gross OMG Itz So Sad That HE Died And The Pic Is Gross I Can’t Belive when me and my sis heard it on the radio we were looking everywhere for the magazine
July 1st, 2009 at 2:00 pm
to add on if ur reading b4 we saw the pic we were looking fo it
July 1st, 2009 at 3:46 pm
How horrible. The poor man suffered most of his life in the media. He was a troubled but gentle man who gave so much only to be constantly Hurt in return. HAVE SOME RESPECT FOR THE MAN. He has died for god sake. Im not even a fan but he was a brilliant musical genius and i always thought he was a nice guy. AND ALL OK MAG CAN DO AS A TRIBUTE……. is invade his privacy in this awfull way in the hope of selling more mags. Its disgustingly tasteless and a nasty rude tribute. I seriously hope this photo is a fake, for Micheals and his family’s sake . HOW UTTERLY RUDE AND DISRESPECTFUL. I WILL NOT BE BUYING OK MAGAZINE EVER AGAIN.
July 1st, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I called OK! Magazine’s NY office and left a scathing voicemail that I hope the editor gets to hear, but I’m sure they never will. They totally lied and told me they hadn’t received other complaints. This is just sick. I feel sad for our society these days, you almost feel like peacing out on this world if other “humans” think something like this is okay.
July 1st, 2009 at 4:04 pm
sign here
July 1st, 2009 at 4:47 pm
half million for that they are crazy that could have been any time in the last five years. maybe he is not dead but visting elvis
July 1st, 2009 at 4:54 pm
This is another example of tabloids going too far. Let’s give MJ the respect he deserves. No one wants to see that. How dare they call it a “tribute” honoring his memory, because we shouldn’t have those images as our last menories of “The King of Pop”
Journalism at their worst!
July 1st, 2009 at 5:01 pm
this is just horrible!!! what the hell were they thinking?! this is not a tribute photo! a tribute photo is for people to remember his legacy, to celebrate his life how we remember him. imagine how his family feels. do these people have no respect?! do they have no heart?! they are NOT doing this cover for his memory, they are doing this for the money, hopefully other celebrities boycott ok mag. and never do anymore interviews or photo shoots.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Why is everyone freaking out about OK! Magazine putting a picture on their cover that was shown on Entertainment Tonight within 24 hours of Jackson’s death. It seems like ET got a by while OK! is being criticized for using the same photo.
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:27 am
OK! Magazine have just proven why Michael surrounded himself with youth. Youth puts no monetary value on family or friendship, and doesn’t publish your secrets or find amusement in you being at your lowest or worst. Perhaps in next weeks edition we could take a ’sneaky peak’ at photographs of the publisher/editors dead mother. Michael Jackson wasn’t a paedophile, he was escaping the likes of poor journalism.
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:06 am
[...] OK Magazine Michael Jackson cover picture can be seen here. It is very disturbing so be forewarned. It can also be seen in the video [...]
July 2nd, 2009 at 3:45 pm
I truly cannot beleive OK magazine have printed these pictures of his final moments!!!and for all u people callin him a paedophlie i fink ull find he was cleared of that!!a legend has died so let him rest in peace now.i ave sent 2 emails to the ok people but theyll probably all get ignored.press complaint office should see all these complaints!!R.I.P MJ.xx
July 2nd, 2009 at 4:27 pm
I cannot believe they print a cover and say “Tribute.” How they can call that photograph fitting of a tribute to a great entertainer is appalling, though not surprising. Remember, the Nat’l Enquirer printed coffin photos of Elvis and of John Lennon; if such becomes available of Michael, you can be sure it will be printed. I only hope the Jackson family does their part to stop such “tributes.”
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:29 pm
I see all of you saying “Oh, I can’t believe OK Magazine printed this picture…” blah, blah, blah
We all looked at the picture, though, didn’t we?
You people are clueless hypocrites.
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:31 pm
This cover is disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourself for printing this.
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:37 pm
This was a horrible thing to do and word is that OK! mag. paid $500,000 for that pic. so just tell everyone not to buy the mag and OK! will lose more then what they paid for the picture! Please tell ALL your friends not to purchase the mag if they miss Michael, and OK will hopefully learn a lesson from it!
R.I.P MJ~ Don’t worry, your fans are watching out for you!
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:14 pm
this is crazy. disgusting that a magazine would publish that picture as the main one.
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Let him rest in peace the way he is. why would they want to publish his death picture like that? you can clearly see that he’s deceased.. that’s ashame what people do these days
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:28 pm
I cannot beleive that one of the last images that Micheal’s children, family and fans will be of him passed on. I don’t think the editor or any staff would appreciate the memory of their parent, children or friends neighbors ect… on the front of a cover. It is dispicable to say the least. No one should buy the issue…..Invasive, pathetic and just downright disrepectful. Common, their is more to write on such a great icon than to portray him in death…..This is such a disapointment. Great stories give great results….Unfortunately, this is thumbs down for you…..
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:03 am
This image is offending people? Really? There are worse things shown on trailers for TV shows and movies every single day, not to mention millions of magazines and newspapers showing shocking photos with screaming headlines. Give me a break and get off your high horses. Most people do not deserve to die an untimely death, but I’m sure many of you were calling him a child molester and a terrible father just a few years ago. Why we are all suddenly glorifying him is beyond me. A photo of someone famous on a stretcher is normal media fodder in this day and age and I think it’s entirely appropriate. KUDOS OK!
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:13 am
For all of the people who are complaining, it seems you had no problem going to Ok’s website to look at the picture. You were warned that it was distasteful yet all of you rushed to check out the pic. I agree to say “tribute” is in poor taste. This is the World we live in now. distasteful, sure…… reality, absolutely.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:33 pm
I work in a shop and had no warning about this photograph,as a fan of Michael’s for almost 30years,I was very shocked and upset to come across this.The shop where I work had not realised how much this would upset people,and had quite a few of these magazines mixed in with real tribute magazines.When I brought their attention to this,the seperated the true tribute magazines out,and put this one just in it’s usual spot.
No matter if people are fans or not,they have agreed this is in poor taste,and no it is not normal to see even famous people just before their death,on the front of a magazine claiming to be a tribute,cheap newspapers maybe,but I thought OK had more sense.
July 4th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
How far would a magazine go to make money, a smart person , editor publisher should never got that, imagine their dead picture been posted like this their family seeing this…the If i was the family I would file a law suit against OK Bullsh*t crap magazine.
July 5th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
yeah that picture should not have been put in the magazine. definately not okay. i do however feel bad for the rest of michael jackson’s family. i do understand that this is a tragedy but i think everyone is so focused on it. this isn’t the only issue going on in the world. farrah fawcet died too but she’s not getting any attention and she really suffered a horrible death. michael jackson was very damaged person and i honestly can’t say im totally surprised.
July 6th, 2009 at 10:53 am
[...] put Michael Jackson last photo on the cover page. The last photo of MJ is becoming a controversial. OK! Magazine Publishes Final Photo Of Michael Jackson In Tribute. 2 Jul 2009. OK! Magazine has made the controversial decision to put a picture of Michael. Michael [...]
July 12th, 2009 at 1:14 am
Is that what you call world-class journalism? If that’s what you call it, I am beginning to think you guys graduated from the sickest and stupidest universities.
July 12th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Sadly people who live in the public eye and die in the public eye have their lives exposed that is what they sign up for with the fame and fortune. Sadly I dont think the jackson family have behaved in an nice way! La toya who publicly went on record saying she thought it was odd that young boys slept in her brothers bed - again according to news papers! Is now saying he has been murdered - sadly I feel this whole sad affair will continue to be played out in the media and lies, truth’s will be published about this man long after and for years after his death. I dont think for one minute he was a child abuser I do think maybe he used too much prescription drugs. I think 50 concerts wasn’t planned by him …! and I do think he felt overwhelmed and driven. Sadly in life as in death I dont think he was protected from his self and choices he made which would come back to haunt him later in life. You have too look at the actions of the people involved and ask yourself are they considering micheals children and his memory with all of this? In his memorial some people where moved to dispair at his loss and it was truely sad to see, but some parts of it wasnt pleasant to watch the body language and the staging of it made me question their actions. I feel deeply sad that in death he is still being controversally exposed and mainly for money! The jackson’s according to the paper’s expecting the tax payer and asking for donations have mislead the mood of the nation along with sympathy have come their critic’s. As the world wake’s up to the fact maybe he was a drug addict and his death may have been an accident - you can’t help thinking that for a man surround with so much love and family “He was very much alone!”
All these people selling stories, selling papers and mags and now the music are making money! and maybe his legacy maybe more about his death than his music - sadly I feel sorry for his children caught up in this media frenzy and his mum who he loved so much. Sadly we are all macarbe and pictures like this people want too see …. some people didnt love him like his fans and some people hated him. But a man at the age of 50 years old has died, who gave a lot of pleasure to thousands of people - who supported and helped alot of people himself a soul who was restless on earth and maybe has found some peace. maybe we need to know all the details to understand the man and the life he lead. I hope all this frenzy will calm down for the sake of his children even if now they say he wasn’t their father does it matter … since when does being a biological dad make you a better dad? I just feel some people’s actions who are involved with his life seem to be quiet questionable.
July 14th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
I can’t believe that they would put this picture up of him. How sad. Rest in heaven, Michaal. You were too great for much of this world.
July 24th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
OMG!! How insensitive to him (the remembrance of him), his children, family, and his FANS! Why is it that there is NO RESPECT in the US these days? – Solid proof that (US conglomerates) are so money crazed that NOTHING is SACRED anymore?! This picture is absolutely a shameful display of freedom and power from the magazine! God Bless Michael Jackson and all those that FEEL and MOURN for him, including his kids, family, and yes- his millions of fans! What a distressing display of such a soft-spoken, kind, forgiving, charitable, artistically genius-GREAT HUMANITARIAN such as Michael Jackson, the King of Pop! Let’s not forget we all have imperfections- NOT ONE is without faults? .May God forgive those that condemn and judge -trying to take over his merciful duty- and may he also Bless all the lost souls suffering from greed and hatred.
July 27th, 2009 at 5:06 am
Unbelieveable that they printed that, esp. now that the news is he died BEFORE he left the house…meaning that’s a picture of him DEAD….
August 11th, 2009 at 4:08 am
all i can say is that every single person should take some time out, and reflect on this question:
how many people will by crushed just bcuz you died? how many people will say that you were the best at what you did? how many STRANGERS will feel like they just lost their brothers when you die????
think about that and know that MICHAEL JOESEPH JACKSON WAS LOVE!!!
October 11th, 2009 at 6:16 am
All i have to say is.
MICHAEL JACKSON WAS A PAEDOPHILEEEEEEE!
Everyones going on like we’ve lost someone so special & bla bla bla.. He paid the courts off Millions of dollars just so he wouldn’t go down. How else would that little boy know he had a mole on his penis & wasonly visible when he had an erection? You people who think he’s some sort of god make me sickkkkkkkkk.