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Michael Jackson Funeral to Charge $25 and Sell T-Shirts
By Cara | July 2, 2009
Michael Jackson will soon be laid to rest. His funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Nokia Theater, located directly next door, will also be used along with gigantic screens outside for the expected thousands of fans who will not be able to get in without tickets. Thats right - I said tickets. Fans who want to be apart of the King of Pop’s funeral will have to dish out $25 a pop for tickets in order to pay their respects to their icon. Friends and family of the fallen star will be sitting on the main floor, while ticket holders will have seats located in the stands. The memorial service will have a concert feel, featuring guest speakers and streaming music and video. Fans who are able to get their hands on tickets will also be able to buy “This Is It” tour paraphernalia outside the center as they are entering the service. Jacksons close friends, like Elizabeth Taylor and Diana Ross, are expected to attend.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was scheduled to move into the Staples Center to set up for their circus starting the following day but has been asked to postpone doing so for a few hours. Rumors are circulating that the circus is now on standby with the service being followed by a parade of elephants and circus performers, but Ringling Bros. has a different story.
“We will not be taking part in the memorial service,” spokesperson Stephen Payne confirmed. “We are prepared to make any logistical changes with equipment and such to help out.”
The latest word is there will be no open casket viewing. Thank common sense for that. His death has become a media frenzy as it is, so at least they are letting him rest in peace in some way.
[ Radar]
Topics: Michael Jackson, Wired Gossip, Wired Music, Wired WTF |
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31 Responses to “Michael Jackson Funeral to Charge $25 and Sell T-Shirts”
Comments
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:47 am
The worlds greatest human being that touched so many lives all over the world is gone and the world will never be the same without our beautiful king of Pop. God bless Michael Jackson and his loving family. May Michael Jackson rest in peace and always be in our hearts.
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:37 pm
How tacky is that. To make money on his funeral. I have never heard anything like that. This is not a concert. To sell tickets, and t-shirts. Michael is probably turning over right about now. This is why african americans have such a bad image. By the way, I’m african american. This is sooooo sad. May God forgive you all.
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I understand why MJ had nothing to do with his family. Charging fans is wrong on so many levels. I bet this was Joe’s ideal.
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:03 pm
I think this is in poor taste to be making money this way. This really shows the greed.
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:52 pm
wow they want o charge. im pretty sure MJ wouldn’t do that to his fans. Shame on the person who organized his funeral.
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I agree, that this is so TACKY and wrong.The greed of some people just amaze me. As if Michael did not leave his family enough. We all need to pray and ask god to forgive them and teach them right from wrong. Pray for his childred what is this teaching them people are getting rich off their fathers death. SAD SAD SAD. Was this Joe’s ideal?
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:28 pm
$25 isnt a whole lot of cash, less then what a concert would cost ya. I think this is the way the family can invite the fans to be a part of Michaels funeral without it costing them a whole lot of dough. How much does it cost to rent Staples Center for a day?
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:54 pm
This is absurb. The Jackson family should be proud and honered to have so many fans that want to be there for them. To charge them is disrespectful. I just hope people will remember what the jackson family is doing.
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:56 pm
I agree my father wants a ticket pray please pray im sorry
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:30 pm
may the king of pop rest in peace i will be there regardless of the cost it is an out rage that someone would do such a thing as charge to go to a funeral…..but they odviously did what they felt the need to do.
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:51 pm
I AM APPALLED TO HEAR THAT FANS ARE BEING CHARGED FOR MICHAEL JACKSON’S FUNERAL. THIS IS DISPICABLE AND OUTRAGOUS… MICHEAL WOULD HAVE NEVER ALLOWED SUCH A THING TO HAPPEN. HE OPENED HIS HOME AND HEART TO MANY PEOPLE. I KNOW HE’S WATCHING SAYING “THIS IS WHY I ESTRANGED MYSELF FROM THIS GREEDY FAMILY” I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHO THOUGHT OF THIS REDICULOUS IDEA!! MICHAEL WILL ALWAYS KEEP A COOL PLACE IN MY HEART. HE HAS HAD AN INPACT ON ME BEYOND WORDS. I LOVE YOU MIKE AND SORRY FOR THIS MESS THAT IS ABOUT TO GO DOWN. I HOPE THEY WILL PUT THE PROFITS AWAY FOR THE CHILDREN. THT IS THE LEAST THE GREEDY BUTTS CAN DO. RIP MIKE!!! KING OF POP!!
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:54 pm
I am stunned by this news. If this is true, what an all-time low. There are no words. Yes, it could offset the expenses, but I’m sure it could have been done differently. It would be funny if the fans united and decided not to pay entry and just partied outside the staples center for free and watched the event on the big screens.
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:46 pm
First of all, this is our biggest lost, I feel like I have lost part of my life. I’m still in shock and can’t beleive this has happened to the Kind of Pop, he’s gone and my thought’s and prayers are w/him and his family, friends and fans. To the poeple who think charging $25 bucks is disrespectul, you must be so cheap. I mean come on that’s nothing to be present in the funeral of the King of Pop to say the last good bye to him, do you have an idea of how much money is spent in just a normal person’s funeral? can you imagine how much it will cost for the KING OF POP? I think it’s more disrespectful that you have the nerves to say that. You should be thankful the family is allowing us fans to be part of this painful & and hard moment not only for them but for the people who was close to them and his fans. $25 is NOTHING, still can’t believe there’s such people with no heart and rude that instead of being Thankful to have the greatest opportunity to be there and be part of history, you’re being so disrespectful and SOOO cheap. If you think it’s disrespectful, just don’t attend and have so respect for others.
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Maybe they need to charge to pay for staples center, security at staples center, and pay for the extensive LAPD security. They really should not have used the Staples center, they probably should have used the memorial center where the olympics were held, its bigger and I think security, traffic etc would be easier to handle. Whatever.
My main comment is Staples isn’t doing it for free, neither is security and LAPD is chargin too. It has to come from somewhere, since his finances are up in the air right now due to the will and estate issues, maybe this is how they are dealing with it, plus a way to keep the crowd to 20,000 instead of 100,000.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:08 pm
I don’t believe there will be a charge for tickets to Michaels funeral. But I do believe if there were a fee, every ticket would be sold, with thousands clamoring for more. If I lived in CA I would def pay to attend if there were no other choice. I don’t think Michael’s mother would ever hurt her sons’ name by asking people to pay to attend his funeral. Maybe his dad might, but I really don’t think so. Michael’s family will surely show great respect to him and his children by having a beautiful service… which they all deserve. RIP Michael
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Come on guys. There renting out the stapel center to seat 20,000 people. Thats gonna cost alot of money. If you are a true fan of Michael you wouldnt complain about a measly 25 dollars to see him laid to rest. The funeral is going to be chaos, and we’re gonna need the police to keep everybody in check and keep things flowing. A funeral for Michael is gonna cost an arm and a leg. The family is doing this for the fans that wants to see his body thats why they charge 25 dollars. How much do you think it cost to rent out the Stapel center anyways?? A shit load of money. Money that they probably dont need to spend if the family is going to give him a private burial.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:34 pm
My prayers and thoughts are with the Jackson family. I am a HUGE Michael Jackson fan. My sisters’ and I grew up listening to his music. Some of my favorite times were spent dancing to his “Off The Wall” album. With all the fans that Michael have, I can understand why the family would charge to come to the funeral. Everyone will not be able to fit into the Staple Center. Instead of worrying about the $25 fee for the funeral, some of his fans need to take that time to go back to school to learn to spell again. I wish that I could attend his funeral on Tuesday. It’s ironic that I lost my father on May 29, my grandfather on June 14, and then Mike on June 25. How much more pain can one person take?
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:00 am
I want to let the family know my heart is with them in this trying time. I can relate with his mother and his siblings. I lost my daughter in 2003, she was 21 yrs.old. Then my only sibling in 2004, she was 42 yrs.old very suddenly. So I just want to tell them, they will always love them and their heart will always have an empty spot, but now they all have an angel looking out for them. I will keep them all in my prayer.
Sheela S.
Dallas, Tx
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:26 am
What does all of this matter to you anyway?
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:34 am
This is disgraceful, hoe could his family do that? After everything they’ve put him through, everything they’ve done to him making money out of him, they are SELLING his funeral? Still trying to make money out of him when he’s dead! How could they say they love him? His fans love him more and always will. His family are a disgusting selfish bunch who should rot in hell.
July 3rd, 2009 at 6:35 am
I believe Staples donated the space and that Joe Jackson is the greediest person on the face of the earth. I hope this comes back to haunt him in many ways, including boycotting of anything that is Jackson family related. He has turned this funeral into a freak show. To Belle, the big difference is $25 paid for a concert is one thing, but the $25 does not include a concert, the family is simply hocking his body (which is reported to be closed casket). It’s all about the money…
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:32 am
To Robin, No, I think the $25 is the amount of money that the Staples Center get per concert seat. And from what I understand Michael Jackson has had money problems for years. Why wasn’t Michael livng at Neverland, and why did he allow Neverland to fall into decay, if he didnt have cash issues?? No, I think this was the familys way of including ALL of Michaels TRUE FANS without breaking their bank account. I think it was rather gracious of them to include his fans. They could have had a very private service, with just family and friends. Geeze, They decided to turn Michaels Funeral into a celebration of his life and include everyone, who says they loved him.
Hey, when my dad died, ALL of our family and friends brought a casserole to our home to help feed everyone. I wonder how much that cost them? I would say at least about $25 for the ingredients
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:58 am
You made some very good points Robin.
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:35 pm
joes idea for sure
July 4th, 2009 at 4:38 am
Of course Joe is responsible. He takes the phrase ” a piece of shit ” to a whole new level…
July 4th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Alert! The memorial tickets @ Staples are being raffled off - FREE - to only around 17,000 people, and only those w/ a ticket can even get near a square mile of Staples Center on Tuesday 7 July 2009. YOU STILL HAVE TWO HOURS LEFT TO REGISTER for this raffle @ http://www.staplescenter.com/memorial.php.
I have no connection w/ this, just wanted people to know this gloomy “event” (see “Day of the Locust”) is not being sold, it is free. I don’t know about $25 T shirts though…
July 4th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
What all did Joe Jackson do to warrant such hatred? I know he pushed the kids in the early days, but, every parent has their shortcomings.
I still think $25 for a seat is not about making a profit. Sorry I just don’t, if they were charging the price of a concert ticket, then yeah I would be outraged. I just remember with Elvis’s funeral. The family tried to include the fans, but after a couple of days, they had to close the door to the viewing.
Most likely in the future Neverland, will be making money like Graceland, and Michaels body will be moved there. Then will Joe Jackson be considered a creep. Were the Presleys considered low life for cashing in on Elvis home?
Will it stop any of you from visiting Neverland if it is made into a museum?
July 5th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
disgusting to sell FUNERAL tickets as if it were a show.
July 6th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Big Joe, take the $$$ to Vegas Baby!! Bet it ALL on BLACK.
July 6th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
That man is one sad old excuse for a father
July 7th, 2009 at 5:52 am
how can his family sell tickets when tax payers are already paying for his tribute in cali today what a tacky family if they are doing this.. tax payers are already paying and they want more money.. shame on them im sure michael is rolling over in his casket to see what his family is doing.. no wonder he didnt leave the family in charge of his will. amen to that..