Posts Tagged ‘Michael Jackson memorial’
Michael Jackson’s Empty Coffin
The newest wrinkle in the eery Jackson saga is the rumor his coffin was empty at the memorial service.
An insider told Page Six: “There was no body there at all.”
The argument? There isn’t any way the body would’ve been released yet in light of this criminal investigation.
“There were two autopsies done but now there’s a criminal investigation,” said a source. “Why would they release the body in a week if there’s a criminal investigation? And if they charge someone with his death, that person will want his or her own autopsy done.”
Michael Jackson Memorial Cost Los Angeles $1.4 Million
The numbers are in, folks. The glitzy Michael Jackson memorial cost Los Angeles $1.4 million. According to the mayor’s office, the city spent boatloads on extra police, trash pickup, sanitation, and traffic control.
A Web site was constructed early this week asking Jackson fans to donate money. The site has since netted the city $17, 000. California is $530 million in debt, and it’s a good thing Michael Jackson only dies once because it’s unlikely L.A. will pick up the tab for a repeat event.
“The city attorney does not want something like this happening again, the city paying (the initial costs) for a private event,” said spokesman John Franklin. “That’s especially in a cash-strapped city, where people have been furloughed or even lost jobs.”
Did Michael Jackson's Memorial Cost Los Angeles Millions?
Michael Jackson’s memorial is estimated to have cost Los Angeles somewhere around $3.5 million. For a city suffering a massive deficit, some say this (no disrespect to Jackson’s family and fans) was a bit extravagant.
Some think AEG — the concert promoter — should have planned for a service a bit cheaper and lower maintenance.
“We have city employees getting pink slips because the city dollars are not there,” said L.A. City Councilman Dennis Zine. “You would think AEG would say, ‘We’re the ones who did this, we could have had a private ceremony and not a major public memorial.’ AEG is a big entertainment company. They’re going to get international coverage and tons of publicity from this.”
