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June 29, 2009

MJ's Father 'Not Ready' For Funeral

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Michael Jackson's father has said that his family has not yet made arrangements for the pop star's funeral, and that they are still awaiting results of a second autopsy.

Joe Jackson said: "We're not ready for that yet. We don't have the time frame yet because I want to see how this autopsy is coming out." Michael's mother Katherine has won temporary custody of his three children. The children - Prince Michael, 12; Paris Michael, 11; and Prince Michael II, 7 - will now stay with the Jackson family at least until a further hearing on August 3. Katherine Jackson filed papers at the Los Angeles Superior Court. It has also been reported that Mrs Jackson filed a second court action looking to take control of her son's estate. The Jacksons' lawyer Londell McMillan said the family had not yet heard from Deborah Rowe, the mother of the two elder children.

The youngest son was born to a surrogate mother. Joe Jackson added that looking after the children was the family's "first priority". Meanwhile, a tearful Janet Jackson has thanked people for their support as she joined a host of stars honouring the King of Pop. The singer struggled to speak at the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards in Los Angeles which was turned into a celebration of Michael Jackson's life and music after his death on Thursday. As singers and actors paid tribute to her brother and celebrated his musical legacy, the youngest member of the family, whose father Joe was also present, said: "To you Michael is an icon. To us, Michael is family and he will forever live in all of our hearts. On behalf of my family and myself, thank you for all your love." After she spoke, the celebrity crowd rose to its feet.

After a standing ovation during which more than one celebrity was seen to be wiping away tears, host Jamie Foxx and Ne-Yo sang Jackson's I'll Be There to the backdrop of photos of the star. And Joe Jackson said he thought his son would have approved of show's tribute, saying: "I think if Michael was here he would enjoy the celebrations. He couldn't be here but it's like he is larger than he was before. Michael gives his love to everybody and we hope that his record will never be broken." Asked how he would like his son to be remembered, the grieving father replied: "I would like him to be remembered forever around the world. And we know that all over the world, everybody is supporting him at the moment."

Foxx got the show off to a fitting start. As a Jackson 5 medley pumping through the auditorium, the actor moonwalked on stage wearing a Jacksonesque red jacket and white glove. Addressing the celebrity guests, he said: "No need to be sad. We want to celebrate this black man. We gonna go through all of Michael Jackson." In between musical tributes, guests were invited to share their memories and thoughts of Jackson. Sean 'Diddy' Combs said the singer "knocked down barriers" for black artists like himself. "Love you Mike," he added. Picking up an award for best female R'n'B artist, Beyonce - who had earlier dedicated a version of Ave Maria to the late singer - held aloft her trophy and said: "This is for you Michael Jackson. I have to thank Michael for being my future and hero." Other stars who paid tribute to the late singer included basketball star LeBron James and singer Ne-Yo.

The R'n'B star said of Jackson: "He's the man who made it possible for me to be on the stage. I love you and I miss you." Meanwhile, speaking on the red carpet, Mr Jackson said he had a "lot of concerns" over events leading up to his son's death as details began to emerge of results from the post-mortem carried out on his body. He said he couldn't go into detail of what his concerns were, but the family's attorney said more would be said after the results of a second post-mortem examination. In Britain, Jackson has topped the album chart, six years after his last number one as British fans constructed make-shift shrines to remember their idol. His greatest hits album, Number Ones, took the top spot after a surge in sales saw record shop shelves stripped of his work. Music retailer HMV admitted many branches had been emptied of Jackson albums since his death.

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