Michael Jackson Memorial Set for Staples Center Arena
Fans of the King of Pop will get a chance to pay their final respects to the entertainer, at the Los Angeles Staples Center, Tuesday. AEG, the concert promoters behind Jackson's ill-fated 'This is It Tour,' announced that it will distribute 11,000 tickets to the event free of charge.
Members of the media have been on a wild goose chase trying to pinpoint the exact location of the event. Earlier this week it was reported that the memorial would be held at Jackson's former home the Neverland Ranch. Located 130 miles outside of Los Angeles, the ranch has been filled with fans anticipating a public viewing of the pop icon's body.
Fans Mourn Michael Jackson
A Japanese woman weeps during a memorial vigil for Michael Jackson in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday, June 27th.
Koji Sasahara, AP
Michael Jackson fans dance the 'Moon Walk' on the Trocadero place on June 28th in Paris, France.
Julien Hekimian, WireImage
Fans of the late pop icon Michael Jackson light candles to pay tribute to the singer in an orthodox church in Skopje on June 27th two days after the King of Pop's death.
Robert Atanasovski, AFP / Getty Images
Michael Jackson fans gather to mourn the death of the pop star at the Eiffel tower on June 28th in Paris, France.
Julien Hekimian, WireImage
Fans pay tribute to Michael Jackson during a candle-lit vigil on June 27, 2009 in Xian of Shaanxi Province, China.
China Photos / Getty Images
New Edition performs a tribute to Michael Jackson at the start of the 9th Annual BET Awards on Sunday, June 28th in Los Angeles.
Chris Pizzello, AP
Bernadette Gillies of Salt Lake City cries while browsing through Michael Jackson 45s at Randy's Records & CDs in Salt Lake City.
Laura Seitz, Deseret News / AP
Indian artist and Michael Jackson fan Gonay Vijay gives final touches to portraits of the recently deceased pop star at his gallery in Hyderabad on June 28th.
Noah Seelam, AFP / Getty Images
Tshaka Lafayette, of New York, left, takes a picture of the marquee at the Apollo theater as people gather to remember Michael Jackson in the Harlem neighborhood of New York.
Tina Fineberg, AP
Orock Orock holds a sign outside the UCLA Medical Center, where entertainer Michael Jackson was taken prior to his death, in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25th.
Matt Sayles, AP
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Jackson's older brother, Jermaine, was interviewed from the sprawling estate Thursday. "He went too soon. I don't know how people are going to take this, but I wish it was me," Jermaine said. He went on to describe arriving at the hospital after hearing word of his brother's fatal cardiac arrest. "I wanted to see Michael, and I wanted to see my brother, and seeing him there lifeless and breathless was very emotional for me, but I held myself together because I know he's very much alive."
"His spirit is, and that was just a shell, but I kissed him on his forehead and I hugged him, and I touched him and I said, 'Michael, I'll never leave you. You'll never leave me.'" Jermaine also noted that he wants the 50-year-old to be buried at the ranch. However California law prohibits bodies to be buried at a personal residence.
Jackson sold 'Neverland Ranch' following his 2005 child molestation trial. He was acquitted of all charges and fled out of the public spotlight for a few years before re-emerging for his 'This Is It' tour, which was scheduled to kick-off July 13.
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