Michael Jackson dead at 50

LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson, the moonwalking former child star known the world over as the "King of Pop" before his life and career deteriorated in a freakish series of scandals, died Thursday, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. He was 50.

The person said Jackson died in a Los Angeles hospital. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.

The circumstances of his death were not immediately clear. He was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at the home where he was staying about 12:30 p.m., Capt. Steve Ruda told the Los Angeles Times.

The paramedics performed CPR and took him to UCLA Medical Center, Ruda told the newspaper.

Jackson's death calls a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music's premier all-around performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV, dominated the charts and dazzled even more on stage.

Jackson was perhaps the most exciting performer of his generation, known for his feverish, crotch-grabbing dance moves, his high-pitched voice punctuated with squeals and titters.

His single sequined glove and tight, military-style jacket were trademarks, second only to his ever-changing, surgically altered appearance.

Earlier Thursday evening, with speculation reaching a fever pitch, the Times cited city and law enforcement sources as saying Jackson had been rushed to hospital by paramedics and was not breathing when they arrived at the sprawling mansion where he'd been staying.

Subsequent reports said Jackson was in a deep coma and that family members were gathering at his bedside. Some unconfirmed reports said he'd suffered cardiac arrest.

Word of the sudden emergency, fuelled by rampant media speculation about the possibility of Jackson's death, brought a swarm of news helicopters to the air above the hospital and a growing mass of people on the grounds outside.

The tragedy struck amid a concerted effort by Jackson to resurrect his singing career after years of tabloid headlines, most of them relating to his sensational trial and acquittal on child molestation charges.

Earlier this year, a fit-looking, grinning Jackson held a brief news conference, surrounded by fans, to announce his impending comeback: a marathon series of massive back-to-back concerts in London.

Jackson's 1982 album "Thriller" -- which included the blockbuster hits "Beat It," "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" -- remains the biggest-selling album of all time, with more than 26 million copies.

As years went by, however, Jackson became an increasingly freakish figure. His skin became lighter and his nose narrower.

He surrounded himself with children at his Neverland ranch, often wore a germ mask while travelling and kept a pet chimpanzee named Bubbles as one of his closest companions.

In 2005, he was cleared of charges he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor at Neverland in 2003. He had been accused of plying the boy with alcohol and groping him. The case took a fearsome toll on his career and image, and he fell into serious financial trouble.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital as word of his death spread. The emergency entrance at the UCLA Medical Center, which is near Jackson's rented home, was roped off with police tape.

In New York's Times Square, a low groan went up in the crowd when a screen flashed that Jackson had died, and people began relaying the news to friends by cellphone.

"No joke. King of Pop is no more. Wow," Michael Harris, 36, of New York City, read from a text message a friend sent to his telephone. "It's like when Kennedy was assassinated. I will always remember being in Times Square when Michael Jackson died."

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[bobnikel2009]

REST IN PEACE, michael jackson you where a legend u will never be forgotten

[fachero331]

michael jackson is now death but i remember him forever in my heart

[griners98]

@Burnshot28 sick u r lolin at that

[Burnshot28]

lololololololololol lololololololololololololololo­lolol!

[martinunzain93]

Dead Noooouuu

[ninomt]

he gay, and alive

[kokonzak]

U kno wats wierd I live in New York and then i was visitingmy bro who lives in LA In Cali, thats when i was ther when it happened. I only visited for a week and that week when he died, hollywood bulivard was PACKED every one wanted to see "his star" it was crazy!!!

[TheAcheung]

Michael Jackson has had a hard life and bad publicity is just personal opinion, we should respect his great works and be aware if he had live longer he would have had MORE fans! :P

[oonamega]

shut up.......

[oonamega]

LEARN HOW TO SPELL STUPID!!!!

[gracelace22]

grims123rose:

shut the hell up, you heartless dickhead.