Okay, so myself and two other Hollywire Girls were having lunch at Tender Greens in Culver City (down the street from Sony Studios–yes, we ate very late today) when our phones started lighting up with text after text.
First text: “Do you know anyone from Michael Jackson’s camp?”
Our first thoughts, “Uh, why?”
Then very quickly after that, next text from someone else: “Michael Jackson just died.”
1st reaction: no way.
But 2nd reaction: the person who was asking about Michael Jackson’s camp was from a very credible source–he would not be asking that without good reason.
3rd thought: this could really be true.
The 3 of us instantly go into Hollywire mode– all on phones, calling, confirming, getting the latest down-lows and then upon confirmation, stop to look around us, literally all in shock.
We realize no one at the restaurant knows what we know right at this very moment. Do we tell them?
We want to tell everyone. We want to start filming people’s raw reactions. But, we have to get back to the office because we have an interview with Jessica Sierra at 4pm. So, as much as we want to start filming, we can’t and we leave to go get ready for our interview.
We get back to the office and encounter some less than savory jokes about Michael Jackson & kids in heaven running for the hills. We make sure we have something up on the site regarding MJ. Our resident artist has Michael Jackson songs playing in the background. And suddenly just as quickly as the hype all started, it ends. The story is up, Jessica Sierra hasn’t arrived yet, we are sitting just listening to “Beat It” & our “Hollywire Mode” of operating has dissapated. The news truly sinks in. We’re bothered by the unempathetic jokes. Thriller almost brings on tears.
The legend of all legends of my time has just died. Put aside any of the rumors, lawsuits, & weirdness that perpetually surrounded this man. Just sit back and listen to “Billy Jean”… think back to the 80s sparkled gloved posters hanging on your bedroom wall…picture Weird Al’s parody of “Bad.”
This icon reached a global greatness that only a very special few can or will ever achieve. That does not deserve jokes, that deserves a tribute.
Where were you when the news sunk in? How did it change your mood; your day, your outlook? Your comments are our tribute to Michael.
June 25th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
he will be in our hearts forever…he is truly a legend
June 25th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
sad, sad day we lost 2 very unique people
June 25th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
his family is in our thoughts and prayers
June 25th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
I thought it was a bad joke when I heard. Didn’t make sense to me. Thought more sensational rumors. I think I’m still in shock.
June 25th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
I live in LA; there’s a vigil at UCLA. I’m going tonight. You should join.
June 25th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
it’s so sad…last night, my friends and i were practicing the thriller dance and listening to his music…now it seems kind of creepy…
June 25th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
I will miss michael jackson but his music will live on forever
June 25th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
It’s such a strange feeling when a huge celebrity dies. When Heath Ledger died, it was a tremendous shock because he was so young and at such a high point in his career. It made me think about what it would be like if someone like Stephen Spielberg or George Lucas died, because they are such filmmaking giants that their deaths would be like the death of royalty. But despite the inevitable jokes and all the controversy surrounding Michael Jackson, he is arguably the biggest pop star the world has ever seen, and his sudden death at such an early age has a pretty powerful effect on the world. Frankly I’m still reeling from taking in the news of his and Farrah Fawcett’s death on the same day. But even though there are sure to be plenty of tasteless jokes about it, it seems to me that Michael’s death will make more sensible and mature people celebrate the achievements of his life rather than the perceived strangeness of his later years. He had a tremendous impact on millions of lives, and he should be remembered for it.
June 25th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
i was at lunch to celebrate my friends BIRTHday… needless to say, it was a downer. michael’s music crossed ethnic, cultural and generational divisions. he will truly live on forever. i hope his name is respected for at least a little while before the cruel jokes start flying all around the media.
June 25th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
I still can’t believe that MJ is dead. It was strange to think that his good friend Elizabeth Taylor outlived him. =( I was at work when I heard the news and there was mass confusion to confirm his death. Unfortunately it is true and he’s gone. Condolences to the children he’s left behind.
June 25th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
It is a very sad day…. I was at home when I heard the news.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
I was in the shower when the store broke, but my mom called me to joke that I should get over to UCLA to get the inside scoop. After that, I planted myself in front of CNN and my computer, and I found out through Twitter that TMZ was now reporting his death. It took CNN seemingly forever to report the same news.
What’s really creepy is that about a week ago I was thinking about how what a media frenzy it will be when Michael Jackson dies and thinking that it probably won’t be too long from now. :(
June 26th, 2009 at 3:03 am
I was in bed and my step-dad text me and I thought it was a joke untill I turned on the tv and it was all over the news.
June 26th, 2009 at 10:48 am
I was at home and my sister called to let us know the news. I was in complete disbelief and ran to the computer to check to see if it was true…it’s so sad he was so young. They showed a past interview with MJ and Barbara Walters and that was sad to see too, he was hounded so bad by the paparazzi I think it made him crazy.
June 26th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
He is legendary and so is his music. Michael Jackson might have been weird but he was one of the all time best performers. We owe the music video to Michal Jackson!
June 26th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
I cried in my office bathroom for thirty minutes straight until the parking attendants told me to leave.
June 26th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
ABSOLUTE SHOCK…. He will always be the King of Pop!
Thank you for all the great music, and changing the FACE of popular culture,
his risks set the pace for so much music that has come along and i am sure his legacy will continue.
June 26th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I was working on the Hollywire servers akshully. Gotta be startin’ somethin.
June 26th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
I was on Hollywire putting up a facebook story when I went to check the thumbnail on the front page I saw that the update had been made that MJ was gone, I was in complete shock and could not believe it! He wasnt even sick and he had all those dates in England coming up… truly shocking
June 28th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
:(
June 29th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
I still can’t believe it. His music spread over 5 decades, he was apart of all of our lives.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Working on Hollywire. The news spread throughout the office so fast. All of us were in shock trying to figure out if the rumor was true or not. Soon after realizing that the news was not a hoax, MJ’s music started blaring in tribute.