ET Online has a photo of Michael Jackson that is only slightly less offensive to his family that the supposed photos taken of the late Anna Nicole Smith in the coroner’s office. (Here’s the link to the photo and warning on that. I wasn’t going to include the link, but Kaiser said we should put it up.)
Jackson is shown in the ambulance being administered oxygen, and given the timeline we’ve heard he was most likely already deceased at that point. ET Online is likely to get a lot of traffic for posting this photo, but is it worth it? Kaiser is telling me that the US media coverage is so over the top that this is likely to be a drop in the bucket of the tabloid frenzy that will ensue.
It only seems fair to have some courtesy when celebrities die. Some things should be sacred, and illness and death shouldn’t be exploited or speculated about unnecessarily. Would you want a photo of your deceased loved one being released to the public? At the same time, people are overwhelmed and shocked and want to talk about it and learn as much as they can.
Of course fans want to know what happened, but an explanation should suffice, and the media should back off from publishing photos of dead celebrities unless there is an open casket. It just seems so macabre and unnecessarily.
I don’t find such photos, offensive. Death is very much a part of life, just as birth is and yet we treat it as something so taboo. A photo should be no different than an open casket, in my opinion; that is unless the situation is grotesque.
I think ET feels a ‘right’ to post such pictures of him since they had such a close professional relationship with him when he was alive
It s sad what happened ot him adn my heart goes out to his family and friends but to chance sounding bad, wht happend to Ferrah? Y did she get pushed to the side when he woudn up dead? Should they not both get equal spotlight?
I honestly feel it was inconsiderate to post the photo. He was already dead in that picture and it seemed incensitive of ET to post that knowing that his children, nieces and nephews could have seen it.
This is what I don’t like about the press and mentioned about in the Farrah post. Some of the media outlets seemed tobe in such a rush to say they were “the first to” bring such and such.
Reminds me of what the Salem Witch Trial must have been like.
They should have waited with the photo, just like they had the last photos of Diana in the french tunnel and didn’t release them until years later I think. And even then it caused an uproar. That same consideration should have been given with Michael.
As an RN who works in an ICU setting, I can say firsthand that in an emergency situation, some pretty awful things happen to you. We pound on your chest and break your ribs. We strip you naked and leave you that way so we can examine you. We put in all sorts of large bore IVs and arterial lines. We crack your chest open so we can massage your heart. All while you are an ungodly shade of blue/white. People who die in emergency situations suffer some awful trauma before we let them go. This is NOT something that should be seen outside of medical professionals or the patient’s immediate family.
I saw this photo on Larry King last night and was disgusted. He’s intubated (has a breathing tube shoved down his throat) I
While it’s not as graphic as it could be, it is not the public’s business. Would you want your mom’s blue body seen by the masses? No. I am certainly not a fan of the man, but no one, no matter how famous, should have their last terrible moments televised.
I find nothing taboo about birth or death. The publishing of a death photo particularly as the poor bastard had only just died and was still intubated is as polkasox said not the public’s business. I don’t care how “close” ET’s relationship was with Jackson it was a gross violation of the man’s and his family’s privacy.
Thank you for just posting it as a link. Unfortunately I went on a general news site yesterday and it was plastered on the front page. Tacky and an image I didn’t need to see.
Sadly due to the nature of the beast that is sensationalist media coverage, dignity in death is no longer a norm, nor does it give you any option.
RIP Michael and thanks for the memories. Your songs will continue to be a soundtrack in many peoples lives.
this is just more evidence of how the media crushed and crippled michael jackson… and it continues in death…
This certainly further proves that civilization is most certainly in decline.
It’s called RESPECT! It’s amazing the double standards that are suddenly sent and acceptable when it comes to other peoples death. I am so disgusted with the media and hateful (and entertained) individuals who insist that this sort of behavior is perfectly okay.
ET took advantage of the Jackson’s grief and lowered guard. If it were one of our family members we’d be mortified and screaming bloody murder at the idea.
Apparently, we don’t know how to be civil anymore thanks to reality tv and ceebitchy worship, badgering and bashing.
I am so done!
Last night my boyfriend and I were sitting in our living room, watching the media coverage of his death from a variety of news sources. One we did see was ET showing this photo. I got ‘the wtf as you crying for look’ from my boyfriend when he realized I had tears in my eyes – Although I love him as an entertainer and musician, I can’t claim to be some huge fan.
It really was inconsiderate to show that photo and call it “his last photo” etc when he was CLEARLY dead or in a severe, pre-death coma (it’s been reported both ways – that he was DOA when they got there and that he was simply in a coma).
Just. Wrong.
Thanks for noticing this – I am surprised that it hasn’t caused a bigger reaction.
There is nothing taboo about death – it’s a part of life. But these sorts of pictures shouldn’t be published without the family’s consent.
How awful. Even the families shouldn’t really have to see that. I run into pet parents that have seen Post-Mort Spasms (we call it ‘bucking’, as sometimes when death occurs the muscles spasm a bit it looks as if they are fighting to stay alive, it really freaks people out). Mr Jacksons family didn’t need to see him in such a condition.
He wasn’t perfect, and I was disappointed in his obvious arrested development and the possibility that he may have hurt children which is beyond unforgivable IMHO, that being said he certainly did make some wonderful music and was sadly a very damaged soul from childhood and that wasn’t something he was responsible for. I try to tell my patients families that violence begets more violence, if you hit your dog/cat etc and one day it bites you back don’t act shocked. Patience and temperance are paramount. As my grandma always said you catch more bees with honey than you do with vinegar.
We all have to accept that gossip sites like this one are part of what fuels interest (and obsession) with celebrities, and part of the reason intrusive coverage and photos are offered.
Not ragging Celebitchy or any of the posters, and not trying to be holier than thou (after all, I’m over here too) but – it is what it is. We can choose to look or to not look. We can express our opinion, act accordingly, and preserve our own standards.
i am sorry for my grammar…i’m from germany so…but i really have to write some feelings about this down.
i am really angry with those people who say he is a padophile! really, really angry.
what the f’ck! a person is not guilty until his guilt is proven. by the time michael jackson was so rich! everyone wanted a piece of his cake! this accusions could be made on every man and every women! his guilt was never proven. so he is not guilty.
he was such a special musician and normally i don’t mourn about celebrities because i don’t know them. but he was one of a kind and he was part of my childhood. music is not the same anymore. and i hope it gets better with michael playing non stop in the radio.
you know…i really hate those judgemental people. you are like villagers on witch hunting. don’t know the truth but want to judge and do “right and justice”. really. sick folks!
and i hate those celebs who come out and give their statements. he was alone for the last years. where have they been? they call themselves friends…wtf? that’s not friendship. i’m sad. and i hope wherever he is…he has found peace .
this society makes me so sick.
how dare some of you? 2pac raped a women or much more. mike tyson did it, too! and he’s in high frequented movies now like this disney museum flick or the hangover. but does someone talk about this? roman polanski and the lil’ girl? what’s wrong with some of you?
I’m with you #14 (can’t see the name, something’s wrong with my screen). I look at it this way, the man is dead and has to answer to his Maker – why do we feel the need to still condemn him here on earth? He’ GONE people!! If a person can’t say rest in peace respectfully, they why comment at all?
As a fan, I want to say that we didn’t need to see this photo anyway. What we want is the toxicologist report and to find out what happened, though it obviously can’t taken away from the loss and sadness the millions of us feel. I am completely unsurprised and disgusted as usual by the media’s choices in relation to resorting to anything for money and ratings, as they always did. Publishing this photo or showing images of Michael’s body being transported are completely unnecessary. It does nothing for people to see this and is a gross exploitation. We remember Michael the way we want to, which is onstage blowing people’s minds. My only consolation is that Michael is finally at peace, no thanks to the media. RIP, MJ.
Patty,
I apologize if my comment was in any way upsetting to you or anyone else, this is a very sad time for MJ fans, myself included, but to be fair he wasn’t ‘perfect’ none of us are, and the poor man was very emotionally damaged, very sad and all too common with child stars. Poor thing never really had a chance at a normal childhood and socialization which is so terribly sad for him. Maybe something good will come of this and parents of child stars will be better educated on the hazards that can befall a child star and how it could effect them as adults.
That being said, please let me reiterate, I loved his music it was a seminal part of my youth, and he was a unique and great talent, his passing is very sad and he was far, far, far too young. As a matter of fact I just went to online to buy a copy of Thriller (again, lost it in my last move) and you wouldn’t believe how much it is selling for today. I saw one where the min bid was 148.90.
Again, my sincere Mea Culpa, I meant no disrespect to the artist MJ or his fans.
insensitive bastards
He does not look that he was dead too long since that photo was taken (if he was actually dead at that time), he looks like he is unconscious in that photo.
Bogart4017,
Thank you ever so much for your insightful analysis. Did you actually read the comments? Most of them were very complimentary of MJ as an artist, and uncomfortable that this picture was published as it seems to be very inappropriate. Or did you just read one post you didn’t like and got a burr under your saddle and decided to post without following up with the rest of the comments?
Viper,
At least they only linked to it instead of putting it up, it allows people the choice to see it or not, even though I find it disturbing that anyone would want to see it, but sometimes people need closure and this may be how they find it. Beyond that, what really bothers me is the person who took the photo, maybe they really wanted to remember that moment forever so they took a photo and if that is the case fine, but the fact they sold it to the highest bidder makes me suspect they are just a rubber necking, money grubbing, sick twist.
Agreed but THIS could have been his last moments and I think we can agree this is just too morbid for any sort of closure. I mean its not like an open casket like Ray Charled had this is a man who could have been alive and DIYING.
Yeah, I wasn’t happy about the photo – very insensitive. Eonline is having a field day with this – exclamation points everywhere “Live Feed!” of his autopsy results and joking headlines about Fawcett’s death “can’t get enough” of the information. Up yours Eonline, you suck.
i didn’t look at the photo – i prefer to remember him the way he was in the 80s before the plastic surgery and all the craziness that ensued.
I didn’t look at the photo either. ET was wrong in putting the photo in the media (just to make money probably). I want to remember MJ as he was…an amazing, incredible entertainer. And I suggest you do too..
Who was the paparazzi scumbag who took that photo? I guess it’s what they call the money shot and that guy is probably rolling in cash now. Paparazzi agencies must listen in on emergency calls so they can be first on the scene to get photos. When Britney was taken to hospital, they were literally chasing after the ambulance and it just made me sick.
I have been so blessed in my life. I have all my family members and have not had to go through the different stages of death. I am now 57 years old.
I loved MJ’s music and dance. I felt (at a younger age) that he epitomized real and solid entertainment and his music would be around forever.
Even when his looks changed so drastically and he had all those accusations around him, it was his music and talent that I was able to look at and not the other part of his life which was quite over the top and weird.
So I found it very interesting that I wanted to look at the picture. And after looking at it I realized what it did for me. It made me accept that he was really gone. It gave me closure. It didn’t upset me and I have so much fear of death. I didn’t see Michael Jackson in that picture. I saw a life that was leaving or had already left.
I do agree that it was an intrusion on him and his family’s privacy.
I will have my happy memories of Michael forever.
wow, intense stuff. that’s the way society is these days. both in life and death. RIP Michael Jackson.
I think should let the King of Pop rest in pea
ce! He’s in a better place. I’m soo tired of hearing about all of the negative things! R.I.P. MICHEAL YOU WERE GREAT!
ET shows a death picture of Michael. Now i am a true fan i love Michael but this picture is not real.Remember Randi from CNN stated that the ambulance attendant stated that he did not realize that it was Michael he was working on because he look like a sick old man.But the picture from ET exclusive does not look like a sick old man ,but a younger healthy Michael Jackson,and when did they take this picture.The ambulance had tinted windows,in the picture there was a glare from a red car, where did the car come from.
Do you really believe that this picture is real, now let us remember that he has a friend that works for TMZ,and if you pay attention to detail they were the first one’s to report that he had died?
I do not know if it’s just me or if perhaps everyone else encountering problems with your website. It looks like some of the written text within your content are running off the screen. Can someone else please provide feedback and let me know if this is happening to them as well? This may be a problem with my internet browser because I’ve had this happen previously.
Thanks