Elizabeth Taylor 'Tweets' About Her Plans Regarding Michael Jackson's Memorial

By: Jul. 07, 2009
Get Access To Every Broadway Story

Unlock access to every one of the hundreds of articles published daily on BroadwayWorld by logging in with one click.




Existing user? Just click login.

Entertainment Tonight announced that screen legend Elizabeth Taylor has tweeted about her plans for today's public Michael Jackson memorial in Los Angeles.

She tweeted yesterday, Monday July 6th: "I've been asked to speak at the Staples Center. I cannot be part of the public whoopla." She continued her 'tweet' minutes later, "And I cannot guarantee that I would be coherent to say a word." Then, she wrote minutes later, "I just don't believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others. How I feel is between us. Not a public event." She then wrote, "I said I wouldn't go to the Staples Center and I certainly don't want to become a part of it. I love him too much." She followed that up with a final, "My love goes out to Katherine and Michael's beloved children." To read more on the memorial click here.

The Jackson family released the official list of participants for today's Public Memorial Service for Michael Jackson. Mariah Carey and Jennifer Hudson will attend and perform. The complete list of all-star attendees also includes, Ron Boyd, Kobe Bryant, Andrae Crouch Choir, Berry Gordy, Shaheen Jafargholi (a finalist on Britain's Got Talent), Magic Johnson, Martin Luther King III, Bernice A. King, John Mayer, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Brooke Shields, Pastor Lucious Smith, Usher Raymond and Stevie Wonder.

All major television networks have confirmed coverage of the event Tuesday including, NBC, ABC, E!, CBS, and CNN. 17,500 ticket were handed out randomly for the event. The site set up to handle registrations for the drawing reported a massive 500 million visitors in just the first hour and a half after becoming available. Since then more than 600,000 have registered for a chance to win the coveted tickets.

Jackson, 50, died Thursday, June 25th, after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest at his home in Los Angeles. His memorial will take place today, Tuesday, July 7 at 10 a.m. at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The program will be simulcast at Los Angeles' nearby Nokia Theatre.

Michael's body is expected to be placed in a closed coffin on a raised plinth during the service. One of his trademark sequined gloves and a black fedora will be placed on top.

In a phenomenal, unparalleled career, Michael Jackson sold more than 750 million records, had 13 number one singles - more than any other male artist - and is one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice; once as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1997 and later as a solo artist in 2001. His numerous other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records, including one for "Thriller" as the world's best-selling album of all time - 100 million copies and counting.



Videos