Why Michael Jackson’s Funeral Tickets Shouldn’t Have Been Free
July 7, 2009
Ok, so ordinary people don’t sell funeral tickets. But like many celebrities – there was little about Michael Jackson’s life that was ordinary, so why should his death be any different?
Before the ballot for Michael Jackson’s funeral tickets, there was talk that there would be a $25 charge. And like many people, I thought that seemed tacky at first. But after a bit of thought, there is plenty of reasons to charge the public for the funeral tickets:
1. Remove The Financial Burden From The Tax Payers Of California: Costs of extra policing and security on the day of Michael Jackson’s funeral are likely to be astronomical. Most taxpayers have to pay for their own funerals, so why on earth should they have to pay for Michael Jackson’s funeral? If the Jackson’s had charged for the tickets, they’d have been able to use the money to pay for the funeral policing.
2. Michael Jackson Was A Money Making Machine: Like many celebrities, Michael Jackson breathed money. There’s few things he would have done for free in life, so why should his funeral be any different? Charging for the funeral wouldn’t have harmed anyone. And it was obvious that some people were going to sell the tickets on ebay. Why should these ticket touts profit, when the star of the show isn’t getting a dime?
3. People Are Going For Entertainment – Not Mourning: Yes it’s sad that Michael Jackson died so young and many of us were shocked to hear about his death. But I cringe when I hear folk talk about how they’re grieving. You can’t grieve the death of someone you don’t know.
And the folk who got the golden tickets for Michael Jackson’s funeral are no different. They want to be entertained, they want to be part of it – they want to be able to tell their grandchildren they were there. So why shouldn’t they pay for it too?
4. People Don’t Mind Paying For Death In Hollywood: Dearly Departed Tours charge $50 to take you on a tour of the death scenes of Hollywood’s great lates. They seem to book up pretty quick and their prices make the $25 the Jackson’s were going to charge for the funeral seem like a steal.
I’m guessing that the reason the Jackson’s didn’t charge for the tickets was that they didn’t want to piss off the public. But apparently, they’ve been asked by LA officials to contribute towards funeral policing costs and they’ve refused, so that’s probably annoyed quite a lot of people anyway.
What do you think? Should the public have paid for Michael Jackson’s funeral tickets, or would it have been tacky?
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Comments
37 Responses to “Why Michael Jackson’s Funeral Tickets Shouldn’t Have Been Free”
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Speaking my mind…
Well I think it’s terrible that the world has gone so gaga over the whole death of Michael Jackson. Mostly because not 2 years ago they all wanted to stone him to death or burn him at the stake for child molestation!
From twitter “@ChrisRoperZA I coined the term ‘Necrothrillia’ for the sick joy the world is taking in Michael Jackson’s death.”
I agree with that! I would also have charged for the funeral at second thought. Perhaps the funds could have been channeled into something a little more community based like the policing or even a children’s home in the area.
Agreed that most are going for entertainment value. I find it a little disturbing, but most of them are only there to say, “I was at his funeral!”
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I’m just tired of hearing people’s opinions on it! Arguing over someone’s funeral arrangements is in the worst of taste to me. Suggesting tickets should be paid for comes close to that too. Whatever anyone says, he was a top-class entertainer who suffered. He did good things and some not so good, although I personally believe the charges against him were trumped up. I believe he was used and abused throughout his life and one only has to look at pictures of him to see how he suffered. I believe it is this which impels people’s hearts to go out to him in sympathy and sorrow, and this, the day of his funeral, is one in which we should all bow our heads. Regardless of our opinion. Forgive me for adding mine.
Hi Robert – I know what you mean – it’s a shame they couldn’t have been nice to him when he was alive too. The “necrothrillia” term is spot on.
Hi Michelle – you’re obviously not tired enough to stop reading
The event at the Staples Center is not the funeral. It’s a “memorial.”
The actual funeral is to be a private family ceremony.
Charging for this event would have added another layer of complexity to an extravaganza that has been put together in an extremely short period of time.
I agree that the city should not have to bear the burden of this expensive, unnecessary event.
Michael Jackson was just another entertainer to me. This whole mess is just extreme bad taste to me — the worship of the culture of celebrity gone mad.
Mike
Exit78.com
Maybe this will get my comment past Askimet.
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Actually, I agree with Michelle. A lot of people loved Michael Jackson for his creativity and incredible talent. Not everyone believed that he was a child molester. Some thought that the children’s parents were after some of his millions and coached their children. Many more were thrilled to see a black man become as famous as Elvis or the Beatles in a world where black talent is not always given the acclaim it deserves.
Many followed his career closely and do feel a personal loss of his music and what he meant to them. They felt that a lot of the charges made about him in the press were typical of press making accusations against blacks, while ignoring similar behavior by a white person. I’m not talking about child molestation charges, but just being eccentric. We don’t hear about “Wacko Leonardo,” but we always heard about “Wacko Jacko.” Just my two cents.
Dot’s last blog post..Family –- Ain’t It Hard?
Hi Dot – I hear you. I loved Michael Jackson’s music too and I admired his talent. Also, I didn’t believe he was a child molester.
And as you say – it was thrilling for lots of people to see a black man become so famous. It probably meant more to a lot of people than Obama getting elected did.
It’s difficult not to feel sad – especially for his kids but I have a tough time understanding the mass grieving thing. It happened when Princess Diana died too.
Maybe I am missing something. After all, if we’re all meant to be spiritually connected – maybe this type of grief is real?
Hi Cath,
Thanks for this thought provoking article! I too liked Michael Jackson’s music a lot, but did not follow or make opinions based on what was happening in his life, etc.
So as for the funeral, you bring up great points, I however do not really have a stance on it one way or the other. If they want to make them free then so be it, if they want to charge then that is great too.
What I do feel a little strongly about though is what the other commentator mentioned, how people hate each other one minute and then mourn the death in love and tears the next.
I think we need to wake up a little and stop living “fake” lives. We need to take a little stance instead of blowing with the winds of the media. Like him or hate him, but be true to yourself about why you feel the way you feel.
Anyway, just my 2 little cents in this
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While I can’t begin to know Michael’s mind, I have to believe that someone so protective of his personal privacy in life would have abhorred this spectacle.
Betsy Wuebker’s last blog post..THE FLAME OF LIBERTY STILL BURNS
Hi Mike – I heard that too but I’m wondering what the difference really is between funeral and memorial? Apparently the policing costs etc could run about $4 million dollars and they’re asking the public to make donations on some website.
Hi Evita – That is a really great point. Whether we like it or not, the media influences us way too much.
Hi Betsy – I wonder what he would have thought of it? He said he enjoyed performing on stage and he seemed to. But as you say, he seemed to want to keep his private life very private.
I honestly don’t have an opinion on the subject! Celebrity culture is not for me, I guess.
Vered – MomGrind’s last blog post..Retouching As An Act Of Kindness
Hi Vered – I know you’re not into all the celebrity stuff.
MJ gave so much to people, it’s nice that regular people were able to go pay their respects without having to pay money to do so.
i feel bad, not just for MJ, but for those he left behind. his kids, his family. i still can’t believe he died. i don’t really get it.
i don’t go gaga over celebs, but they are people too and a life was lost. nobody has to care about MJ, but someone died, a person. we see so much death today that we’re apathetic, we shrug and say so what.
that’s really sad to me.
Natural’s last blog post..I am conductor, hear me cook
i also didn’t know MJ cath, but i still weep.
Natural’s last blog post..I am conductor, hear me cook
Hi Valerie – I feel for his kids too – they’ve lost their only parent figure. And it would take a heartless person to hear his daughter speak at the memorial and not feel a thing. But I’d feel the same seeing any children in that situation.
Hi Cath: I think his funeral should have been something small and private and the public should not have been informed of where and when it was going to take place. Even if his entire life was in the public eye, at least he should have gotten some privacy when it came time for his burial.
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#3 is the one that really gets me. Just today on the news they showed some guy who said, “It’s a once in a lifetime experience and I wanted to be there.”
What? Are you kidding me? Are you there for the experience or for Michael and his family?
Geez.
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#3 hits the spot. You’re right … it was more about entertainment than mourning. In a way though, I think that’s good. It was more about celebrating his life, than mourning the loss.
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I think it would have been a good idea to charge, so that the cost of security could have been covered, like you suggested. I wish people would get over this silly dying business – it’s such a waste (had to throw it in – ha)
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Hi Mare – a couple of people have said that & suggested that he would have preferred small and private. Maybe the whole thing had been easier if he’d put in writing what he wanted to happen but I suppose it’s a thing that few people get round to.
Hi John – That really does sum up all that is tasteless about the whole thing.
Hi JD – Celebrating life is good – but it didn’t look like his kids were doing much celebrating. Maybe these memorials should happen a good while after the death? Princess Diana’s was ten years later.
LOL Robin – That is so true. If we could all make ourselves live a lot longer, we’d cut a lot of these unnecessary costs. BTW did you read about that healthy 107 year old guy? I’ll try to find the link for you.
I confess – I didn’t follow the funeral at all either. When the man was alive, he was vilified for the pedo charges. All of a sudden, now that’s he’s dead, the whole world starts to remember other aspects of him. Blech. So yes, I’d say, make attendees pay. I highly doubt the sincerity of many of them.
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Hi Barbara – This is a lot like what happened when Princess Diana died. The media was constantly pulling her to bits in the weeks preceding her death. And afterwards millions of people were “in mourning” – heavily influenced no doubt, by the way the tragedy was covered by the media.
I usually don’t follow any singer in particular. For the most part, I felt for his soul when he was alive. Yes, I was surprised that tickets to his memorial were given away free! You’ve got a point about doing memorials 10 years later!
Robin’s comment made me laugh too!!
Evelyn Lim’s last blog post..Love The Man In The Mirror
Hi Evelyn – Ten years was a long time but it did make sense. Maybe even one year is good.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..Why Michael Jackson’s Funeral Tickets Shouldn’t Have Been Free
I guess some people feel that they know a celebrity if they spend a lot of time learning about them and collecting memorabilia, etc.. Also, a sudden death of someone who’s not old is sad.
Dot’s last blog post..Family –- Ain’t It Hard?
I read where one woman drove 2 days, just to go the memorial services.
Sheesh. GET A LIFE.
Sure, his death is sad, especially for his friends and family. But no more tragic than any Joe-Public we read about in the paper, who died young and left behind kids.
We never care about those people. Yet we’re all going gaga over MJ, because he was a celebrity. And we all somehow want to be involved, and feel important.
But did we hang ever out with Michael? Did we go over to his house for a beer? Did we chat with him on the phone, and invite him over for dinner? Did we babysit his kids?
No. Except for his music, he was basically a stranger we never met.
I probably sound like a grumpy Friar when I say this, but we need to get over ourselves and move on.
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Hi Dot – Someone younger dying is always sad definitely and I guess that probably has a lot to do with all the hysteria. Also, it’s definitely a reminder that it could be us tomorrow and that’s got to scare people.
Hi Friar – I think I heard about that one – they were saying they’d sold a heap of stuff to fund their road trip too – crazy.
I don’t think you sound grumpy. Like you say – aside from his music, we didn’t know him anymore than we knew some poor Joe Public dude who died young too.
You know, the more I read about stuff that goes on in Hollywood – the more I pity some of these celebs. It seems like aside from money – many of them don’t have a lot of good going on in their lives. It’s very sad.
I think the media is very responsible for how people feel about this event – if it wasn’t covered non-stop would people be so obsessed with it?
What really bothers me is that this is the death of one single person. Yes, a talented person whose music affected many of us ( I was in high school when people were wearing the red jacket and the single glove) but still a single person. Where is the outcry or the sadness over the death and suffering occurring all over the world all the time? A child dies every 3.5 seconds – frequently over something as seemingly simple as lack of clean water.
I remember feeling shocked when I heard about Princess Diana’s death. At first I thought it was a joke – she was such a constant on the cover of People magazine. But I didn’t feel sad – well, a little for her children …
I think people are truly blinded about what’s truly important.
Hi Kim – Folk not seeming to care about all those children dying in developing countries really bugs me too. Sometimes it feels like, if it’s not happening in the US, or the UK, it’s not important. I wish I could understand why people feel like that – then we could do something to change things.
Hi Cath. This is the first I’m hearing about his funeral tickets and charging money for them. I haven’t been listening to any news over the last week so I’m out of the loop. My instant reaction was that it is tacky.
I believe we can grieve when someone passes away even if we didn’t know them personally. If we still know of them and appreciate certain things about them, we develop a connection. There is a collective consciousness that we are all a part of; some are more tuned in than others depending on their “connection” to the person who has passed.
I admire MJ very much. He is a creative genius in my opinion and I feel a great deal of loss. People will choose to love or hate person for whatever reason, no matter how much of the “truth” they know about them. That is their choice.
I think MJ is better off without all of “this” and it is our loss.
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Hi Davina – That’s interesting. I believe there is a collective consciousness and I wondered if it would cause so many people to grieve. I wonder if they extent to which they are “tuned in” also affects their beliefs on death and whether it is a good or bad thing?
I agree that Michael Jackson was a creative genius and he is probably better off without this world in many ways. I’ve been reading that he may have been murdered by people around him, for money and that is very sad.
Hi Cath. That’s a good question. You’ve given me another perspective about grieving now. As it is one of our greatest fears I wonder how much of grieving is about fear; being reminded of the inevitable? I’m also guessing that how folk “see” death would affect how they tune in, or whether they choose to tune in. If what you have read is true about the cause of his death… that is very sad. I hope it is not true.
Davina’s last blog post..To Smile A Smile
Hi Davina – I’ve been wondering about the fear thing too. Recently, one of my uncles died far too young (57) and I must admit, it has caused me to worry about my health and mortality.
And I’ve noticed folk around me seem to be worrying more too. I don’t know if I’m noticing it because they are afraid, or if they’ve always been afraid but the death has made me notice it more???
I too hope that Michael Jackson wasn’t murdered. It makes me sad that people did because of money and other people’s greed.
Cath, I always thought it’s unethical to earn the money, from people who’s already dead! I don’t know other people feeling, but I do feel guilty with it…
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i got 2 tickets for it but i live on the east coast
i didnt know what to do so i just listed them on craigslist on account ebay was taking them off
Cath,
The feeling of sadness which many of his fans are understandably experiencing, whilst legitimate, should not be confused with the feelings of those who actually knew the singer – his family and closest friends.
Funerals, even those of celebrities, should be restricted to those with whom the deceased shared a real personal relationship – family, colleagues, business associates and close friends.
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Blame it all on Joe…
The public and media have certainly been Jekyl Hyde towards him. Maybe paying would raise revenue, would people pay?