Michael Jackson died seven years ago today, but the music legend continues to make headlines long after his death. On the 7 th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death, his sister, LaToya Jackson, posted a remembrance of the Thriller singer on Twitter. In addition, Jackson’s nephew, Taj (who is the son of the late singer’s older brother, Tito) also posted a message in honor of the late King of Pop.
Please! May We All Let Him #RIP ! #MichaelJackson The #KingOfPop June 25, 2009 pic.twitter.com/ojmVi3kXSh
— La Toya Jackson (@latoyajackson) June 25, 2016
7 years ago we lost one of our brightest lights and it has been a darker world ever since. #MJforever
— Taj Jackson (@tajjackson3) June 25, 2016
Michael Jackson’s three children have not publicly commented on the anniversary of their father’s death, but last month, Paris Jackson, the late star’s only daughter, debuted a new tattoo that honored her dad. The 18-year-old daughter of Michael Jackson showed off her new ink which pays homage to Michael Jackson’s 1989 multi-platinum album Dangerous . The impeccable image features Michael’s eyes in a frame adorned with animals including a monkey, elephant, and peacock.
Paris also captioned the photo with a memorable quote by her late father.
“The meaning of life is contained in every single expression of life. It is present in the infinity of forms and phenomena that exists in all of creation,” she wrote.
The anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death comes just days after author and talk show host Tavis Smiley spoke about the King of Pop in an interview on Jenny McCarthy’s Dirty Sexy Funny show on Sirius radio. Smiley downplayed recently leaked reports that allege child pornography was found at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch more than a decade ago, dismissing it as old, unfounded news.
It is also a sentiment that Jackson’s older brother, Jermaine, agreed with in a series of social media posts accusing the media of continuing to put his late brother on trial.
In death, Michael still suffers trial by media but his exoneration is enshrined in court transcripts ‘journalists’ are too lazy to read.
— Jermaine Jackson (@jermjackson5) June 22, 2016
Let Michael rest in peace. Leave. Him. Alone.
— Jermaine Jackson (@jermjackson5) June 22, 2016
Smiley also pointed out that personal opinion on whether or not Michael Jackson molested children hasn’t changed in the seven years since his death.
“Whatever you thought about Michael Jackson seven years ago, you still feel the same way,” Smiley said. “If you think he did it, your mind ain’t changed, and if you think he didn’t do it, your mind ain’t changed. So it just appears to me that Michael couldn’t live in peace, he sure didn’t die in peace, and apparently, he ain’t gonna be able to rest in peace. It’s going to be this way for time eternal.”
In addition to the tributes from Michael Jackson’s family members, other friends and fans, including supermodel Naomi Campbell and Rosewood star Morris Chestnut, remembered the late music icon on social media.
#FlashBackFriday The legend himself @michaeljackson honoring #JamesBrown at the 2003 @BET Awards. @BETAwards . pic.twitter.com/xEtnEnqYld
— Morris Chestnut (@MorrisChestnut) June 24, 2016
#tbt it was an honor to work with #MichaelJackson #PartOne ???? pic.twitter.com/DxilqXFLjU
— Naomi Campbell (@NaomiCampbell) June 23, 2016
#tbt on set with the #legend that is #MichaelJackson #PartTwo ??? pic.twitter.com/kCZxZOZaSJ
— Naomi Campbell (@NaomiCampbell) June 23, 2016
“Man In The Mirror” #MJ #MichaelJackson #KingOfPop #Meta #TheGlovedOne #tbt #Throwback #ThrowbackThursday #80s pic.twitter.com/RWgZxz2cn6
— GRAHAM ELLIOT (@grahamelliot) June 23, 2016
In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. -Michael Jackson pic.twitter.com/mK4m7zm6uD
— Golden Globe Awards (@goldenglobes) June 25, 2016
Michael Jackson died suddenly at his home on June 25, 2009, at age 50. Since then, the late legend’s three kids—Prince, Paris, and Blanket— have been under the care of his 85-year-old mother, Katherine, and his nephew, TJ. According to a report by MSN , the Jackson kids cost a whopping $4.3 million to raise each year, with expenses that include private school fees and private planes.
Court papers filed last year by the late singer’s lawyers unearthed a list of expenses logged several years ago that include a pricey house rental in Calabasas, California, $75,000 in fees for the private Buckley School for Prince and Paris, and a private plane that was chartered for $140,000. In addition, nearly a half million dollars was spent on a trip to Hawaii for Prince and Paris with their biological mother Debbie Rowe.
Michael & Debbie Rowe with their two kids, Prince & Paris. #MJFAM pic.twitter.com/IOkid4pTl4
— RarestMJPics (@RarestMJPics) April 29, 2013
Jackson’s children will eventually inherit equal shares of their late father’s estate, but they will have a while to wait. The MSN r eport reveals that the Jackson children will each receive half of their inheritances at age 33 and the other half when they hit age 40.
Take a look at the video below to see a news report about the death of Michael Jackson.
[Photo by George Rose/Getty Images]