In an experiment to show how quickly misinformation and conspiracy theories can spread across the Internet, German broadcaster RTL posted on YouTube last week a video that appears to be Michael Jackson emerging from a coroners van.
“We wanted to show how easily users can be manipulated on the Internet with hoax videos,” spokeswoman Heike Schultz of Cologne-based RTL told The Associated Press. “Therefore, we created this video of Michael Jackson being alive, even though everybody knows by now that he is dead — and the response was breathtaking.”
Jackson died in Los Angeles June 25.
The poorly lit video shows what appears to be the King of Pop emerging from a coroners van inside of a gated parking garage with another person.
Although the video was only posted for one day, it received 880,000 hits.
The King of Pop’s death has officially been ruled a homicide by the Los Angeles County coroner, according to the Associated Press. That ruling makes it more likely that Michael Jackson’s personal doctor Conrad Murray will face criminal charges for Jacko’s death.
Officials say tests show that anesthetic propofol, along with a sedatives known as benzodiazepine, caused Jackson’s death on June 25. The LAPD is targeting the cardiologist for manslaughter after a search warrant unsealed an affidavit which provides an account of what Murray told investigators.
In the affidavit, Murray tells investigators he did not procure any propofol but had found about eight bottles of the drug at Jackson’s home. However, investigators have recently uncovered evidence showing Murray legally purchased the propofol from a Las Vegas pharmacy the day Jackson died.
The Luxor, MGM Grand, Caesars Palace and now Neverland? Colony Capital, who are the current owners of Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, are said to be working out a deal to transport the main house and several other structures to a piece of land right off of the Las Vegas Strip.
The Los-Angeles-based private equity firm Colony Capital acquired the loan on Neverland from Fortress Investment Group LLC, who financed Jackson’s 2,900-acre ranch. Jackson had been struggling with debt in recent years and had difficulty with the terms of the $23.5 million loan.
Besides the proposed museum and theatre, Colony executives are also hoping to get family approval to construct a burial plot for Jackson where fans could visit and pay their respect to the King of Pop.
A portrait of the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, went on display Thursday in London for three days, leading up to the auction at the Vered Gallery in East Hampton, New York on August 18th.
Painted by acclaimed pop artist genius Andy Warhol, who died in 1987, the two men were at the heights of their careers when the portrait was commissioned to celebrate the record-breaking sales of “Thriller.” The 30-by-26-inch painting displays a smiling Jackson in his famed, highly recognizable red leather jacket.
Although the average Warhol painting goes for about $17 million, the most ever paid for a Warhol picture was $71 million for a work called “Car Crash” and ”Lemon Marilyn” of Marilyn Monroe in 2007. The opening bid on the Jackson portrait is $800,000 but you must register with the gallery to bid via email, telephone, or in person.
In an attempt to capitalize on the untimely death of pop superstar Michael Jackson, Sony Pictures will release a movie based on rehearsal footage from the cancelled “This Is It” tour. The yet-to-be named movie will be directed by High School Musical director Kenny Ortega, who filmed Jackson’s preparation for his 50-date London tour.
The film will utilize the 80 hours of footage taken by Ortega that was originally meant for a behind the scenes movie of the concert. In addition to the concert footage, the film will also include videos that were shot specifically for the concert, such as an updated version of Thriller.
According to dozens of media outlets, the King of Pop Michael Jackson has passed away at the age of 50 of a heart attack. Reportedly, Jackson was rushed to UCLA Medical Center after collapsing in his Bel Air home. He was not breathing when paramedics arrived.
The King is survived by his three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince “Blanket” Michael Jackson II.
