Usher sings beside Michael Jackson's casket during a public memorial at the Staples Center
UPDATE—MICHAEL JACKSON’s father JOE has dismissed reports the superstar was secretly buried in Los Angeles last week, August 6, 2009.
Reports over the weekend from August 8-9, 2009 claimed the Jackson family held a private burial on Thursday, August 6, 2009 and laid the singer to rest at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles’ Hollywood Hills.
The news coincided with reports that Jackson’s brain, which was removed as part of the investigation into his death, was returned to the family by coroners.
However, Joe Jackson insists the family has still yet to decide on a resting place for the Thriller icon – seven weeks after his death in June 2009, according to E! Online.
The family has been dogged by rumours of a disagreement over the King of Pop’s remains, with his mother Katherine reportedly asking for her son to be interred at Forest Lawn and his brother Jermaine pushing for a burial at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara, California.
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Original news story below:
MICHAEL JACKSON has reportedly been laid to rest.
The King Of Pop is believed to have been interred in a mausoleum owned by his close friend, Motown mogul Berry Gordy, in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles’ Hollywood Hills on Thursday, August 6, 2009.
Family members, including Jackson’s dad Joe and sister La Toya, were present at the secret ceremony, reports Britain’s Daily Star.
The final farewell took place just hours after Jackson’s brain was returned to the clan, following the organ’s removal by coroners for testing to determine the cause of death.
A source tells the newspaper, “After Michael’s high-profile funeral, the family were desperate to say goodbye privately and away from the cameras. His mother Katherine in particular was very uncomfortable with his body being in pieces due to the autopsies and wanted him laid to rest as soon as they were allowed.
“Within hours of the brain being returned, Michael was placed in the crypt. There was a casual ceremony with around 20 close friends and family.
“There were no prayers said, no speeches, everyone just reflected silently on their personal memories of Michael.” And former friend of Jackson’s, Uri Geller, has indicated that the reports are true.
He tells British morning show GMTV, “As far as I understand he has (been buried), but rumours are flying constantly non stop.” Jackson died on June 25, 2009 after suffering a cardiac arrest. His family staged a private ceremony at the Forest Lawn funeral home before celebrating his life at a televised star-studded event at the Staples Center in L.A. last month (July 2009).
