It was extremely challenging to cover Michael Jackson's memorial at the Staples Center. I grew up listening to Michael Jackson's music, from "I Want You Back" to Off the Wall to Thriller. He was very instrumental because I grew up in a family of dancers, so he was very instrumental in our lives because we danced like he danced. That was how we learned how to move. To have to say goodbye to him — but at the same time be professional — was extremely challenging. You couldn't find much room for emotion, and you have to find a way to balance it out.
I thought the memorial was very appropriately done. They had very powerful speakers: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who said that a person is innocent until proven guilty in this country; Michael's brother Marlon, who wished that Michael oversee his twin brother who died when they were younger; and Paris, Michael's daughter, speaking about how great of a father he was. The performances were excellent. Jennifer Hudson always has a powerful voice.
I think the city of Los Angeles can be proud of itself for dealing with this chaos, because they handled it fairly well, from the security aspect to allowing those with proper credentials to have access to being respectful of those who didn't.
I think all of this is a testament to what a great entertainer Michael was. It's like what Berry Gordy said: "He's was simply the greatest entertainer who ever lived."
I was very honored to be able to deliver these shows, from the day he passed to the day he was brought to rest. I was honored to be one of the people on our staff to give the world the information that they desired. It seemed like everybody was in mourning because he touched everybody.
Comments