The surprising death of Michael Jackson yesterday brought the entire planet together in a state of mourning. But a celebrity’s passing cannot be truly honored until other celebrities weigh in on what the loss means to them.
• Cher: “I am having a million reactions…When I think of him, I think of this young boy, this teenager I first met … He was a great teenager, optimistic and adorable.”
• Britney Spears: “He has been an inspiration throughout my entire life and I’m devastated he’s gone!”
• Madonna: “I can’t stop crying over the sad news. . . I have always admired Michael Jackson…The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever! My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. . . God bless.”
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• Lance Bass: “Michael was a huge supporter of my career but more importantly he was a good friend, had the biggest heart and it was an honor and pleasure to be able to work with him and know him. There will never be another Michael Jackson, my thoughts and prayers are with his family. … He was a huge hero of mine musically. He will definitely be missed. He was a great man. Wow”
• Liza Minnelli: “He was a kind, genuine, and wonderful man. He was also one of the greatest entertainers that ever lived. I loved him very much and I will miss him every remaining day of my life.”
• Samantha Ronson: “His music is just as relevant now as it was the day they pressed record, I’m sure it will remain so for generations to come. RIP Mr Jackson.”
• Whitney Houston: “I am full of grief.”
• Katy Perry: “Oh my God.”
(Photo: Life magazine)
dgz
who asked Samantha Ronson?!? who cares what she thinks?
Rando
I know, seriously.
Name(required)
They should ask the families of the kids he molested.
AlanInSLC
@Name(required):
Why must that be brought up now? There was no proof during the scandle nor is there now that anything ever really happened. Have some decency to keep these comments for another time and place. Respect is definitely more appreciated and attractive. Try to have some.
Amy Bruce
I care what Samantha Ronson thinks. She’s a gay woman and someone who knows music, especially dance pop. She has already seen firsthand that Mr. Jackson’s music not only keeps but gains popularity as years pass. She was one of the perfect people to ask.
scott ny'er
@dgz: agreed. She’s not famous nor an icon. Puhleese. Lohan is semi-famous but Ronson? C’mon.
Tim in SF
They forgot Joan Rivers. She said last night:
“Cher called me. She’s happy that Michael died. Now her boyfriends can go to the playground unescorted!”
Heh. I love Joan Rivers.
Ed
I’m surprised that Liz Taylor hasn’t weighed in on what this loss means to her.
Daniel
Since when is Mister Lance Bass a gay icon?
Shawn
Since when is Katy Perry a gay icon?
4getit
Why do some have an attitude over who can express condolences or not?
as gay men, we can sure be disgustingly unpretty!
Shae
I love Katy Perry and she is more a young gay icon.
dgz
@4getit: you’re obviously trying very hard to take offense. no one said she couldn’t “express condolences.” we just think it’s silly that anyone cares enough to wonder what a random dj thinks about… anything. and then qualify her as a “gay icon” because she’s scissoring LiLo.
and a public statement =/= condolences.
in other news: NO ONE’S obit should warrant 2 straight days of round-the-clock CNN coverage, especially when there’re important stories receiving no attention.
AlanInSLC
@Ed:
Since she has gone completely senile. Have you not seen the clip of her howling like a dog?
Tonyboy
what about emanuelle lewis!!?!?!? oh my gosh how is michael’s death affecting WEBSTER??? who will carry him around? michael’s hand always provided such a firm touch against the little guy’s tush.
Alexa
I imagine his friends are very upset, so why bother them at a time like this, and who cares what the ones who didn’t actually know him think? But if it comes down to it, on a gay site, I’d much rather hear the opinion of a real lesbian than a fake bisexual who kisses girls to titilate her boyfriend and uses “gay” as an insult.
john
I must say that when I got off the subway this morning coming to work, Hollywood Blvd was a total madhouse. TV reporters and film crews, tourists and fans all lined up to see his star. And poor Farrah Fawcett, her star is a block down the street, covered in flowers from when everyone was surrounding it. What a week it’s been.
GBM
WOW..I see some queens are vicious I guess some of the girls are gearing up the shade for when they get denied!
You Know what I mean. Evil bitches
zxc
What a bullshit. Jackson was big in the ’80. But then… weirdo, phedofile, plastic surgery freak. Sad but true.
However R.I.P.
Kamikapse
Once again.. what makes Britney a “gay icon”?
sam
Yes, indeed, what makes Britney a “gay icon”? What has she ever done for gay rights? The fact that mindless gay twinks strung out on crystal meth dance to her over-processed songs on a Friday night does not qualify for gay icon.
Be careful whom you label as a gay icon.
sam
The only people whose opinion count in the above are Cher and Liza Minnelli. They were there from day one.
Madonna, Britney, Sam Ronson etc are Johnny-Come-Lately’s whose musical “talent” extends as far as attention-whoreism.
scott ny'er
@Tonyboy: That’s terrible!!! LOL. But, so funny.
scott ny'er
@sam: Well, I think Madonna in her 20+ years in the biz has supported gay rights in several ways.
Mark
What about Beyonce?? I think she released a statement and she surely is a bigger gay icon than Katy Perry. btw I just saw her in concert in NYC and she delivered! it was divine I tell you.
jason
Beyonce a gay icon??? Cough, cough, splat, splat, sputum, sputum.
Lamesy
The only remaining gay MUSIC icons are Kylie (who had little MJ connection that I’m aware of) and the supreme miss Janet if you’re nasty. And I don’t think we need a snappy “gay icons’ take” to know how distraught Janet is right now.
cruiser
You people have no class at all, despite what your personal opinion of Michael jackson is/was he still desrves the rspect due him as a PERSON a HUMAN BEING, for chrissake can’t you peiople pull your claws in for just a little while, just long enough to remember a person who made many contributions to the music world as well as provided entertainment for an entire generation. Yes Michael hasd his quirks, his eccentricities, but he was still a HUMAN BEING and as such desrves at least a little respect.
You are all a bunch of bitter, vicious(sp?)queens, with so much self loathing that it comes out in everything you write.
Give the man a break, show some dignity and respect for a human life that is no longer.
Mark
@Jason: well Beyonce is a huge figure particularly among the black gays, she just has all the qualifications of a true music diva, I was really touched when she told that story about her uncle who was a homosexual and had died of aids, and that was one of the main reasons as to why she got involved with the fight against the decease. Oh well, doesn’t matter to me, but she sure is more worthy than freakin Britney Spears and Katy Perry.
RainaWeather
@Mark: I agree.
jason
Beyonce’s uncle died of AIDS?? How does that qualify her for gay fucking iconic status? He probably died of AIDS because he was shamed by blacks into hiding his sexuality and having sex in sleazy sex dens with sickly strangers.
Beyonce is no more a gay icon than Fred Flinstone.
tarheel
another human being has passed from this life, why should anyone want to disrespect him.
dgz
@jason:
i’m so impressed by you! you ALWAYS manage to say something racist, even when it’s a complete non sequitur. then someone shows you your faulty logic, you seem like you start to get it… then you start over in a new thread. it’s like “50 First Dates” with Bob Jones.
——————————-
btw, everyone: there’s no “partnership track” for achieving icon status… it’s sortof subjective. so stop debating beyonce, especially since she’s not even mentioned in the damn thread.
jason
What has Beyonce ever done for gay rights? I’m waiting.
dgz
@jason:
what did Judy Garland ever do for gay rights?
i think your pea brain may have confused the terms “civil rights leader” and “pop culture icon.”
and i never said Beyonce *was* a gay icon. now, please return to the topic at hand. er, scratch that, don’t. you’ll probably say something awful about whitney’s blackness.
ben
Indeed, it’s almost absurd to try and esteem the gay community by suggesting that Beyonce and Britney aren’t gay icons. I think the confusing difference here is that Beyonce and Britney are not in the autumns of their respective careers like every other person I imagine you would deem a gay icon.
galefan2004
@Daniel: Since the hottest member of former boy band N-Sync came out of the closet?
galefan2004
@dgz: But if they stop obsessing over the death of Jackson, they might have to cover real news like the war in Iraq. If they cover the war in Iraq people might remember that there is still a war in Iraq, despite Obama’s promises to bring the troops home after his election, and we can’t have that.
galefan2004
@sam: That is because Cher and Liza are both older than dirt. They also are less relevant to today’s gay youth than Britney Spears. Face it, at this point, you have to be over 30 to really know who Cher and Liza really are.
galefan2004
@jason: Some people feel that being involved with AIDS makes you a gay icon. I have no clue why people feel that AIDS is a gay related cause. AIDS has not been a gay related cause since the 1980s. However, to each their own.
InExile
@galefan2004: Yes, and they might have to cover the 40th anniversary of Stonewall and the cocktail reception at the White House for our “gay leaders”,whoever they are? Anyway, all this Michael Jackson coverage will surly overshadow our community’s issues at a time we need the media’s coverage.
schlukitz
@InExile:
The media is fickle, InExile. American’s attention span is notoriously short.
Everyone gets their fifteen minutes and then it’s time for the media to move on to the next “buzz”.
It’s the nature of the beast, apparently.
dgz
@galefan2004: real news? what’s that?
i’m so sick of fawning obits on the news. tim russert’s was the first ridiculous example, now i worry that’s all anyone will ever report. there’s even a story on Daily Beast arguing that jackson’s death may have eased international pressure on iran, effectively damning the protesters’ effort.
joy
Jackson is such a horrible guy for dying. He must have planned it in an effort to take media attention off Iraq, Iran and the anniversary of Stonewall. So glad people like Galefan can see through this guy.
Marius
@galefan2004:
“Since the hottest member of former boy band N-Sync came out of the closet?”
Justin Timberlake came out? Why wasn’t I told?
“AIDS has not been a gay related cause since the 1980s.”
I beg to differ. Do some volunteer work.
dgz
@joy: please. no one’s blaming him for his opiate overdose, we’re criticizing the sold-out media. like the 24-7 news coverage on CNN, FoxNews, MSNBC, TVOne, BET, E!, TVGuide, HLN, etc. they’ve had round-the-clock coverage, but reported next to nothing.
Doug
@4getit: and petty
Shawn
@4getit: Jesus, I’m not questioning who can or can’t express condolences!
I’m asking why QUEERTY’s writers and editors have used a Katy Perry quote in an article titled: “Gay Icons Remember Michael Jackson.”
I don’t think she’s especially connected to the gay community. I would definitely NOT describe her as a gay icon. Does she have a gay-specific following like Cher or Madonna, for example? I doubt it.
cowards
@Name(required):
Was any of you there when he “supposedly” molested those children? No, I don’t think so. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. And most of you should be throwing those rocks at your own heads. It’s amazing how infantile most of your responses are. No one is greater or lesser than anyone else. Get over yourselves.
Aynan
You idiot, you have been there, to see he molested someone?
B5
We are the music group B5 we are five brothers that looked up to the Jackson 5 we are truley sad about the death of MJ because we wanted to be like him and his brothers we wish his family the best and if there is any thing we can do to help please contact us also here is a song we did with another artist i hope you like it http://twiturm.com/woce
Chyeaa Mann!
Britney Spears and Whitney Houston are gay icons? Hmm, learn something new everyday. But I think the words they shared were greatly appreciated. Michael was an inspiration to all.