Michael Jackson: Will the stories ever end?
We've heard them all before: Michael Jackson sleeps in a hyperbaric chamber. Michael Jackson purchased the "Elephant Man's" bones for $1 million. Michael Jackson's pet monkey Bubbles is potty-trained and cleans his own bedroom. Tabloid-esque speculation defined the life of the late King of Pop, so it's not all-too surprising that bizarre rumors would follow him to the grave. Here's some of the wackier post-mortem gossip.
Haunted Neverland?
Late last week, as Larry King broadcast his show live from Neverland Ranch, viewers caught a glimpse of a faint shadow that appeared to cross a corridor before vanishing. The eerie sighting wasn't noticed by King, the camera crew or Jermaine Jackson (who was there leading the tour), but once the video was posted online, frenzy ensued. Fans from all-over began pointing out the image, and chat forums were flooded with messages insisting the shadow was Jackson's ghost. Check it out for yourself.
Secret girlfriend?
As rumors swirl around the mysterious paternity (and maternity, for that matter) of Michael's three children, UK's Mirror is adding a twist to the custody battle. According to the paper, at the time of his death, Jackson was in a long-term relationship with his children's nanny, 42-year-old Grace Rwaramba.
The Mirror claims:
"Ian Barkley, who travelled the world with Jacko for three years as his personal photographer, says the couple’s romance was an open secret among staff after they fell in love while she was nanny to his children."
The article also claims that the children call Rwaramba "mom" and Jackson and Rwaramba were "more like a married couple." It's also been rumored that Jackson and Rwaramba had secretly married, but that has been denied by Rwaramba, who is still legally married to her first husband.
The show must go on?
Reports claim that Joe Jackson and the Jackson brothers are planning a Jackson 5 reunion tour and will have Michael performing beside them in hologram-form. The family is said to be hoping the hologram will be ready for Jackson's memorial service at L.A.'s Staples Center.
Buried brainless?
The Los Angeles Coroners office has reportedly confirmed that Michael Jackson will, in fact, be buried without his brain. Sources tell the Mirror that Jackson's brain was removed before his body was released to relatives and a forensic neuropathologist said they are testing it for past drug use. Because the brain must be hardened before it can be examined, Jackson's family has reportedly opted to have Michael buried sans the important organ instead of waiting for it to be returned. Read more of the gory details here.
A religious conversion?
Soon after Jackson's death, rumors emerged that the late King of Pop had converted to Christianity just a few weeks before his death with the help of gospel singer Andrae Crouch. The Boston Globe briefly cited the conversion in an article about Jackson's religious explorations, and Christianity Today even took to their blog to address the rumors. But according to Crouch's Facebook page (via Crouch's administrator):
"The Crouches did NOT lead Michael Jackson to the Lord, They DID pray with him, but NOT a prayer of 'salvation'. It is a rumor that they 'led him to Christ'. Please spread the 'truth' as quickly as the rumor has spread."
It's understandable that such an extraordinary life would be riddled with such extraordinary hearsay. Michael Jackson may be gone, but if the media coverage surrounding his death is any indication, his story is far from over.
-Allison Louie-Garcia
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