“Michael, when you left us, a part of me went with you. … I will treasure the good times, singing, dancing, laughing. … We will never understand what he endured … being judged, ridiculed. How much pain can one take? Maybe, now, Michael, they will leave you alone.” - Marlon Jackson.
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“Michael always knew he could count on me to support him or be his date. … We had a bond and maybe it was because we both understood what it was like to be in the spotlight from a very, very young age. I used to tease him and say, ‘I started when I was 11 months old. You’re a slacker. You were like 5?’ Both of us needed to be adults very early, but when we were together, we were two little kids having fun. … M.J.’s laugh was the sweetest and purest of anyone I’ve known.” - Brooke Shields.
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“He created a comfort level, where people that felt they were separate became interconnected with his music. … Those young kids grew up from being teenage, comfortable fans of Michael’s to being 40 years old and being comfortable to vote for a person of color to be the president of the United States of America. Michael did that. Michael made us love each other. Michael taught us to stand with each other.” - The Rev. Al Sharpton.
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“I’m here representing millions of fans around the world who grew up listening to Michael, being inspired and loving Michael from a distance. … Somehow when Michael Jackson sang and when he danced … we felt he was right there. … He made you believe in yourself.” - Queen Latifah.
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“When he did his iconic moonwalk, I was shocked. It was magic. Michael Jackson went into orbit and never came down. Though it ended way too soon, Michael’s life was beautiful.” - Motown Records founder Berry Gordy.
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“This is a moment that I wish that I didn’t live to see come. But as much as I can say that and mean it, I do know that God is good and I do know that as much as we may feel - and we do - that we need Michael here with us, God must have needed him far more.” - Stevie Wonder.
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“Michael was a personal love of mine. A treasured part of my world … ” - Smokey Robinson, reading a note from longtime Jackson friend Diana Ross at Tuesday’s memorial service in Los Angeles.
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“You don’t think you’ll live to see them gone. … He is going to live forever and ever and ever and ever.” - Smokey Robinson.
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“We miss you, Michael.” - Mariah Carey, after singing “I’ll Be There” at Jackson’s memorial service.
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“There are certain people in our popular culture that just capture people’s imaginations. And in death, they become even larger. Now, I have to admit that it’s also fed by a 24/7 media that is insatiable.” - President Barack Obama, who was asked about the outpouring of emotion related to Michael Jackson’s death during an interview with CBS while he was in Moscow.
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“They’re holding up well in part because they’re a strong family … a big family, religiously devout family. Therefore, they have a sense of insulation of their faith.” - The Rev. Jesse Jackson, on how Michael Jackson’s family is coping.
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“He was a true gift and there are very few that have come to the magnitude of influence that he had on the world.” - Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
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