Stars including Elizabeth Taylor, Macaulay Culkin and Lisa Marie Presley turned out to honor Michael Jackson as he was laid to rest in a private ceremony in California — 10 weeks after his sudden death.
The King of Pop passed away at his Holmby Hills home on June 25, and a week later he was remembered with a family funeral and a star-studded public memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
It has taken over two months for the star’s body to buried following a reported disagreement among his family over a suitable burial ground.
The Jackson clan eventually decided to inter the singer at the Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park and on Thursday evening, the star’s family and friends came together once more to pay their respects.
Jackson’s family, including his mother Katherine and father Joe, his siblings, and his three children Prince Michael, Paris, and Prince Michael II (also known as Blanket) were driven to the memorial park in a fleet of Rolls Royce limousines — arriving over an hour late for the planned 7 p.m. (local time) start.
The star’s close friends including Culkin and his girlfriend Mila Kunis, actor Chris Tucker, and Taylor attended the outdoor ceremony, which saw around 200 guests seated on white chairs on the lawns outside the crypt and signing a book of condolence for the fallen King of Pop.
Taylor was left devastated by her close friend’s death and refused to attend his public memorial service because she didn’t want to be part of the “whoopla,” but agreed to attend the private ceremony on Thursday.
Jackson’s ex-wife Presley also turned out to honor her late former husband.
Aretha Franklin and Gladys Knight were both reportedly asked to sing at the tribute, ahead of Jackson’s $30,000 gold casket being lowered into a concrete burial pit close to stars including Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and his idol Walt Disney.
Security was tight at the service, with police setting up a wide perimeter around the park to stop fans getting anywhere near the private ceremony. Helicopters with thermal imaging devices also circled overhead to detect any unwanted intruders.
Two fans reportedly attempted to gatecrash the event in the hours leading up to the service, but they were swiftly apprehended by security guards and then removed by police, according to Sky News.
The family reportedly planned to hold a private celebration following the service at an Italian restaurant in Pasadena, California.
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