Elizabeth Taylor to Skip Jackson Memorial

Dame Elizabeth Taylor has confirmed that she will not attend the memorial service of her close friend Michael Jackson, and says that the late popstar would have “approved” of her decision.

Pouring out her grief on her official Twitter page, Taylor said, “I just don’t believe that Michael would want me to share my grief with millions of others. How I feel is between us. Not a public event.”

Though she has chosen to remain home, Taylor admits that she was asked to speak at Tuesday’s memorial service at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles.

“I cannot be part of the public whoopla,” the 77-year-old wrote. “And I cannot guarantee that I would be coherent to say a word.”

The actress added: “I will always love Michael from the depth of my being and nothing can separate us. My love goes out to Katherine and Michael’s beloved children.”

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Debbie Rowe Pulls Out of Jackson Memorial, Attacks Paparazzi

Debbie Rowe, the onetime wife of the late popstar Michael Jackson and mother to two of his three children, has pulled out of her ex-husband’s memorial service at the last minute.

The former nurse originally said she would attending the service, which is being held at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on Tuesday; however, a representative for Rowe has revealed that she has since declined her invitation.

“Although Debbie had originally planned to attend tomorrow’s Staples Center memorial service, we have concluded with Debbie that she will not be attending,” her rep said in a statement. “The onslaught of media attention has made it clear her attendance would be an unnecessary distraction to an event that should focus exclusively on Michael’s legacy. Debbie will continue to celebrate Michael’s memory privately.”

According to several sources, Rowe’s decision to not attend the day-long service stems from an altercation she had with photographers on Sunday. Jackson’s ex-wife was leaving a Chinese restaurant near her home when she allegedly yelled at the paparazzi, “Are you ready to get your butt kicked? Don’t f***ing touch me!”

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Michael Jackson Memorial Participants Revealed

The celebrity contingient set to take part in tomorrow’s Michael Jackson memorial service have just been announced by the Jackson family. Here’s the list:

Kobe Bryant, Mariah Carey, Andrae Couch Choir, Ron Boyd (family friend), Berry Gordy, Jennifer Husdon, Shaheen Shaheen Jafargholi (finalist on Britain’s Got Talent), Magic Johnson, Martin Luther King III, John Mayer, Bernice A. King, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Brooke Shields, Pastor Lucious Smith (family friend), Usher and Stevie Wonder.

Jackson’s close friends, Dame Elizabeth Taylor and Diana Ross (named as the Jackson children’s second guardian in the will), are the most notable omissions from the list.

It is believed that both women will be attending Jackson’s private funeral instead, set to take place a few hours before the public memorial at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles.

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Michael Jackson Funeral Plans

After their requests to hold a public memorial at Neverland Ranch were denied, Jackson’s family has finally decided on the back-up location for their son’s funeral.

TMZ.com is reporting this morning that a motorcade will travel from Forest Lawn Mortuary in Los Angeles on Tuesday morning to the Staples Centre complex in downtown L.A., where a public memorial will be held.

At this stage, the Jackson family “still hasn’t decided” on whether the memorial will take place at the Staples Centre or the nearby, smaller Nokia Theatre. They are expected to make a decision one way or the other shortly.

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