LOS ANGELES: Stars including Justin Bieber and Smokey Robinson paid tribute to Michael Jackson on Thursday, as the late star's three children immortalized his shoe- and glove-prints at a Hollywood landmark.
Paris, Prince and Blanket made a rare appearance at a ceremony outside the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, where the hand and footprints of generations of stars are recorded in cement, attracting millions of tourists every year.
Jackson's mother Katherine and brothers Tito, Marlon, Jackie also attended the ceremony, preceded by an hour-long tribute show, along with comedian Chris Tucker and legendary music producer Quincy Jones.
"It's a very good celebration and I know if Michael was here he would agree, to see all the friends and loved ones and especially his fans here to celebrate this with him," Katherine Jackson told the crowd.
A section of Hollywood Boulevard was closed off outside the Chinese Theatre for the tribute ceremony, which was broadcast live via Twitter, and watched by a few hundred lucky fans who turned up from before dawn to see the show.
The three children helped to stamp prints of a pair of Jackson's shoes, and one of his famous sequined gloves, into the wet-cement like material, before pressing their own handprints into it.
Paris Jackson also wrote "Michael (heart) Jackson" next to the prints, before signing the date.
When dry the foot and handprints will then be placed in the courtyard of the Chinese Theatre.
Normally only legendary movie stars and filmmakers leave their prints there, but the King of Pop joins them as a special tribute, and also due to onscreen output including the video "Thriller" and post-humous "This is It" documentary.
Jackson died on June 25, 2009 at the age of 50, from an overdose of clinical anesthetic propofol in Los Angeles, where he was preparing for a series of comeback shows in London.
His former doctor Conrad Murray was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in November and jailed for four years.
Jackson's children Prince, 14; Paris, 13; and Blanket, 9, are rarely seen in public, although they did attend a tribute concert for their father in Cardiff, Wales in October.
Paris Jackson has also been interviewed for a live action/animated film in which she features, called "Lundon's Bridge and the Three Keys," based on a famous book series for teenagers.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.