by Rebecca Ortiz
Ever heard the old wives’tale, “Everything happens in 3’s”? Well if you’re a celeb (even on the Z-list) you are aware…and flipping the heck out! Celebs are dropping like flies!
Long time sidekick of Johnny Carson, Ed McMahon, passed away on June 23rd from what is described as “multiple health problems.” His agent would not disclose the exact cause of death. A close friend said that one of his illnesses was bone cancer. He was 86.
Two days later, on the morning of June 25th, Farrah Fawcett lost her nearly 3-year battle with cancer, she was 62.
But the biggest shocker of all came later that afternoon when the legendary Michael Jackson unexpected died!
While devastated, Celebs found solace in the “everything happens in 3’s” theory thinking it was over, until 3 days later when infomercial phenom Bill Mays died!
Best known for pushing cleaning products like OxiClean, Billy actually had a brush with death the day before his passing. A plane he was on literally had a crash landing and he got a pretty massive bump to the head. He joked with paparazzi while leaving the hospital that he had a “hard head” so he was fine. Only when he went home and to bed that night, he never woke up!
While the press immediately blamed some kind of internal head trauma from the plane incident less than 24 hours prior, autopsy results revealed he passed from complications from heart disease. He was 50.
So did Billy start the beginning of another cycle of 3? Are infomercial people in a different category? If so, look out ShamWow dude! Either way, all of that was pushed outside, (for now) while the world coped with shocking death of Michael Jackson.
In case you were in a coma, here is the extreme recap of quite possibly one of the biggest stories our lifetime will ever see…
On June 25th, paramedics in L.A. responded to a 9-1-1 call made to the mansion where MJ was staying. They arrived to find him in cardiac arrest, without a pulse, and immediately rushed him to the hospital. Less than an hour after arrival, hospital officials announced that doctors were unable to revive him, and pronounced him dead. He was 50.
While autopsy/toxicology reports are still pending, it’s believed that Michael passed away from cardiac arrest that was caused from a ‘painkiller cocktail’ – a combination of heavy painkillers – all of which are only available through a doctor’s prescription, or administered as anesthetic for surgery! Yes, you read that correctly! What the heck was Mike doing taking anesthesia when he wasn’t having surgery?! The Jackson family has also hired a private expert to do a second autopsy as well.
Several sources claim that Michael has a severe and long-time addiction to painkillers. It’s also rumored that Michael had been dead for well over an hour before paramedics were contacted. To further that speculation, Michael’s live-in doctor (who was the one trying to revive him before paramedics arrived) had gone missing after his death for 48-hours! This whole story is very De Ja Vu of Anna Nicole Smith. (except Michael had talent) Michael was hooked on painkillers, was being illegally supplied from licensed physicians, and one day took too much. Once these results are in, heads will definitely start to roll.
In the months leading up to Michael’s death, he was preparing for a final tour in London. The press was invited to watch his final rehearsals –which turned out to be literal – and unanimously said he had finally “come back”. Interesting fact, the concert promoter’s took out a nearly $18 million insurance policy on Mike (which apparently isn’t uncommon for big shows and performers) BUT it covered “drug overdose” – which is NOT common. Hmm…Was MJ a ticking time bomb?? Or worse, a target???
All speculation aside, what can be confirmed is that Twitter had over 5,000 tweets per minute when the news broke of his passing, and hotels in the surrounding area of the Staple Center (where his public memorial was held) sold out EVERY hotel within 20 minutes of announcing his services! Plus, nearly 1.7 million people from around the world registered to get the free tickets to his memorial (given away lottery style) Only 11,000 pairs were given away. Some of the tickets were selling on eBay for $20,000!
Michael was laid to rest in a $25,000 coffin made of bronze and gold-plating. The Jackson family has not decided on a “final resting spot” yet, so his body is rumored to be in Barry Gordy’s crypt (Barry Gordy is the founder of Motown and long-time friend of the Jackson family).
Some of the more ridiculous stories floating around: Michael’s ghost is haunting the Neverland Ranch, he was buried without a brain, he had a secret wife (not Billie Jean), Michael had over 200 unreleased songs he left for his children as a gift after his passing (which was true), and his 3 children were not biologically his…which turned out to be true as well!
No word on who the father, or mother is for that matter, but his children Prince Michael, Paris Michael, and Prince Michael II (referred to as “Blanket”) are in temporary custody of MJ’s mom Katherine (per his will). It is rumored that the father of his children is his dermatologist (which he denies) Debbie Rowe, the alleged mother of Prince and Paris, is claiming she will sue for custody. So-called friends of Debbie say she just wants money. So sad…and SO not over by a long shot!
So until next time, I’ll leave you with some news that won’t have you ready to be a statistic in the Celeb / Old Wives’Tale stats…
Mariah Carey is ready to take over the world again with her new album. “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel” is due out August 24th. The first single, “Obsessed” is doing well and the world premiere for the video is set for July 15th during her hubby Nick Cannon’s show “America’s Got Talent” on NBC (9/8C).
If you can’t wait until Wednesday for the video, check it out right now: Mariah Carey’s Obsessed Video
