Michael Jackson's death – what the papers are saying today (July 7)

Reaction to Michael Jackson's death is still dominating the newspapers today (July 7).

There are various claims, rumours, gossip and stories about the singer, his death, his life and the aftermath filling the tabloids. Here is a round-up of what is being said about Jackson.

Meanwhile, Jackson's Los Angeles memorial service, set to kick off at around 5:30pm today, can be watched live by scrolling down and clicking on the video below.

Stars snub Jackson memorial
A-list stars including Paul McCartney, Justin Timberlake and Whitney Houston are all expected to snub Jackson's public memorial, which takes place at Los Angeles Staples Centre today (July 7).

Despite the singer's brother Jermaine begging him to sing at the event, Timberlake instead opted to "pay his respects privately," according to a source.

McCartney, meanwhile, is understood to have been unable to rearrange prior commitments. Although she asked the Jackson family for a ticket to the memorial service, Houston reportedly won't be attending either - after her requests to perform at the event were turned down (The Sun).

Liz Taylor uses Twitter to lambast memorial 'whoopla'
Dame Elizabeth Taylor, who was one of Jackson's closest friends, wrote on her Twitter page that she won't be attending the memorial service because she doesn't believe the singer would be happy her grieving in public.

"I've been asked to speak at the Staples Centre. I cannot be part of the public whoopla," the 77-year-old Tweeted. "And I cannot guarantee that I would be coherent to say a word.

"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," she continued. "I said I wouldn't go to the Staples Centre and I certainly don't want to become a part of it. I love him too much."

A final Tweet said "My love goes out to Katherine and Michael's beloved children."

Bubbles becomes worlds richest chimp
Jackson's pet chimp Bubbles has been left a reported £1.25m in the singer's will. The 26-year-old chimp, who now lives in a sanctuary in Florida, was rescued by Jackson from a cancer research clinic in 1985.

His owner Bob Dunn said the animal will now be financially secure for life. "Jackson's lawyers have said Bubbles is in his will," he said. "I cannot reveal the sum, but it will be more than enough to secure his future" (Daily Star).

Paul McCartney: 'Joe Jackson contributed to some of Michael Jackson's problems'
Paul McCartney has said he thinks Jackson's father Joe may be the reason why the star suffered throughout his life.

The 79-year-old Jackson is alleged to have beaten his children throughout their adolescence. "I don't want to judge but I do think that contributed to some of the problems Michael might have had," the former Beatle commented
(The Sun).

Paris Jackson comforts star's friends
Jackson's 11-year-old daughter Paris has reportedly been comforting the singer's friends following his death. Mark Lester – who is godfather to Jackson's three children – revealed that Paris had offered her support to him recently.

"Paris told me, 'Mark, don't worry. Daddy has gone to live with the angels now. Can we still come and stay with you?'," he said. "Paris was incredibly strong and consoling and pleased to know that all of them are welcome to stay with us at any time" (Hello).

Politician labels Jackson a 'pervert' and 'child molester'
US Republican Congressman Peter King launched into a tirade against Jackson in an interview with CNN.

"Let's cut out the psychobabble," he said. "This guy was a pervert. He was a child molester, he was a paedophile, and to be giving this much coverage to him day in and day out, what does it say about us and our country?"

King said he was prompted to hit out against the singer after seeing that his death was more newsworthy than the recent July 4 celebrations in the US, which he said should be used to pay tribute to the military.

Chauffeur: 'Jackson may have been cloned'
Jackson's long-term chauffeur Al Bowman said he believes the star may have invested money in a sect called the Raelians in order for them to create a clone of him.

Bowman explained how he drove the singer and his friend, spoon bender Uri Geller, to a cloning convention in 2002, and then heard the duo discussing the event as he drove them away. "Jackson was very excited," he said. "He bounced out of that conference like a small child. He was smiling and on a high. I heard him an Uri talking in the back of the limo. He was talking about the prospect of being cloned. He grabbed Uri by both arms and told him "I really want to do it Uri, and I don't care how much it costs!""

Bowman continued by saying he believes Jackson then made contact with Dr Brigette Boisselier, a Raelian bishop who is also the managing director of Clonaid, which calls itself the world's first human cloning company.

"Michael said he wanted a mini-version of himself cloned to carry on his legacy," said Bowman. In 2002, Boisselier said the company had created the first cloned child, a girl named Eve. "When I heard Clonaid had cloned the first human being, I couldn't help thinking there was a mini Michael Jackson running around somewhere," Bowman mused (Daily Mirror).

Mother Katherine creates bedroom shrine
Jackson's mother Katherine has reportedly built a shrine to the star in his old bedroom. The room features three life-size waxworks of the singer, while the walls are covered in pictures and mementos of his proudest moments, including a school report detailing A-grade results in Maths, English Grammar and History (The Sun).

Doctor comments on drug rumours
Lawyers acting on behalf of the doctor who was with Jackson when he died have commented on allegations about which drugs he is rumoured to prescribed the star. Dr Conrad Murray's lawyer Edward Chernoff denied that this client gave Jackson painkillers Demerol or OxyContin. Speaking of the anesthesia drug Propofol, which was found at Jackson's residence following his death, Chernoff simply said "I have no statement on whether he prescribed or administered Propofol" (Daily Record).

Children to pay tribute to Jackson at memorial service
Prince Michael I, Paris and Prince Michael II (aka Blanket) are set to attend their father's memorial service in Los Angeles today, unless grandmother Katherine decides the event will be too overwhelming for them.

A sourced revealed that the Jackson family have been trying to shield the children from the media circus surround their father's death, a task that has proved difficult. "How can you? There is TV, radio, the internet – all of it covering their daddy's death in detail," the unnamed source revealed. "Those kids are so lost and confused at the moment. And now they have to cope with a public funeral."

Meanwhile, Jackson's former manager Frank DiLeo praised the singer's parenting skills. "Whatever anyone thought of Michael he was loved by those children, truly loved," he said.

Another ex-manager, Dr Tohme Tohme, said that he fears the singer's children don't understand why their father has died. "The children are the saddest part of this whole tragedy," he explained. "They were with him all of their lives and now he's gone. He was their dad, their mum, their everything. They don't understand why he has been taken from them" (Daily Mirror).

Ex-wife Rowe turns down invitation to attend memorial
Despite being offered a VIP seat at Jackson's memorial service today, Debbie Rowe – who was married to the star from 1996 until 1999, and bore two of his children – has said she won't attend, instead choosing to "celebrate Michael's memory privately" (The Sun).

Jermaine Jackson defends allowing children to see body
Jackson's brother Jermaine says at first he wasn't convinced by bereavement experts that Jackson's three children should see their father's body, though he now believes it was the right thing to do. "At first, I was against it," he said. "But what do you say if you don't show them? I know it's tough but I think it was the best thing to do" (Daily Mirror).

Jackson 'infiltrated' by Nation Of Islam
The singer's former publicist has revealed that he was heavily influenced by controversial US sect the Nation Of Islam. The group is a Muslim organisation known for preaching contentious views about racial issues.

Publicist Stuart Backerman said he watched as members of the group took "control" over Jackson around the time he was charged with child sex abuse in 2003. "In that period of weakness he allowed the Nation Of Islam to come in under the guise of acting as security first, to taking control of his business operations and have an advisory role on legal matters. Basically they just took over control," explained Backerman, who quit his role in 2004 (The Sun).

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