Michael Jackson, King of Pop, Dead at 50

This is not something anyone really expects on a video game site, much less a Sonic related news source.  However, it is our unfortunate duty to inform you that the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, has succumbed to cardiac arrest, and has died in a Los Angeles hospital.

The death had first been reported by tabloid entertainment website TMZ.com, who also first broke the story that Jackson was rushed to the hospital.  The Los Angeles Times newspaper has confirmed the news just before 6:30PM Eastern Time.

Jackson was just 50 years old.

He had been slated to perform in London after living in near seclusion for three years.  In 2005, he was acquitted of crimes related to child sexual abuse.  It was not the first time he defended such allegations.  Similar accusations brought in 1993 were settled early the next year for millions of dollars. It was those allegations that many in the Sonic research community believe forced Sega of America to sever ties with Jackson.  As perhaps one of the world’s most famous Sonic fans in the hedgehog’s heyday, he had been rumored to be producing the soundtrack to Sonic the Hedgehog 3. It has long been researched but not yet completely proven that Jackson was yanked from the project, with in-house staff at Sega quickly rushing to alter the soundtrack.  Still, elements of such Jackson classics as Stranger in Moscow and Who is It remained.

Prior to that, had been an international superstar, releasing several multiplatinum albums.  Originally a child star with the Jackson 5, he dominated pop of the late 1970s and 80s with such blockbusters as Don’t Stop ‘Til you Get Enough, Beat It, Bad and his crowning achievement Thriller.  His success continued in the 1990s even amid the child sex abuse allegations, releasing the HiStory album.  And veteran gamers will of course remember his video game on the Sega Genesis based off another hit of the same name: Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker.
Though the death appears to have been confirmed, this is still a changing and evolving, but major story not just for our community for much of entertainment at large.  We will continue to keep you informed throughout the evening here on TSSZ News, and we will bring you community reaction as the sad news is spread throughout all of Sonic fandom. 

We are preparing continuous and relevant coverage relating to Michael Jackson’s passing throughout the night and through the day on Friday.