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Sunday, July 19, 2009

Jacko Daughter: 'I Love You So Much Daddy'


Michael Jackson's daughter has paid a tearful tribute to "the best father you could ever imagine".Skip related content

Paris, 11, broke down on stage at a public memorial and star-studded farewell to the King of Pop.

She said: "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine.

"I just want to say I love him so much."

Her father's body - resting in a £16,000 gold-plated coffin - arrived at the Staples Centre in LA to a chorus of cheers and screams from tens of thousands of fans.

Nelson Mandela and Diana Ross led tributes to the star as millions tuned in to watch the biggest celebrity send-off ever.

The packed venue joined in several minutes' silence before singer Smokey Robinson read out messages from Ross and Mandela.

"Michael was a giant and a legend in the music industry and we mourn with the millions of fans worldwide," Mandela said.

Earlier, family and close friends gathered at a cemetery in the Hollywood Hills for a private funeral service.

The coffin was carried by pallbearers to a waiting hearse, and then transported under police escort to the lavish public memorial at the 20,000-capacity Staples Centre.

Around 17,500 ticket-holders watched the show with 1,000 tickets given to friends of the singer.

Performers on stage included Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Ritchie, and Britain's Got Talent finalist Shaheen Jafargholi - who flew to LA at the request of the Jackson family.

The tribute lasted over two hours and was beamed around the world on a live TV feed, courtesy of AEG Live.

Richie appeared on stage to sing Jesus is Love before Queen Latifah spoke of the worldwide sadness over Jackson's death.

"In Birmingham Alabama and Birmingham England, we are missing Michael Jackson," she said.

Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, said later: "He raised the bar, then broke the bar."

Wonder sung his songs Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer and They Won't Go When I Go to a standing ovation.

"This is a moment I wished I had never seen come," he said. "Michael, I loved you and I told you that many times, so I'm at peace with that."

In a rousing speech, the Rev Al Sharpton claimed Jackson laid the foundations for a black man to become US President.

The civil rights activist added: "It was Michael Jackson that brought blacks, whites and Asians together."

Cheers had gone up at the venue as footage on big screens showed Jackson's coffin - decorated with red flowers - emerging from the picturesque Forest Lawn Memorial Park above Los Angeles.

His parents Joe and Katherine led mourners into the cemetery hall where a short viewing was apparently held on Monday night.

Inside the Staples Centre, the stage was adorned with the star's image.

A mural of the singer carried the words: "In Loving Memory - Michael Jackson King of Pop - 1958-2009."

As the gates opened, thousands of fans flooded in, with many stopping at a memorial wall to pay a personal tribute.

Many had dressed up in costumes honouring their music hero.

Scott Avig, 32, wore a red suit reminiscent of the Smooth Criminal video.

He said: "I have been a loyal fan since I was five years old. I love him, he was my idol. I just wanted to pay my respects to him."

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