Michael Jackson's Birthday Prompts Parties, Awards

By PopEater Staff Posted Aug 30th 2009 10:25AM

Though the tragic death of Michael Jackson was over two months ago, the entertainer's birthday was celebrated with light hearts across America. In Las Vegas, the King of Pop was posthumously awarded a star on the Palms Casino Resort's Walk of Fame. On the day Jackson would have turned 51, director Spike Lee threw a party in Brooklyn's Prospect Park, where fans turned out in the thousands despite pouring rain. In Mexico, fans hosted their own massive celebration, gathering in record numbers to honor the 'Thriller' singer with a mass dance extravaganza. Watch:

CBC News reports that 12,937 Jackson fans gathered in front of Mexico City's Monument of the Revolution to participate in a giant 'Thriller' dance, led by a Jackson impersonator. Organizers claim the event broke the world record for most people doing the dance, which the 'Guinness World Records' books will confirm in a week.

In Brooklyn, thousands gathered on the wet grass, NY Daily News reports, and danced to hits spanning Jackson's entire career, from his early days with the Jackson Five to his most recent songs.

"Fifty-one years ago, he was born into the world," said Lee, who directed Jackson's 'They Don't Care About Us' music video. "I'm like everybody else - somebody who loved his talent. We're here to celebrate Michael Jackson."

"I don't even remember life without him," '30 Rock' star Tracy Morgan said at the party. "Michael Jackson was everything."

For the singer's birthday, the borough of Brooklyn had one last gift - Borough President Marty Markowitz took the stage to declare Aug. 29 "Michael 'King of Pop' Jackson Memorial Day" in Brooklyn.

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Michael Jackson Fans Celebrate His Life

Fans and stars gathered in Brooklyn to celebrate Michael Jackson's 51st birthday. See How Fans From Around the World Are Remembering the King of Pop >>>

Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com

WireImage.com

Jackson Fans Celebrate His Life

Reverend Al Sharpton attends Michael Jackson's 51st birthday celebration in Prospect Park on August 29, 2009 in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. Michael Jackson's 51st Birthday Celebration Hosted By Spike Lee Prospect Park New York, NY United States August 29, 2009 Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com To license this image (58203222), contact WireImage.com

Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com

Tracy Morgan attends Michael Jackson's 51st birthday celebration in Prospect Park on August 29, 2009 in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. Michael Jackson's 51st Birthday Celebration Hosted By Spike Lee Prospect Park New York, NY United States August 29, 2009 Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com To license this image (58202988), contact WireImage.com

Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com

(L-R) Spike Lee, Ed Lover, Free and Tracy Morgan attend Michael Jackson's 51st birthday celebration in Prospect Park on August 29, 2009 in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. Michael Jackson's 51st Birthday Celebration Hosted By Spike Lee Prospect Park New York, NY United States August 29, 2009 Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com To license this image (58203096), contact WireImage.com

Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com

Michael Jackson fans gather to celebrate the late pop star's birthday at a party organized by filmmaker Spike Lee in Prospect Park Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Michael Jackson fans gather to celebrate the late pop star's birthday at a party organized by filmmaker Spike Lee in Brooklyn's Prospect Park Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Michael Jackson fans gather to celebrate the late pop star's birthday at a party organized by filmmaker Spike Lee in Prospect Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Comedian Tracy Morgan, left, dances as filmmaker Spike Lee looks on during a party organized by filmmaker Spike Lee in Prospect Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Ikim Whitley, 5, of the Staten Island borough of New York, dances as Michael Jackson fans gather to celebrate the late pop star's birthday at a party organized by filmmaker Spike Lee in Prospect Park Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

A woman wipes away a tear as Michael Jackson fans gather to celebrate the late pop star's birthday at a party organized by filmmaker Spike Lee in Brooklyn's Prospect Park on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Tags: michael jackson, MichaelJackson, spikelee

Comments

(157)

Sunday 30 August

By kbaredge

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I thought he was dead.

By Steph

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Its a way to his celebrate his life. Duh.

By tiar10

he is duh

By marsha

just because he's dead doesn't mean the legend should die as well! His memories good/bad and his music lives on forever in billions of peoples hearts, minds and souls. Obviously you ain't one of those billions of people his music lives on in.

Monday 31 August

By aileen

I love michael jacksons music i grew up with his music and he was my son pop idol as a little boy, the media should just let the pop star rest in peace but always remember his music and the legend and the man in the mirror.

By Raejean

I would like to celebrate Jackson finally being buried, the official reports all being released, successful prosecutions of anyone who needs to be prosecuted, fans getting a grip on reality, and then this entire circus leaving town. And the three children possibly being brought up without the family either warping their minds or stealing all their money. Enough already!

By MJFan

Stay off of any link regarding Michael Jackson if you have nothing "nice" to say. No one "forced" you to click on this. Didn't your mother and father teach you manners; if you have nothing nice to say, then say nothing!!!

By spirit

May MJ come visit you in your sleep.

By deidre

Jealous People like you and the other haters around..thank goodness you are very few...comparing him to OJ...lolol you are too stupid for words...yes he was acquitted and nothing you can do about it..yes his death stopped the world and nothing you can do about it...yes his birthday (like Elvis) will be celebrated and nothing you can do about but sit behind your computer...and fill your heart with hate because you have nothing better in your life to do than to hate others who do/did/will do better than you will in your entire little peon life...ha ha ha!! His kids are well taken care of nothing you can do about that but make up stuff, you probably dont have a dime to your name right now which is why you spend your time salivating at the chance to put someone down...I guess next will be the Jonas brothers? Brad Pitt? Angelina? Oprah? David Letterman? hmmm see a pattern here you idiot..all people who are able to buy and seel you 30-100 times over and what???? NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT!!!

Tuesday 01 September

By Deb

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Sister, you SAID it! I wish he'd just...go away. Creepy little falsetto-sounding, oxygen-tank dwelling, freaky-faced, drug-addled perv with a rotting-off nose! Good grief, can't you all find something else to make your "hero?"

By ele

He is still with us in spirit forever. Those who shared life on this planet with Michael Jackson will always be grateful for what he brought to our lives. yes , he was a part of our lives since we were all kids. He gave up his childhood so that we could have ours. The memories , the songs and the great times are all a part of that. He will be missed and always cherished . He lives on in our hearts . I thank God for all those who have learned not to judge in this life . From reading all the various posts from haters and jealous people. What a sorry place those people are in. God Bless and hopefully they too will find their way out so you they can have peace and love for your fellow man before its too late!!

By durango

AMEN!!!

By jan

I danced all night at a Michael Jackson dance party in NYC that celebrated this beautiful man's life. People of all ages from 18 on and all races packed the house to dance! I was one of the older ones, it brought back some of the best memories of my life! A lot of the younger people were at Spike Lee's party too. Michael Jackson is a legend and a King and you haters should stop being jeaous of all that he had in this life (that is so obvious what your hate is REALLY all about) and concentrate on the love and joy, music and dancing that he gave to so many. Concentrate on how the money that he gave(Guiness record for most charitable contributions of one person) saved so many children's lives and how he gave money and toys and visited orphanges and hospitals just to bring joy to children, some who no one loved or cared about. As his wife and the love of MJ's life Lisa Marie Presley has said, he was an amazing person. MJ was every bit as worthy of our love, respect, and admiration and adulation as was Elvis. Our two Kings will rock the world forever! Though this older woman's body is a bit sore from 6 hours of straight dancing, I would not put my body through that to celebrate anyone else's life. Long live the KING!! : )

I'D like to enjoy his music and not have to listen to tawdry tales and his gold digging families antics.And celebrating a dead person's BIRTH day?

By Karen

You can celebrate his Deathday if you prefer.

Wednesday 02 September

By green94camry

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Have you ever heard of christmas ?

By TATTYMOUSE

STOP THIS CRAZINESS ABOUT MICHAEL JACKSON. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 3 MOS. OF NON STOP GREED FOR THE MEDIA TO MAKE MONEY OFF HIS DEATH!!

THE POOR POOR FELLOW SUFFERED SO MUCH IN HIS LIFE WITH THAT EVIL FATHER....AS ALL HIS SIBLINGS DID. LOSING THEIR CHILDHOOD LEFT EMOTIONAL SCARS THAT WILL NEVER HEAL. JOE JACKSON IS EVIL! LOOK INTO HIS EYES.

JUST LET MICHAEL REST IN PEACE, FOR GOODNESS SAKE! WE ARE ALL BUMMED BY THE CONSTANT MEDIA DAY AND NIGHT. ALL COMMERCIAL KA KA! ITS VERY DEPRESSING.

WE HAVE MEN AND WOMEN DYING IN IRAC! HE GETS MORE AIR TIME THAN ANY OF THOSE BLESSED SOLDIERS. IT IS DISGRACEFUL.

WE USED TO GET 'NEWS' NOW IT IS CELEBRITY GOSSIP ......OBAMA HATRED NON STOP AND THEIR POSITICAL OPINIONS. I , FOR ONE HAVE STOPPED WATCHING THE NEWS. HAVE BEEN A NEWS JUNKIE IN MY LIFE. NO MORE!

WHAT PART OF 'LOVE THY NEIGHBOR' DOES THIS COUNTRY NOT UNDERSTAND????

LET'S GROW APPLE TREES, AND HONEY BEES & SNOW WHITE TURTLE DOVES. READ BOOKS, HAVE A NEIGHBOR OVER FOR PIE AND COFFEE. PLAY CARDS.....TAKE A WALK IN THE WOODS AND THANK GOD FOR THIS GREAT COUNTRY.

I PROMOTE WE ALL JOIN HANDS THRU OUT THE WORLD IN PERFECT HARMONY. SO DID MICHAEL JACKSON!!!!!

NASH, TN

By elimccab

HI MICHAEL JACKSON IS NOT BURIED YET UNTIL SPETEMBER 3RD 2009 I KNOW THAT YOU PEOPLE ARE LIEING AND I DONT LIKE LIERS HE IS NOT BURIED YET AND HE WILL BE BOUGHT BACK TO LIFE BELIEVE ME DONT BELIEVE JOE JACKSON I DONT BELIEVE HIM AT ALL OK THERE IS A WAY FOR THEM TO BRING BACK MICHAEL JACKSON BACK TO LIFE DID YOU EVER HEAR OF A SHOCKING TREATMENT THEY WILL DO THAT TO MICHAEL JACKSON TO BRING HIM BACK TO LIFE AND AFTER THAT MICHAEL JACKSON WILL OPEN HIS EYES AND START WALKING TALKING SINGING AND DANCING OK.

By Mary Robbins

What a pedophileolichous thing to do!

By Nancy

Its a way to celebrate his life and work amongst all the talk about his death.

Nothing wrong with that.

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