Trouble For The Michael Jackson Tribute Concert

Several Michael Jackson fan clubs have publicly condemned the tribute concert!

Say what??

The event, Michael Forever: The Tribute Concert, which is set to take place Oct. 8th in Wales’ Millennium Stadium, will have artists like Christina Aguilera, Ne-Yo, Cee-Lo Green and Smokey Robinson. The problem is that the concert is so close to the start date of Dr. Conrad Murray’s manslaughter trial.

Some of the family feels it’s disrespectful to have the concert take place while the trial is still going on. Jermaine and Randy Jackson, two of Michael’s brothers, have issued statements denouncing the concert.

“While we wholeheartedly support the spirit of a tribute that honors our brother, we find it impossible to support an event that is due to take place during the criminal trial surrounding Michael’s death.”

Gary Taylor, owner of an 80,000-person M.J. fan club, feels the same, saying:

“Staging the concert during his manslaughter trial isn’t the right time. The fans are going to hear and see things that will be very hard to handle emotionally. The last thing they want to do is celebrate tribute-style to MJ. We’re not saying to cancel it completely, but we will not support this concert one bit unless it’s moved outside of the Murray trial. Otherwise, the concert will just have a load of Christina Aguilera and Cee-Lo fans.”

We can completely empathize with having to juggle dealing with loss while also trying to celebrate someone’s life.

The president of the company organizing the tribute, Global Live Events, feels quite the opposite. President Chris Hunt stated:

“I don’t give a lot of credence to the ‘It’s disrespectful to do this during a trial’ argument. I like Jermaine and hope that he participates, but he also tried to set something up like this on two occasions and didn’t succeed. You wonder if there’s some of that in the back of his mind as well. I don’t think there’s any inappropriateness about having the concert three weeks after the trial may or may not start. What is wrong with a celebration of a great man’s life at such a time?”

It’s just so sad when something that should be joyous and wonderful is marred by bickering. Can’t we all just get along?

Do U feel the tribute is too close to the trial??

[Image via WENN.]