The late King of Pop’s ex-wife Lisa-Marie Presley released a statement saying: “I am so very sad and confused with every emotion possible.
“I am heartbroken for his children, who I know were everything to him and for his family – this is such a massive loss on so many levels, words fail me.”
Close friend Dame Elizabeth Taylor’s spokesperson told gossip website TMZ: “Dame Elizabeth Taylor is too devastated by the passing of her dear friend Michael Jackson to issue a statement at this time.”
Beyonce said: “The incomparable Michael Jackson has made a bigger impact on music than any other artist in the history of music. He was magic. He was what we all strive to be. … I love you Michael.”
Paris Hilton, whose mother was a childhood friend of Michael’s, wrote: “Michael and his kids were just at my house a few months ago, I can’t believe I will never see him again. He was such a kind and gentle soul.”
Martin Scorsese said: “When we worked together on ‘Bad,’ I was in awe of his absolute mastery of movement on the one hand, and of the music on the other. Every step he took was absolutely precise and fluid at the same time. It was like watching quicksilver in motion.”
Fellow 80s pop icon Madonna released a statement saying: “I can’t stop crying over the sad news. I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever! My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. God bless.”
Singer Mariah Carey said: “I feel blessed to have performed with him several times and to call him my friend. No artist will ever take his place. His star will shine forever.”
Stars at Glastonbury Festival and on Twitter have been paying heartfelt tributes to Michael Jackson.
One of the first to incorporate a tribute to Jackson into their Glastonbury set was Australian singer Gabriella Cilmi, who at 17 would not have been alive when the King of Pop was at the peak of his artistic success in the 70s and mid 80s.
But that did not stop her including lines from his song Billie Jean in her song Sweet About Me.
Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis also weighed in with a tribute. He told the BBC: “You realise what a fantastic legend we’ve lost, the like of which we can’t really replace.
“As an exponent of song and dance, no one came close.”
Demi Moore and husband Ashton Kutcher paid tribute on their Twitter pages.
Kutcher wrote: “RIP, sending love and light to family and friend but especially his kids.”
Demi wrote: “I am greatly saddened for the loss of both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, especially for their children!”
A tribute on Coldplay’s Twitter page said: “MJ was the best of the best. His music and performances made the world a brighter place. His light will shine on forever.”
Musician Wyclef Jean wrote: “He lives forever in my heart. I will never forget the day he came to see me in the studio and I played him music… RIP to Michael Jackson, my music god … Some lost Elvis Presley and we lost Michael Jackson… I cried today because Michael Jackson was a Father that we all lost!”
