Michael Jackson’s burial took place today at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, 70 days after his death on June 25.  Around 200 family and friends attended the private outdoor ceremony. Some of the celebrities included Elizabeth Taylor, Lisa Marie Presley, Barry Bonds, Macaulay Culkin and Corey Feldman. Debbie Rowe had been invited but did not attend and neither did Diana Ross. 

The service started an hour and a half late at 8:35 p.m. PT, as some members of the family were delayed in arriving, and took place outside of the Great Mausoleum. The hearse carrying Michael Jackson, escorted by two police motorcycles, arrived immediately after the last of the  family members. Michael Jackson’s three children Paris, Prince and Blanket placed a gold crown on their father’s coffin before the service began. Gladys Knight  sang “His Eye Is On The Sparrow”  and songwriter Clifton Davis performed the signature Jackson 5 hit he wrote “Never Can Say Goodbye”. Joe Jackson and Reverend Al Sharpton spoke remembering Michael Jackson and saying their goodbyes.

Just before 10 p.m. local time, Michael Jackson was interred in a crypt at Holly Terrace, one of 11 hallways located inside the Great Mausoleum.

Spike Lee organized a Michael Jackson dance party that took place at Prospect Park in Brooklyn at what would have been his 51st birthday.  Thousands of people attended to remember Michael Jackson, the King Of Pop,  as deejays, on a huge stage,  played his music spanning his career since childhood.

Spike Lee, who directed Michael Jackson’s 1996 music video for the song They Don’t Care About Us, said:”Fifty-one years ago, he was born into the world. I’m like everybody else, somebody who loved his talent. We’re here to celebrate Michael Jackson.”

The Los Angeles coroner released an official statement today ruling Michael Jackson’s death as a homicide and cause of death was “acute propofol intoxication”.

The official statement read as follows:  “Earlier this month, the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner completed its investigation into the death of Michael Joseph Jackson, age 50, who died on June 25, 2009. The cause of death was established as acute propofol intoxication. Other conditions contributing to death: benzodiazepine effect. The manner of death has been ruled: Homicide. The drugs Propofol and Lorazepam were found to be the primary drugs responsible for Mr. Jackson’s death. Other drugs detected were: Midazolam, Diazepam, Lidocaine and Ephedrine. The final coroner’s report includes a complete toxicology report will remain on security hold at the request of the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney. In accordance with this request, the Department of Coroner will not comment on its completed investigation.”

Homicide means that the death occurred due to the hands of another person and does not necessarily imply that it would lead to criminal charges.

Michael Jackson died on June 25 after going into cardiac arrest. Attempts to revive him had failed by his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who was with him in his rented Holmby Hills home at the time. Paramedics were called  and they also tried to resuscitate Michael Jackson while rushing him by ambulance to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Doctors there were unable to save Michael Jackson and he was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. local time.

The Jackson family has postponed Michael Jackson’s burial at Glendale Forest Lawn’s Great Mausoleum until  September 3. Originally he was to be buried on August 29th, which would have been Michael Jackson’s 51st birthday. There had been miscommunication between family members and some had objected to burying Michael Jackson on his birthday, therefore the reason for the change of burial date. 

The funeral service for family and friends will now take place on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7:00 p.m. at Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Sony Pictures and Sony Music, in a news release, stated that the Michael Jackson “This Is It” documentary will be released two days earlier than previously stated and will have a limited two-week run. The film will open in movie theaters on October 28 and tickets go on sale Sept. 27 in most areas.

The documentary draws from more than 100 hours of  behind the scenes and rehearsal footage, taken between April and June, as Michael Jackson prepared for his concerts in London. Kenny Ortega,  the choreographer and director who was working with Michael Jackson on the planned “This Is It” concert tour, will be directing the movie.