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Michael Jackson: the wildest conspiracy theories
The internet is a hive of conspiracy theories, and conspiracy theory spoofs. Here are a selection of the most bizarre explanations for Michael Jackson's death.
For: The King of Pop's death was perfectly timed for the wobbling Iranian regime. Just as reports of its post-election clampdown were provoking howls of protest in the West, and pushing the previously hesitant President Obama to say was "appalled and outraged", Jacko's death sucked media attention from Persia to Bel Air. Even more tellingly, "Michael Jackson RIP" replaced "#iranelection" at the top of Twitter's trending topics, effectively killing off the last hopes of a revolution.
Against: No evidence whatsoever.
For: Michael Jackson's precarious financial position has been well documented. Around £200 million in debt and under pressure from creditors to boost his finances with the gruelling 50-date London residency, one could undertand why the King of Pop might want to flee. The predicatable sales boost that followed his "death" and the 200 unreleased songs he reportedly bequeathed his children in his will should be enough to provide for Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket while their father kicks back in Mexico.
Against: The Los Angeles coroner's office - who are considered experts on these things - carried out a post mortem and expressed no doubts that the body was a) Michael Jackson and b) dead.
For: Michael Jackson's appearance at the O2 arena to promote his London dates in March was bizarre, even by his standards. Arriving 90 minutes late, he led the crowd in a brief, inane chant of "This Is It" before leaving the stage with a loping, unfamiliar walk. Conspiracy theorists claimed that he was too tall and his fingers were too stumpy for it to be the real Jacko, and suggested the King of Pop had been replaced by an impersonator after suffering a pre-conference injury or attack of the nerves. A more audacious theory is that Jackson has been "played" by lookalikes since being found dead at his Neverland ranch several years ago.
Against: His entire family and circle of intimates would have had to be in on the plan. And could they have really have keep it secret from the all-knowing TMZ?
For: The incredulous reactions to the first reports of Jackson's demise stemmed, in large part, from the fact that the public was still struggling to come to terms with Farrah Fawcett's death. And just days earlier the US had lost another cultural icon, the television personality and comedian Ed McMahon. Three celebrity deaths in as many days sent the internet's rumour mongers into a frenzy, and led to spurious Twitter claims that Jeff Goldblum and Harrison Ford had joined the showbusiness casualty list.
Against: Jackson, Fawcett and McMahon had little in common. And no-one has made even a slightly convincing explanation for why someone would want them all dead.