Mourning, squabbling, humor, scorn: Wentz, Orman, Hilton, others react to Michael Jackson's death

June 26, 3:52 PMLA Pop Media ExaminerAdrienne Gruben

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Remember, Wentz

Death causes drama.  When a family member dies, among the heartbroken, you may find an attention-seeking cousin grieving in theatrical shrieks, an indignant, vindicated Aunt murmuring to a cornered guest and a pair of squabbling siblings questioning the integrity of the other's sadness.  And don't forget the wacky Uncles sneaking sips and cracking wise.  Reactions to Michael Jackson's death are no different.

Truly devastated fans, friends and colleagues, including Quincy Jones and Deepak Chopra, are paying loving tributes, that like with any remembrance, paint slightly different portraits: genius, shy, childlike, misunderstood.  But some remembrances are a little spicier.  Those who do not seek humor in grief should probably not continue reading.

Jackson's former publicist remarked, "I must confess I am not surprised by today's tragic news.  Michael has been on an impossibly difficult and often self-destructive journey for years."  And his attorney claims to have long expressed concerns over Jackson's pill use.

Director John Landis, who was suing Jackson admitted his great affection for Michael describing him as "talented, complicated and tragic".  Now about that lawsuit...

Practical Great-Aunt, Suze Orman twittered, "Jackson died reportedly about $400 million in debt. Making money is only half the challenge what you do with what you make is the other."  What do you think she would have said if Jackson had called in to her "Can I afford it?" segment and asked about a new ferris wheel for Neverland Ranch?  D-E-N-I-E-D, girlfriend!  Had he asked for a sparkley new vest, she may have reconsidered.

Squabbling siblings Pete Wentz and Perez Hilton playing "1-2-3-4, Let's have a thumb war", tapped out Twitter-sults:

petewentz@PerezHilton u can't make ur life tearing someone apart, who is a human being, and then flip on a dime and say respect and mourn him.

PerezHilton@petewentz You're right! I agree with you! I should say spit on his/her grave and laugh! Ha ha. Ding dong. The witch is dead!

petewentz@PerezHilton there is a disconnect there both logically and emotionally. Let's tune back into being human beings.

PerezHilton@petewentz You and Ashlee and John must really think I'm a monster. I'm not trying to change your opinions. Nor do I care to.

petewentz@PerezHilton for the record I don't think ur a monster but u keep referring to yourself as one.

PerezHilton@petewentz I didn't know you had the magical powers to look inside my heart and soul and see how I'm truly feeling and what I'm thinking!...I'm like the McDonald's of the Internet. I'm fine with that. I serve a lot of crap. But I make people happy. And I offer salads....I will let you have the last word. Say whatever you won't. I'm done arguing.

And with death, there's always a family member in denial.  As news of Michael Jackson's death unfolded, former Star Trek: The Next Generation star Wil Wheaton, twittered:

wilw This is magnificent. An original D&D commercial from the eighties.

Then, having stumbled upon his old movie Toy Soldiers playing on Encore, he provided real time commentary throughout the night.  In his defense, Wil Wheaton's daily tweets are so sweet, you can't fault him for going to his happy place during a time like this.  And everyone needs the soothing brother standing near the casket, providing a small-talk oasis.  And how many brothers can provide first-person accounts of the vomit scene in Stand By Me?

And last, come the cluster of caustic drUncles in the corner, gunning for "Most irreverent".  Think The Muppets', Statler and Waldorf.  An actor and screenwriter, who shall remain nameless, tweeted late-night talk show-esque quips, "In honor of MJ's death, Target is offering boy's underwear half-off", "If you live in Westwood, as*holes lined up at UCLA are terrorizin' y'all's neighborhood" and "The defibrillator wanted to be startin' somethin' but failed." And a well-known porn writer remarked, "Coroner's Report is in: Michael Jackson was poisoned! Turns out he ate some 10 year old nuts."

While some bitter family members will refuse to let their grudges go, many will set aside their differences--even if begrudgingly--to come together in remembrance:

petewentz Wanna say sorry for lashing out.It was a toddlerlike emotional reaction. its just cos mj feels like he's part of our collective cultural fam

PerezHilton@petewentz I'm sorry too. And I am truly sad for his passing and the loss his kids are experiencing, something I know first-hand.

And like that, Wentz's and Hilton's tired thumbs hugged it out.