Having shed most of their tears after their father died a year ago, Michael Jackson’s children took time out for fun on the eve of the anniversary of his death.
Prince, 13, Paris, 12, and Blanket, 8, frolicked poolside with cousins at a resort in Maui, Hawaii, this week — and were nowhere to be seen yesterday as Jackson’s parents and siblings attended memorial events at the singer’s Los Angeles-area burial site and in his hometown of Gary, Ind.
Brother Randy was angered about their absence, posting on Twitter, “Sorry Big Bro, for not getting ur children there on the anniversary of ur last day . . . I tried.”
At a private ceremony at the Glendale mausoleum where the remains of the of the King of Pop, who died one year ago yesterday, are interred, brother Jermaine spoke.
“He talked for about five minutes about the early days, how Michael was so prepared, so ready — in many cases, more ready than the other brothers, and in that way a leader,” said Tony Harris, a CNN anchor who attended at Randy’s invitation.
“He talked about remembering his legacy in a dignified way and bringing the family together, and keeping the family together.”
Janet and Tito Jackson and about 80 other people also attended the service, at which a pastor spoke “about Michael’s message of love and giving back and trying to heal the world,” Harris said.
About 8,000 die-hard fans visited Jackson’s final resting place.
“It was sad. Some people were crying,” said Jody Sanders, a woman in her 40s from Inglewood, Calif. “Some people didn’t want to leave.”
Outside the Jackson family home in Gary, Jackson’s mother, Katherine, unveiled an 8-foot-tall black granite obelisk. The front shows Jackson moonwalking and the back is decorated with photos.
Meanwhile, Jackson’s father, Joe, filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Dr. Conrad Murray, who is charged with giving Michael a lethal dose of sedatives.
Additional reporting by Bill Sanderson and AP