Michael Jackson is dead!

Michael Jackson is dead

The King is dead.

Holy merde! The onetime King of Pop, who had recently sold out 50 upcoming arena concerts in London for what was supposed to be his comeback, apparently suffered a cardiac arrest in a rented Bel-Air mansion shortly after noon today. Jackson was rushed to UCLA Medical Center, where he reportedly arrived in a deep coma from which he never revived. The L.A. Times reported Jackson’s death this afternoon.

From where I sat, TMZ seemed to be the first out of the gate with the news, with most mainstream media outlets taking longer to confirm the story.

No word yet on why Jackson, 50, collapsed, but I’m guessing CNN may devote a few minutes of coverage to the story at some point tonight.

(Photo courtesy White House Photo Office)