Michael receives the Diamond Award

Michael ended the waitings last night by attending the World Music Awards ceremony. Last night marked Michael’s first public appearance in a European city after being acquitted of his charges in 2005, and also his first performance in London after ten years. Before entering the hall, outside Earl’s Court Stadium, Michael created a crazy wave of joy and excitement among his fans, who were wrestling with each other to get a photo of him and to touch his gloved hand. Wearing a black glove and sunglasses, Michael appeared before the reporters with a happy, high-energy look that he kept until the end of the ceremony. But the loud noise from the crowd made his words barely audible. Michael’s calm voice was an additional reason. When asked where he lives now, Michael said: “Everywhere.” In recent days, Michael has paid $95,000 per night for a full rental of a hotel in London. But inside the hall, amid the shock and disappointment of fans who, with their shouts, expected to see the King of Pop perform Thriller, Chris Brown performed the song. Michael then sang We Are The World on stage together with the church choir, holding an American flag that one of the fans had given him, and he also performed a small part of Heal the World. When the fifty excited young singers of the choir surrounded Michael on stage, he looked somewhat embarrassed, and the crowd’s density prevented him from taking his famous big steps. But this didn’t stop the out-of-control fans who were, to some extent, disappointed at seeing their idol on stage. Especially when he threw his black sequined jacket into the crowd. “These are the words Michael said before throwing his jacket into the crowd: “Throughout my life, there have been so many people who loved me and supported me. I love all my fans from the bottom of my heart.” Before this performance, Michael received the Diamond Award for selling more than 100 million music pieces. Before calling Michael onto the stage, Beyoncé introduced him by saying: “Tonight we’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of Thriller. If it weren’t for Michael Jackson, I would never have performed. I love you—we all love you. ” After thanking the fans, his family, and especially his three children who accompanied him during his time in London, Michael said: “I’m honored to receive this award. It was my wish for Thriller to become the best-selling album of all time, and God answered my prayers.” Although Michael was welcomed with standing applause when he entered the stage, when he left he faced fans’ angry shouts—still waiting for him to perform. He had faced similar shouts outside the stadium as well. It seemed that some fans were complaining because they had waited for hours to see him and, at the moment he arrived, they hadn’t managed to meet him. The next protest shouts rose when Michael walked toward the people in the front row, shook their hands, and disappointed some of his fans who had expected to meet him after his performance ended. Outside the hall, Michael told reporters that the news about him performing Thriller at this ceremony was a misunderstanding. Michael’s music sales have reached an astronomical figure of 750 million copies so far, and he has been given the record for the most successful showman of all time. On this night, awards were also given to other artists such as Madonna, Nelly Furtado, Nickelback, Beyoncé, Ken West, and James Blunt. Michael’s presence in London has been among the hottest local news stories these days, and among the most intense moments for fans who, with their cameras, waited every day behind the closed doors of the hotel where he was staying. Source: eMJey / AP / Reuters / CNN / BBC