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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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22

Jacko Knew He'd Die Young: Lisa Marie

Told former wife years ago he feared he'd end up like Elvis

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(Newser) – The King of Pop was sure he would follow the King to an early grave, blogs Lisa Marie Presley. During his brief marriage to Elvis's daughter, Michael Jackson "stated with an almost calm certainty, 'I am afraid that I am going to end up like him.'" Jackson wasn't the only one to foresee an early end: Journalist Ian Halperin had also predicted the singer's demise.

From his position in Jackson's inner circle, Halperin knew enough to predict last December that the frail performer had only 6 months to live—his death came 6 months and 1 day later. Between a reported lung disease that left him unable to sing, possible anorexia, and debilitating anxiety about the upcoming London tour he had been pushed into doing, Jackson's health was deteriorating fast, writes Halperin in the Daily Mail. "It’s not working out," Jackson reportedly said on June 21. "I’m better off dead. I don’t have anywhere left to turn. I’m done."

In this Thursday, Sept. 8, 1994 file picture, Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley-Jackson acknowledge applause from the audience at the 11th Annual MTV Video Music Awards.
In this Thursday, Sept. 8, 1994 file picture, Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley-Jackson acknowledge applause from the audience at the 11th Annual MTV Video Music Awards.   (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Ian Halperin suspects that Michael Jackson may have worn surgical masks in public because of a lung condition.
Ian Halperin suspects that Michael Jackson may have worn surgical masks in public because of a lung condition.   (AP Photo/Jockel Finck, file)
Out of costume and makeup, Michael Jackson's age and frailness became much more apparent, writes Ian Halperin.
Out of costume and makeup, Michael Jackson's age and frailness became much more apparent, writes Ian Halperin.   (AP Photo /Koji Sasahara, file)
Michael Jackson and his wife Lisa Marie Presley wave to photographers as they visit the Versailles castle near Paris in this Sept. 5, 1994 file photo.
Michael Jackson and his wife Lisa Marie Presley wave to photographers as they visit the Versailles castle near Paris in this Sept. 5, 1994 file photo.   (AP Photo/file/Laurent Rebours, File)
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It's not working out. I’m better off dead. I don’t have anywhere left to turn. I’m done. - What Jackson reportedly told an aide on June 21, after worrying that he could no longer dance and sing well enough to perform on stage

I don’t know how I’m going to do 50 shows. I’m not a big eater. I need to put some weight on. I’m really angry with them booking me up to do 50 shows. I only wanted to do ten. - Michael Jackson, talking to his fans in May

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22 comments
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Reader64481089
Jun 28, 09 12:24 PM CDT
It’s not working out," Jackson reportedly said on June 21. "I’m better off dead. I don’t have anywhere left to turn. I’m done."...................How very very sad. Reply
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+9
Mad
Jun 28, 09 12:40 PM CDT
Um.... Lisa, your Daddy died at 42, that was fairly young. Dying at 50 ain't young. Maybe if you're healthy and robust, 50 is a bit soon, but MJ was neither Reply
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-12
IN RESPONSE:
Reader64481089
Jun 28, 09 1:11 PM CDT
LOL well spoken for someone probably in their 20's LMAO, news flash, 50 is VERY young to die suddenly and few die that early these days when compared to the whole.
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+8
IN RESPONSE:
UrUndertaker
Jun 28, 09 1:13 PM CDT
Christ, your probably still in training pants LMFAO
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+7
IN RESPONSE:
Mad
Jun 28, 09 1:18 PM CDT
Actually, I turned 50 in March, and in my half century of life, I've seen plenty of my contemporaries die early. Plus, working in nursing the past 25+ years, I've witnessed many people pass way before 50. Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain and were under 30 when they died, to name but a few. The way MJ lived his life and the things he did to his body all conclude he was lucky to see 50. Seems the only 19 year old here is you
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-7

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