Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 07/09/09
We have new information on the investigation into Michael Jackson's death. Will it become a criminal investigation? Maybe even homicide? We also have stunning new details on Jackson's suspected drug addiction.
Want to know what else we're covering tonight? Read EVENING BUZZ
Scroll down to join the live chat during the program. It's your chance to share your thoughts on tonight's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules.
Here are some of them:
1) Keep it short (we don't have time to read a "book")
2) Don't write in ALL CAPS (there's no need to yell)
3) Use your real name (first name only is fine)
4) No links
5) Watch your language (keep it G-rated; PG at worst - and that includes $#&*)
And take a look at our live web camera from the 360° studio. Watch the WEBCAM
About this Show:
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°
Subscribe to the podcast
On Twitter
Go behind the scenes: AC361°
Gumby celebrates Isha Sesay's birthday
Anderson Cooper's birthday surprise
You asked, Anderson answersForeman's Letters to the President
Popular Posts
Search the AC360 blog
Since it has been stated mj could have died from an overdoses of divin being that is used in surgery and most surgery are pefromed in a hosptial sounds like there is a hosptial or hosptials involved as well?
Rather than join media that thrives on speculation, Sanjay Gupta should educate us about lupus and vitilligo and the effect these diseases had on Jackson's medical condition..
Who is leaking documents from a police/trial report?? Was the statement verified??Wasn't that the guard MJ had fired?? I vaguely remember something about it back then.
This nation has a huge problem with prescription drug abuse. I agree with the doctor , there should be national registry. It is terrible someones life has been lost for this country or for that fact the state of California, now they want to get involved. I know I have reported a couple of doctors for over prescribing, the state gave the doctors a slap on the wrist.So when my relative dies, who will be responsible?
how can you take 30-40 pills a night and overdose immediately? Common sense is a virtue!
It's time that adults take responsibility for themselves. Having national prescription data would probably hurt the patients that really need medication. The celebrities will always find a way to obtain the drugs they desire.
Love the new words! Haha. I'm such a nerd when it comes to the dictionary. Thanks for the update.
Dr. shopping is scarry - way too many drug interactions possible - I always use one pharmacy even though I have a general practioner and a sepecialist writing scripts for me. Also, both drs. are well informed of all medications I'm taking. It's for my own safety -
@ Devna - will the show be live from Ghana on Monday night or segments of the recorded interview shown from the studio back in the NYC? - Would be so cool to have him anchor live with the Cape Coast Castle in the background!! Really looking forward to this interview (Also, hoping to someday see the Roxana Saberi interview he did a couple of weeks ago!)
The lines between doctor and patient have been blured i thinl it has to do with money Micheal had so much and it got taken advantaged of
Hi Erica and Bloggers.
Lupus is an auto-immune disorder. It can affect all of your organs. Lupus makes your body attack its own cells the same way it would with a virus or infection. It hurts, makes you tired, and it can make your hair fall out and give you rashes.
I would also like to know more information on Lupus and its symptoms and what drugs would be used to treat someone who has it.
Ok, so people are no longer buying things they do not really need. What a loss!
If you lived where I do you'd know there are plenty of people who continuously abuse Xanex, Diluid, Demoral, Methadone, Soma, etc, etc. Drug-seeking is a "BIG" problem, even for the not so rich or famous
All this breaking news about the past, Just let the man rest in peace. It just making it worst for his children and family.
The death and life of Micheal is so tragic. It must have been hard for him to live. We should not forget that people take drugs to experience an alternative state of consciousness. The suffering of MJ must have been unberable that he needed to experience a state of nothingness.
Has anyone considered the possibility that Michael Jackson had undiagnosed bipolar disorder? I highly suspect it.
That would explain so many, many things... his bizarre behavior, his reclusiveness, mood swings, OCD, Body Dismophic symptoms, his excesses, manic behavior, inability to sleep, recklessness, and so on.
Many people who are bipolar try to self medicate with anti-anxiety, hypnotic, sedative, and pain medications.
It would be a tragedy to find out now that he could have had less anguish and a moicum of normalcy had he been treated for bipolar illness. How sad.
I believe that we need to look closer at michael's lupus diagnosis and how it affected him. My self a victim of lupus can relate to the dibilating pains that he may have endured. This may also have triggered the addiction to pain killers. Elesia in Kingston,Jamaica
@Calli – The children are currently under the custody of Michael's mother, Katherine. Permanent custody will be played out in court in a few weeks.
Everyone around Michael Jackson was involved in this drug use. Now they will have to find another job. Who will pay them now? They didnt see this coming.
Janet did the right thing by trying to stage interventions.Micheal chose to take these drugs and there should be more reguylations and it shouldn't be that easy for people to just get these percriptions filled under false names .
Did Dr. Klein violate HIPPA rules when he discussed Mj's lupus diagnosis since that was not public knowledge?
when are you getting your own show erica? y ou are awsome
How was MJ a good father to his children, if he was so drugged up. What must their observation of him really be?
Sometimes watching the news I can't stop thinking what a sad world we live in. Fighting, violence – are we that separated from what makes us human? I guess some can argue that part of being human is hurting others...
I agree with the blogger that we should understand what drove this man to drugs. Lupus is a terrible disease that attacks the organs. Many victims cannot sleep. I'm sure Michael did whatever it took to get rest. Unfortunately he had the money and power toaid his own detriment.
Haven't we learned from all those that fell before Michael? (J. Hendrix, J. Joplin, E. Presley...) If the family unit was strong, this would not have happened. Poor Michael! 😦
The family clearly knew he had a problem but did nothing to help Michael or protect the children. Nobody taking that amount of drugs could possibly be responsible for 3 kids. Obviously his friends are trying to protect him by saying he was a "hands on Father".
i will always remember michael for his music! i just think he was in a bad state of mind and all these pathetic doctors were not helping the situation! whatever happens to them they deserve it!!!
Thanks for the great times MJ ! as hard as they are trying to discredit your legacy .. You are & always will be the KIng
Michael was rehearsing and preparing daily for the imminent concerts. If he was a massive addict, how could he function and for that matter, hide it from people around him and still perform. If he was taking sleeping meds, etc. why would he had died between noon and 2:30 pm? The level and type of drugs in his system at the approx. time of death will reveal much.
I think the Dr. is not talking about the Lupis he had. What is Lupis and how do you treat the condition that he had? Sometimes people with lupis end up in weel chairs His scalp was burnt from the pepsi commercial. .Lupis can kill you also.
I believe Dr.'s are responsible for the death of MJ. These Dr.'s must be investigated. Quite a few Dr.'s are pill pushers and are never investigated..
Also MJ had alot of money and money can persuade people to do things that are unethical.
I feel sorry that MJ had to go thru all that pain in his life as he really was a kind , caring soul that has been misjudged by several people.
Would he still be here if it wasn't for the Dr.s who supposed to take care of people???
The statement made at his funeral.."MJ was not strange " I believe the Dr's who prescribed all this medication know that as well.. It is strange how Dr's are allowed to prescribe medications at their own discretion.
@Evelyn – To my knowledge, those laws pertain even after the patient passes.
@eople abusing painkillers is making life hell for us who really need them. I have 3 triple fusions w/titanium implants and I feel embarassed and condemned for taking pain medication.I am sure we will suffer again each time a star dies.
I saw in some pix of michael jackson what looked like a silver medical bracelet on his left wrist. What might that be for?
MJ's sudden death is such a tragedy. We are seeing something good from this terrible loss: a real discussion on the harmful effects of prescription drug addiction and/or the overprescribing of prescription medication in general. This is a huge wake-up call for everyone. Think before you take anything-review what you are taking, etc.
erica. you are the best...... you and anderson have a coomon bond which is great. i was wondereing if mike brandon knows more than he put on as he looked a little neverous on some questions.... if he said he was such a good friend then why did he not help him.
These doctors are what we call legal drug dealers. They have no heart for their patients at all. Maybe Michael death could bring about some serious change in the American drug policy where the drugs are legal or illegal! RIP MJ
Michael Ware is just so good. I caught him on CNN intl on "Back Story" the other day...wish 360 would air his segment on that show.
The side effects of taking so much of one medication is blowing my my mind.
This is a tragic story and the only way it was going to end, but I find it hard to believe that someone could take 40 xanax in one night and wake up the next day. That is more than one full perscription every day.They would have had to have been filling 2 perscriptions a day. How long can that go on?
His problem that nobody would help him with was ENABLED. A beautiful person gone because of ugly persons.
Great reporting on Michael's drug dependency, abuse and addiction.
HIPPA laws seem to interfere with family seeking to help identify and expose inappropriate drug use with physicians. National drug registry on these addictive drugs would save lives!!
As it seems, the only person who could have helped Michael, was Michael.
i'm tired of doctors who have traded their oath for cold hard cash irregardless of who they hurt. I can see scapegoats but not many doctors brought to justice.
I hope the doctors who were MJ's suppliers are thrown in jail. If the allegations are true, they are murderers, plain and simple. Money shouldn't have been able to buy the ethics of these doctors.
When Michael Ware and other journalists are on the battlefield seems so dangerous!
I'm taking everything said by Michael Jackson's acquaintances with a grain of salt as I believe there are often opportunistic people looking to make money from this sort of thing.
He had lupus people. This is a painful chronic disease. I know...I too suffer from lupus. This requires us to be on numerous medications including antidepressants and pain killers. The wheelchair is also because of the lupus a flair up can cause ones joints to be so swollen and painful that you cannot walk. Weakness is also a symptom. Please investigate this angle of the story. It is very hard to watch you all calling him an addict when I have the same disease and people need to know that lupus is a dibilitating disease.
The saddest thing about MJ's death is all of his friends, family and doctors who were trying to protect him by keeping his secret, really did him more harm because it just enabled him to become more and more addicted. Miko, the doctor on LKL last night and even the family all seem to be hiding the truth. We can't fix what we won't face. Addiction is in many families. So the worst part is to pretend it doesn't exist, and unfortunately, the result is what happened to Michael. I wish the family peace.