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Fans around the world have been reacting to the death of the King of Pop Michael Jackson. We spoke to a number of them who had emailed their tributes to the BBC News website.
ALLEN MACHADO, 30, MUMBAI, INDIA
As one of Michael's biggest fans, shocked and deeply disturbed is the only way I can describe my emotions right now. This is by far one of the saddest days of my life. When I heard the news I thought it was a hoax and when it was confirmed I couldn't help myself - I broke down and cried. I was lucky enough to see his electrifying performance in Mumbai in 1996. I saved up for a long time just to be able to afford the ticket and stood in line all day to make sure I got near the front to see his unbelievable performance. It was really a defining moment in my life and one that will live with me as long as I am alive. Michael and his music will live on forever. His songs Heal the World, We Are the World and Man in the Mirror have touched millions of lives and changed them for the better, including mine. I am extremely lucky to be part of an era in which Michael existed. Rest in peace forever MJ. I love you and will miss you a lot.
HANDE SENGUL, 30, ISTANBUL, TURKEY
I thought it was a joke when I heard the news. It was very emotional when I found out that it was true. He was my greatest love when I was younger. When I was 14 I went to see him here in Istanbul. It was the biggest event I can ever remember here. It was the first and last time I ever saw him. He was very important for us when we were that age. We all grew up with him. My mother had Elvis and we had Michael Jackson. I have been in contact with all of my friends who went to that concert with me and we have just been calling and texting each other since we heard the news. He was a real legend, and a gift from God. Now I'm 30 and I really can't believe this has happened. I'm so sorry for him.
PRITAM LAMA, 23, KATHMANDU, NEPAL
This is very sad news for myself and my whole family. I was introduced to the music and dancing of Michael Jackson by my father, Panna Lama.
It was also my father who told us the sad news today and we are all shocked. My father taught us Michael's dance moves. The moon walk is a huge favourite of our whole family - and there are about 15 of us, of all different ages. We might do a moonwalk together today to remember him. Michael has been an iconic figure within our family. He never came to Nepal but my father heard his music first 20 years ago and brought it home to us all, and we have all grown up with it. We have copies of most of his albums and have danced so many times together to songs like Do You remember the Time and Don't Stop Til You Get Enough. He was a very great man. We will remember him together.
NIKE AROGBONLO, 20, PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA
I heard the news this morning at 0600 but I couldn't believe it at first. I'm away from home at the moment, so it was only when I spoke to my mother and she confirmed the news that it really sank in. I grew up listening to Michael's music and he was an idol to me.
His music meant a huge amount to me, my family and my friends. My mother has all of his music on CD. Many of my friends are sad about it too. Some have made a few disparaging comments about him but I'm just ignoring those. To me he was the greatest legend in the world of pop music. He reached out to us and even in the early stage of his life he affected millions of people around the world. My favourite songs are Bad and Heal the World, which I like because he used African children in the video. It showed that the developed countries could also feel the pain of poor and suffering people all around the world. I would like to go to the burial and if the embassy can get my application ready in time I will be able to give my last respects to the greatest artist of our generation.
ELIAS KIFLE MARAIM BEYENE, 50, DJIBOUTI, EAST AFRICA
I won't ever forget Michael Jackson because his contribution to the song We are the World had a very significant effect on my life. I am 50 now but 25 years ago I was living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which at that time was suffering from a long drought and famine. It was a terrible situation. Lots of people became sick and many more died. Around one million people in all were killed by the famine. In 1984 Michael Jackson, along with a number of other leading musicians, made the song We are the World to raise money for Africa.
Jackson was an icon in Africa
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We received a lot of aid from the world and I was one of those who directly benefitted from it. The wheat flour that was distributed to the famine victims was different to the usual cereal we bought at the market. We baked a special bread from it. The local people named the bread after the great artist and it became know as Michael Bread. It was soft and delicious. When you have been through such hard times you never forget events like this. If you speak to anyone who was in Addis Ababa at that time they will all know what Michael Bread is and I know I will remember it for the rest of my life.
IULIANA CERCHEZ, 33, BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
I am devastated. Music will never, ever be the same again. I am very sad that my life-long idol has died so early. I was planning to go to London to see him for the third time, with my husband.
His music and attitude made me what I am now. I learned English only to understand his songs. I went to both his concerts here in Romania, in 1992 and 1996. The first time I saw him I was a secondary school student. I begged my parents to give me the money to buy the ticket, which at that time was quite a sum. I travelled from my town to Bucharest with a friend to see him and was just metres away from the stage. He has always been important for Romania, and the whole world. He is the greatest singer, composer and dancer ever. He just revolutionised everything.
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