Joe Jackson has died, aged 89

Joe Jackson has died, aged 89, according to reports. 

The music manager, who was the father of Michael and Janet Jackson, was admitted to hospital last week in the “final stages of terminal cancer.” According to TMZ, he died at 3:30am today (June 27) in a hospice in Las Vegas.

Jackson’s family have begun to pay tribute on social media. His grandson Taj defended him over stories about how he treated his children, writing: “Joe was loved by our ENTIRE family and our hearts are in pain. Let us grieve without the nastiness.”

Disgusted by some of the comments I’m reading about my grandpa Joe by those who didn’t even know him. Please don't just regurgitate what you were spoon fed by the press. Joe was loved by our ENTIRE family and our hearts are in pain. Let us grieve without the nastiness.#ripthehawk

— Taj Jackson (@tajjackson3) June 27, 2018

Another grandson Randy added: “RIP to the king that made everything possible!!! I love you grandpa.”

RIP to the king that made everything possible!!! I love you grandpa ?? pic.twitter.com/SI1C7lUuG6

— Randy Jackson (@randyjacksonjr) June 27, 2018

La Toya Jackson also paid tribute to her father, writing that he made them ‘one of the most famous families in the world’.

I will always love you! You gave us strength, you made us one of the most famous families in the world. I am extremely appreciative of that, I will never forget our moments together and how you told me how much you cared. #RIP Joe Jacksonhttps://t.co/F5UfYjEgYx

— La Toya Jackson (@latoyajackson) June 27, 2018

Michael Jackson’s children, Prince and Paris also posted pictures on Instagram, with Prince saying Joe “always will be an example of sheer willpower and dedication”. Paris said he was ‘the strongest man she knew’.

View this post on Instagram

This man is and always will be an example of sheer willpower and dedication. He didn’t choose the path that was the easiest but he choose the path that was best for his family. You taught me to take pride in the Jackson name and what it really means, you taught me dedication in the face of adversity and most of all you showed me strength and fearlessness. There is and never will be someone like you. Fly free and until we meet again The Hawk.

A post shared by Prince Jackson (@princejackson) on Jun 27, 2018 at 11:56am PDT

View this post on Instagram

RIP The HAWK. Joseph Jackson. spending those last few moments with you were everything. being able to tell you everything i needed to tell you before saying goodbye was such a blessing. everyone that came to visit you, came with love, respect, and so much pride in their hearts for you. proud of you, proud to be your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, proud to have your strength and share the dynasty you spent your life creating, and proud to be a jackson. you are the first true jackson. the legend that started it all. none of us would be anywhere near where we’re at if it weren’t for you. you are the strongest man i know. your life’s work will go down in history, as will you, to be known as one of the greatest patriarchs to ever live. i will cherish every moment with you til the day i die, especially our last moments. being able to hold your hand, lay with you and cuddle you, give you kisses all over your cheeks and forehead, meant more to me than you’ll ever know. quoting advice you gave me when i was a little kid and seeing your eyes light up, sharing stories my dad used to tell me about you, telling a joke and hearing you laugh for the last time.. my heart is full knowing we left each other in that way. i made you promise me you’ll come visit me. you agreed and i’m going to hold you to it. and i promised you that we will keep telling your story, over and over. to never be forgotten. my great grandchildren will know who joseph jackson is. i love you grandpa. so so so much that words can’t describe. i have immense gratitude for you, and always will. we all feel that way. thank you for everything. truly. rest in peace and transition. i’ll see you in my dreams very very soon.

A post shared by PK (@parisjackson) on Jun 27, 2018 at 4:51pm PDT

R.Kelly was among the music artists who paid tribute to Jackson following his death. “Joe Jackson took his 6 sons and 3 daughters from Gary, IN to the world,” Kelly wrote. “He made icons that are still impacting the world, today. Sad to hear about his passing. Rest in power”

https://twitter.com/rkelly/status/1012017680612671488

AKA quoted a Kanye West lyric, writing: “This is bad, real bad … Michael Jackson … Now I’m mad, real mad … Joe Jackson” – Ye” while Steve Aoki said he was honoured to have met the music mogul. Jimmy Osmond gave his “thoughts, prayers and love” to the Jackson family and Paula Abdul wished them love and peace.

https://twitter.com/akaworldwide/status/1012020318423212032

Rest In Peace Joe Jackson. So honored to have met u and blessed to have known u ?????? #legend pic.twitter.com/lymMekjevo

— Neon Future Aoki (@steveaoki) June 27, 2018

My thoughts, prayers and love go out to my friends the Jackson family. May the Lord give you comfort and peace with the loss of your husband and father Joe Jackson.

— Jimmy Osmond (@jimmyosmond) June 27, 2018

I am deeply sorry to hear of the passing of Joe Jackson. My heartfelt sympathy is with all the Jackson family. I wish them love, comfort and peace through their loss.
With My Sincerest Condolences,
Paula

— Paula Abdul (@PaulaAbdul) June 27, 2018

80s actor Corey Feldman said that Jackson treated him ‘like family’ while Piers Morgan described him as ‘a tough, uncompromising, charming & complex man’.

I HAV JUST LEARNED THAT THE FATHER OF MY DEAR FRIEND MJ HAS PASSED TODAY! JOE JACKSON WAS ALWAYS GOOD 2 ME! HE TREATED ME LIKE FAMILY! HE WAS INTIMIDATING 2 ALL, ESPECIALLY MICHAEL, & WEV’E ALL HEARD STORIES OF ABUSE, BUT HE DID RAISE SOME AMAZING CHILDREN! R.I.P. JOESEPH JACKSON

— Corey Feldman (@Corey_Feldman) June 27, 2018

RIP Joe Jackson.
A tough, uncompromising, charming & complex man who drove his children from the mean, poor streets of Gary, Indiana to global stardom. But at what cost? He made no apologies when I interviewed him in 2013: ‘I did what I had to do to give them a better life.’ pic.twitter.com/WCz4mXHjYM

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 27, 2018

Speaking to the Daily Mail before his death, Jermaine Jackson, 63, said: “He’s very very frail, he doesn’t have long. The family needs to be by his bedside – that’s our only intention in his final days.”

Although Jackson has battled illness for a lengthy period, he reportedly gave verbal instructions in recent days to stop his family from accessing his medical records or visiting him.

Despite the request, he was eventually visited at his Las Vegas hospital by wife Katherine Jackson, daughters Rebbie and Joh’Vonnie, and granddaughter Yashi Brown.

Jermaine added: “No one knew what was going on – we shouldn’t have to beg, plead, and argue to see our own father, especially at a time like this.

“We have been hurting. We were not being told where he was and couldn’t get the full picture. Even from the doctor. My mother was worried sick. It’s what any family would want, but some people around him think they know better… and they don’t”.

He reportedly suffers from dementia, as well as blindness after suffering a stroke in 2015.

Jackson first began managing sons Jackie, Tito and Jermaine as a musical trio in the early 1960s.

But they later became The Jackson 5, with younger sons Marlon and Michael joining before they signed a Motown Records deal in 1969 that transformed them into global stars.

The music manager faced criticism in later life, when his grown up children began to document the abuse they had received at his hands while managing the band.

In 2017, Jackson admitted he was “truly sorry” for the way he had treated his children.