Israeli fans angry at rumors Michael Jackson killed himself

Israeli fans of Michael Jackson still feel picked on. "We have to go on dealing with the disrespect toward Michael even in his death," one fan attending a commemoration in Tel Aviv for the performer said Saturday. "The accusations of hurting children weakened him. And we don't yet know the true reason for his death."

The fans are angry with the rumors that Jackson took his own life or died of an overdose. Some of them rush to explain that if the cause was in fact painkillers, it was because of the pain he had suffered for many years.

"We connect to Michael not just through dance and music but also on a spiritual level," one fan said. "He supported peace, he supporting accepting people without discriminating based on religion or race. He is a kind of spiritual leader that we lost, and it's tough. It's heartbreaking."

Several fans gathered at Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv to pay tribute to the deceased performer. They were dressed in faded t-shirts from his glory days of the 1990s, some had tattoos of his monogram, others brought flags, scarves and towels with his image. They lit candles and comforted each other.

"People who never admired anyone in their life won't understand why we're so sad," another fan said. "It's true we never met him in person, but this is grief. It's real grief."

Neor Zuberi, a 22-year-old musician from Tel Aviv, said he didn't think Jackson was the "messiah or God or anything like that, but I was sad to hear that he died. He's someone who influenced life, culture, music, dancing. He also supported the IDF and visited an army base when he came to Israel. "The things he did and the values he upheld influenced me. He inspired me to volunteer, like running a break dancing workshop in Sderot."

Some passersby drifted up to the makeshift memorial and took pictures with their phones.