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July 7th, 2009
01:40 PM ET
Does not get more down-to-earth than KFCFormer NBA star Magic Johnson recalls how at a meeting for the music video "Remember the Time," the NBA star went for the grilled chicken, but Michael Jackson kept it real with a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken. The crowd roared with laughter. Who knew this side of Jackson? Well, his fans did. As speakers and performers recount stories and lessons learned from Jackson at his memorial, iReporters are remembering when they met Jackson. And all of them commented on how human and down-to-earth he was.  iReporter Tabitha Messick said the news about Jackson's death brought back a cherished memory of Jackson dining at the same restaurant as her in an Orlando, Florida Benihana in 2003. The owners closed the restaurant to additional customers and allowed patrons to take pictures, at right, and talk with Michael for more than two hours. "Michael was so gracious and generous," Messick remembers. iReporter Randy Goldfarb recalls her "unbelievable and surreal" moment with Jackson, who made a surprise afternoon appointment with Goldfarb's dentist office in 2004 in Boca Raton, Florida. Goldfarb and the rest of the staff thought it was joke, but then Michael appeared around noon with one bodyguard. "He was the nicest guy you could imagine. He introduced himself as if he was an ordinary guy that I had never heard of," Goldfarb said. Michael was "soft spoken, gentle, and kind. He signed autographs, took pictures with us, and even sang." Do you have any Michael Jackson meetings to share? Post them below: – Writer/Producer Intern Breeana Hare
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My sympathy goes out to the Jackson family ,may God give them the strength do move on. The only thing that keeps ringing in my mind, is where were Michael's friends when he was in need? Because surely Michael cannot hear or see any of this,however,it is good to know he was loved by so many including myself.
I think the whole Jackson thing was way overdone. He was an excellent entertainer in his time but there are a lot more important people than he was who deserve national mourning. Our soldiers and marines killed in Iraq and Afghanistan during these same days are the real heroes, the real people who uphold the values of our country and who risk and give their lives to protect us. These are deserve the headlines and the accolades.
"ram July 7th, 2009 5:04 pm ET
I thought it was all great the whole memorial especially his daughter Paris she’s a chip off the old block.Look for speical things from this kid. But where in heck was Randy Jackson?"
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Ram if I'm not mistaken Randy was the bald one. They were all there.. 🙂 RIP MJ!!!
For the rest of my life, I am going to make the world a better place – thanks to Michael Jackson.
i'm from the philippines and it was 1996 when michael jackson went there for history world tour concert.amidst of his busy schedule,he took time out to go to orphanages and hospitals to visit sick children.He could have chosen to stay in the comfort of his hotel but here is a man,a world superstar who went to the streets of a 3rd world country and reached out.May you rest in peace michael and thanks for your legacy..and for your heart.
I have utmost respect for Michael's professional accomplishemts. I have almost always enjoyed whatever he produced. But at 54 years old, I also have some perspective on the importance of some of the things we seem to hold in such high esteem. Michael was a brilliant entertainer having come from a troubled childhood. I can relate to the latter. But please folks, lets not mix up entertaining accomplishments with saintly or god like personal qualities. He was still just a guy who made it very very big in a very endulgent business. Many people who you will never know or hear of have contibuted mountains of good to people you will never know. As for those who you might, how about Martin Luther King, Lyndon Johnson, and yes Richard Nixon. All these fellows contributed to the well being of all of us in this county by signing into law rules for equallity, and caring for our enviorement. I just hope that I too remember those who help others and contribute what they can in day to day life, as I am sure most of those who took the time to read this do as well. Thanks for listening. John B in Chicago area.
the memorial service was great. MJ gone to soon. RIP Michael
I thought it was all great the whole memorial especially his daughter Paris she's a chip off the old block.Look for speical things from this kid. But where in heck was Randy Jackson?
Thank you CNN for today and your superior coverage of the Jackson Memorial. This was a nightmare on the other cable news stations. As I have learned today, there is no match for your network, the definitive reporting, and most of all, the appropriate demeanor of all the newspersons in your employ.
Handled deftly, with dignity and restraint all concerned with this broadcast did confine themselves to the somber events of the day.
Thank you.
... and to the folks who planned and executed this touching memorial, it was clearly a labor of love.
God Bless You All.
it was so sad,i cryed the whole show,jermaine,paris,usher really made my cry my heart goes out to the family,ps i thought they should have let the fans see him in his coffin like james brown .but anyway RIP MICHEAL JACKSON
We all will remember you MJ forever......
You broke my heart by leaving us so soon.I wish you had stayed for another 22 yrs. for me to give you company in your journey to god were you sing and i admire and watch you with big eyes of amaze.
You leave in my heart and will always be .YOU ARE THE ONE.
I am 62 years old, and i am a Michael Jackson fan.
His memorial today was wonderful. He will always be remembered and his music will live on forever..
i will always be a fan.