Michael Jackson appears on the cover of the newest issue of the British music magazine Q, just like so many other publications in recent weeks, including our own. The difference: This magazine was written, edited, designed, and sent to the printers before Jackson's death on June 25.
"Work on this issue was completed a fortnight ago and it was printed shortly thereafter," writes Q editor Paul Rees in a statement posted online. "When news of Michael Jackson'sdeath broke in the early hours of Friday morning, it was already beingdistributed. As such, we have had no opportunity to change any of theeditorial content within the issue…If you do take offence to any part of the issue in light of Michael Jackson's tragic passing, I can only apologise on behalf of Q. Hopefully, you will understand that no offence was intended or meant."
Even more macabre is the small promo for an unrelated story in that issue: "C.S.I. Rock!: Dead Musos Exhumed." All in all, it's just a really awful coincidence.
More from EW's Music Mix:
Michael Jackson outsells everyone; NOW! 31 tops the albums chart anyway
Michael Jackson memorial: Who was that singing "Heal the World"?
Michael Jackson memorial: Which performance moved you most?
Michael Jackson talks Bad, price of fame in unreleased 1987 interview
Hopefully Q’s apology in advance doesn’t mean that the whole article is some sort of exercise in Michael-bashing… Did he actually do an interview for the magazine??? hmmm.
Ex-Q’s me.
Are they sure that cover photo of Michael Jackson’s face wasn’t taken after he died?
This isn’t like “Dewey Defeats Truman” in the Chicago Tribune in 1948. But this error isn’t helping the once-great Q magazine, either – it’s been on a downward spiral for a while.
Would they have apologized if MJ wasn’t dead??…NO.
“no offence was intended or meant.” — yeah, whatever.
That cover is so frightening! But I guess thats what the UBER-White Michael that was missing from last week’s EW cover collection woulda looked like..I asked for it, guess I just has to go across seas to get it..LOL Seriously, his abuse of plastic surgery should be used in texts for upcopming surgeons, as a What Not To Do guide.
oh and lets not forget how unmistakenly blatant the words JACK WHITE appear in the upper right corner…PRICELESS. Truly. Those ediots were being SUPER SHADY with that pic and cover lay out. I mean its sad timing wise, but they so knew they were heckling MJ when they put that to print.
i must have this issue. i must. nobody does withering essays quite like the british and especially this magazine