Celebs React To Joe Jackson's Death

Joe Jackson passed away in the early morning of June 27, 2018, after battling pancreatic cancer. He'd been in poor health for the past several weeks. His son, Jermaine Jackson, told the Daily Mail on June 20 that his father was "very very frail" and didn't have much longer to live.

Joe was best known as the patriarch of the Jackson family, the man who helped spearhead the musical careers of his children, including kids Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, and the creation of the The Jackson Five. Due to his undeniable influence on the world of pop music — though it may have been at the expense of his children's emotional and physical well-being — fans and celebrities alike have been mourning his loss around the world.

Keep reading to hear what Hollywood stars have said about the passing of Joe Jackson.

British TV journalist and former America's Got Talent judge Piers Morgan was one of the first celebs to react to the news of Joe Jackson's death. The controversial personality took to Twitter to share photos with Jackson from his interview on CNN's Piers Morgan Live. "RIP Joe Jackson," Morgan tweeted. "A tough, uncompromising, charming & complex man who drove his children from the mean, poor streets of Gary, Indiana to global stardom."

However, Morgan quickly zeroed in on Joe's reported cruelty toward his children — which included beatings with a strap, as Joe admitted in an interview with Oprah in 2010. "But at what cost?" Morgan noted. "He made no apologies when I interviewed him in 2013: 'I did what I had to do to give them a better life.'"

Wendy Williams was also quick to share her thoughts following Joe Jackson's passing. The talk show host grieved for the loss of Michael Jackson's father, offering her thanks to all that he'd done in the music industry over the years. "THE MAN...THE FAMILY ...THE LEGEND!" she wrote in a post on Twitter alongside a photo of Joe. "RIP JOE JACKSON and thank you for giving us the many gifts of talent from your family, not just to our community on a whole...but to the ENTIRE WORLD!!! #RIP."

Former attorney and talk show host Geraldo Rivera tweeted his reaction to Joe Jackson's death hours after news of his passing broke. He told his 224,000 followers: "The patriarch of the Jackson clan was always a gentleman with me." Commenting on Joe's relationship with his family and his response to son Michael Jackson's 2009 death, Rivera continued, "Despite his well-publicized failings, he loved his family, helped guide them to greatness and was deeply traumatized when Michael passed."

Like other celebs, R. Kelly mourned the passing of Joe Jackson on social media, praising him for his work. "Joe Jackson took his 6 sons and 3 daughters from Gary, IN to the world. He made icons that are still impacting the world, today," Kelly shared with his 1.1 million Twitter followers, alongside a photo of Joe and his children. "Sad to hear about his passing. Rest in power, #JoeJackson." The "Ignition" rapper, who has faced allegations of running a sex cult in recent years, added, "#LegendsHonorLegends."

Reverend Al Sharpton, well-known Baptist minister and civil rights activist, spoke out about Joe Jackson's death on Twitter. Posting a black-and-white photo of with Joe from decades earlier, Sharpton touched upon Joe's reputation and lasting effect on the pop music world. "#JoeJackson passed at 89 as the patriarch of a family that has mainstreamed our culture," Sharpton wrote. "He was never given the credit he deserved." Sharpton added, "He influenced the world of music with the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson and others. May history correct his legacy."

Joe Jackson's daughter, LaToya Jackson, took to social media to mourn the loss of her father. Posting a clip of her and Joe bonding in an episode of OWN's Life with La Toya, the singer and TV personality tweeted, "I will always love you!" She continued, "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 Jackson."