Kind of like the shot heard around the world, the sighs and gasps could be heard from miles away Thursday as news slowly surfaced that legendary pop icon Michael Jackson had died.

Earlier that day, America also lost a cheerful angel in beloved actress Farrah Fawcett.

Thursday, June 25, just was not a great day in Hollywood, with two famous faces, each making considerable contributions to their professions, dying.

However, both of these deaths have been handled extremely different.

Fawcett was peacefully laid to rest Tuesday. Friends and fans got to remember her contributions and praise her work.

As for Jackson, although album sales have landed him back at the top of the charts, new details of his death arise daily and the media jumps on it, further tarnishing the image of the pop icon.

Many watched as Michael Jackson, then singing “ABC” with the Jackson 5, changed from an innocent boy to a famous face singing “Billie Jean.”

American knew him for his highly acclaimed, signature moonwalk.

The 1980s knew him for his famous hits from “Beat It” to “Wanna Be Startin’ Something.”

MTV knew him for his ridiculously long, should-have-been-a-movie music video, “Thriller.”

Little kids knew him for the child-like theme park known as his permanent residence.

Now, for all the things he’s known for, today, we remember him as the King of Pop.

Believe me, I know how easy it is to point fingers at the media. I mean, seriously, at least one American everyday points at the news because, apparently they messed something up.

It’s simple. Yes. We do make mistakes.

However, when it comes to life and death, we have media outlets sitting here pointing fingers, while a man, who cannot defend himself, sits, lifeless, in a morgue somewhere in California.

While the Michael Jackson saga will continue on until the results of his autopsy are officially released, there is a time and a place to lay everything to rest.

We laid Fawcett to rest earlier this week. Lets do the same here.

The Jackson family had to sit by and watch as one of their own died. The rest of the world went out to purchase album after album simply to carry on his legacy. Now, it’s time for the media to take a step back and let the man’s legacy carry on.

We know he did pills.

We know he had a problem.

But he put out some of the best music during his time — if not, hands down, the best.

Put it in the grave and put the nails in the coffin because that is what the family is having to do.

Let him rest in peace.