/ 11 July 2006

Jackson is toast following acquittal, say fans

A novel range of memorabilia celebrating Michael Jackson’s acquittal on child sex charges has popped up on the internet: slices of toast bearing the embattled superstar’s spectral image.

Fans toasting a jury’s decision to find the ”King of Pop” not guilty say the grilled bread, which is going for up to $300 per slice, magically popped out of their toasters at the exact moment Jackson was acquitted a week ago.

”This is a wonderful memento of this historic day that you will cherish for years to come,” boasted one seller on the eBay online auction site.

”As I was watched the jury’s verdict being announced on June 13, 2005, my toast popped up just as Michael was acquitted!,” said another enterprising seller trying to cash in on Jackson’s vindication on all charges against him.

One slice of toast, bearing an elaborate image of the singer’s face, complete with trademark hairstyle and round glasses, has fetched $300 in offers.

Another slice, from the same toaster in the mid-western state of Illinois, had notched up $200 in bids after the seller urged buyers to ”Bid Now To Have This Holy Toast!”

A less fortunate fan toasting the King of Pop had garnered only $7,50 in bids for his twin slices featuring the words ”Yeah” on one and ”Not Guilty!” on the other that he said popped up just before Jackson was acquitted.

”I was shocked, so I saved it and waited and then today at 4.30pm my time it came on the news and there it was Michael Jackson is found not Guilty!

”What a find I could not believe that the morning of the verdict it was on my toast first!,” the owner of the holy slice crowed.

A seller in Texas offered a variation on the toast theme, saying he found Jackson’s image on his breakfast pancake after the singer walked free from court at the end of a sensational 19-week trial.

But while a photograph showed the pancake bearing a blurry image of the 46-year-old singer, the seller stipulated that the vision was not for human consumption.

One of the several slices of toast on offer boasted what appeared to be a black and white image of the singer. ”What type of bread was used, white or wheat,” asked one potential buyer.

”White…of course, just like Michael!,” the seller said of the African American superstar whose skin tone has faded dramatically over the past two decades.-Sapa-AFP